A Liverpool woman who was ‘born into the military’ is set to launch a unique new programme aimed at helping children connect with others who understand the challenges and opportunities that come with military life.
Starting on Thursday, 23 July, Everton in the Community’s five-week Military Kids Summer Programme will provide young people with a safe space to explore their experiences, build confidence and develop resilience while making lasting friendships.
Sessions will take place every Thursday at The People’s Place from 9 am until 3 pm, offering a combination of creative activities, group discussions and engaging physical challenges, including football, assault courses and an outdoor trip.
The programme will be held at The People’s Hub on Spellow Lane and is open to children aged 8 to 15, whose parents currently serve or have previously served in the military.
Childhood Insight Shapes New Youth Support Hub
The foundation of the scheme draws directly from personal displacement and the emotional impact of long-term parental deployments during early childhood development.
The programme is led by Everton in the Community Veterans Coordinator, Loise, whose experiences growing up in a military family inspired her to create a space where young people feel understood and supported.
Describing the initiative as “very close to my heart”, she explained:
“My dad served in the military, and I was born in Viersen in Germany.
“We moved to many different places around Germany and lived in places such as Northern Ireland and other parts of the UK.
“When I was younger, I didn’t know any different, but as I got older, having to leave friends behind and move to new schools every two or three years was tough.”
Loise’s father would be away for six to nine months at a time, and she remembers not recognising him during visits when she was “really small”, something she didn’t understand.
Her family life wasn’t represented at school, and it sometimes felt like there was support available for veterans, but not for partners, children or the wider military community.
Building Resilience and Family Connections
Despite the historical challenges, the curriculum focuses on reframing these nomadic lifestyles into transferable social strengths and peer networks.
Despite the challenges, Loise now recognises that her experience as a military child helped shape who she is today and hopes to help others recognise their strengths.
She added:
“It’s given me my personable nature.
“I can adapt easily to new situations and I’m a very social person.
“The programme is all about bringing people together and having fun while exploring subjects such as parents being away, moving to new places and losing loved ones in a fun and supportive environment.
“Unity is strength.
“For the final session, we’re going to have a family celebration where families can come along and see what we’ve been doing.
“It’s a great chance for parents to connect for the first time, and it’s going to be really good fun.”
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