This section contains MoD Support resources for staff. Please click on one of the following links to access a resource, or read the text below for an overview of the Armed Forces context in Helensburgh and Lomond, and the MoD Education Support Fund.
- Argyll and Bute Welcome Booklet
- Forces Children’s Education
- Transitions for Armed Forces Families
- Naval Families Federation – The Experience of Parental Absence in Royal Navy and Royal Marines Families
- Books to Support Young People When Moving House
- Resources for Pupils and Families Experiencing Loss Through a Bereavement
- Resources for Pupils and Families Experiencing Separation, Loss or Deployment
- Resources for Young People Experiencing Anxiety or Worry
For further information, please contact:
Emer Flett, Service Pupil Advisor
Tel: 01436 658921 | Email: emer.flett@argyll-bute.gov.uk | Facebook: Service Pupil Advisor Helensburgh & Lomond
Armed Forces Context within Helensburgh and Lomond
Her Majesty’s Naval Base (HMNB) Clyde, at Faslane, is a major local employer for both civilian and Service personnel and has a direct impact on the number of Service children currently enrolled within Helensburgh and Lomond Schools.
HMNB Clyde is home to the United Kingdom’s Strategic Nuclear Deterrent and the Astute Class submarines. However, it is also the base port for the First Mine Countermeasure Squadron (MCM1), the Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron (FPBS), the 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines and the Northern Diving Group (NDG). It also has significant numbers of Armed Forces personnel involved in training, engineering support, personnel support, administration and medical roles.
The ships, submarines and support organisations and their differing roles means that there is a constant cycle of, often unpredictable, deployment patterns. Depending upon the particular role being conducted, there can be times when contact between Service personnel and their families is extremely limited, often for extended periods.
Our Service children and young people often experience situations and challenges that their civilian counterparts may not. Particularly coping without a parent during deployments can have an impact upon children from Armed Forces families. Mobility within the Services may also mean that children change schools and geographical locations more frequently, adding extra pressures.
Education, from early years through to higher education, can provide the stability to help children and young people through these times.
MOD Education Support Fund
2011 saw the launch of the Ministry of Defence’s Education Support Fund. The Fund was £6m per annum until 2017/2018 and has been made available to assist publicly funded schools throughout the UK, to mitigate the effects of exceptional mobility or deployment of their Service communities, Regular and Reserves.
In light of the ongoing drawdown from Germany and to provide time for the educational authorities across the UK to bring in longer-term provision for Service children, the Secretary of State for Defence in July 2018 announced the extension of the ESF, on a limited basis, for an additional two years. The fund consisted of £3 million for 2018/2019 and £2 million will be available in 2019/2020.
