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About SSCE Cymru SSCE Cymru team
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SSCE Cymru team

Millie Taylor - Programme Manager

Millie took over managing the SSCE Cymru programme at the beginning of 2018, with a focus on setting strategic goals and a mission that would expand the support available to Service children in Wales. As an advocate for Service children, Millie is always keen to speak with them directly and has coordinated activities to involve Service children in the work of SSCE Cymru. Millie has created many opportunities for collaboration in Wales and is always keen to share good practice with organisations across the UK.

Through her previous roles within education, Millie has developed experience and knowledge of project management, marketing and communications, and international curricula and qualifications. Millie is a qualified PRINCE 2 Project Management Practitioner, has a degree in Psychological Studies and has participated in the COBSEO Clore Leadership programme funded by the Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT).

The highlight of Millie’s professional career was being one of the three finalists in the Youth/Cadet category of the Armed Forces in Wales awards 2019.

Joanna Wolfe - SSCE Cymru Participation Lead Officer

Thanks to funding initially provided by the Armed Forces Education Trust, Joanna joined us as the new SSCE Cymru Participation Lead Officer (PLO) in 2022.

Joanna has first-hand experience of Armed Forces life, having been a Service child herself and later marrying a long serving member of the Army. They have two children and have lived in many locations across the UK and Germany. Whilst ‘following the flag’ for the last 20 years, Joanna has undertaken various employment, including Resettlement, Education and Human Resources, all within the MOD. Having recently settled in Wales, her husband continues to commute to wherever the Army needs him.

Joanna is a keen gardener and walker, someone who fully appreciates the restorative benefits to being outside in nature. Joanna has also enjoyed many volunteer roles. Working with charities such as The Prince’s Trust, SSAFA Forces Help and in more recent years, Scouts, where she is Cub Scout Leader.

Joanna has always enjoyed working with children and fully understands the importance of actively listening to them and their views. This is something that she will continue to do as PLO, for Service children in Wales to feel supported and celebrated.

 

School Liaison Officers (SLOs) for Service children

The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) secured funding from the Armed Forces Education Trust to appoint two SLOs for a two-year project starting in April 2024.

The SLOs work collaboratively with the SSCE Cymru Programme Manager and Participation Lead Officer (PLO) to deliver activities linked to a workplan that was developed in collaboration with the SSCE Cymru Network members. The workplan is focused on supporting schools to understand the experiences and needs of Service children and embed activities that will ensure sustainable support systems.

Ways that the SLOs can work with and support schools include:

  • Work with schools and local authorities to identify Service children and maintain a database of school contacts.
  • Promote the SSCE Cymru e-learning package.
  • Work with education settings to embed support for Service children:
  • Utilise SSCE Cymru resources (School Toolkit and Tools, Funding guidance)
  • Achieve their Armed Forces Friendly Schools Cymru status
  • Celebrate Month of the Military Child
  • Access funding to support Service children and families.
  • Identify and promote good practice in schools.
 

Service children’s quotes

"As soon as we get used to a house, you get moved - I’ve been to four schools and moved six times."

Aiden

"I lived in Nepal, then we went to Brunei, then Malaysia."

Ashim

"In my eyes, you have hundreds of friends in different places."

Chloe

"I’m used to moving now and mixing with the children... I’ve done it so many times, it’s just a normal thing now."

Chloe

"It's ok talking over skype and that, but sometimes you just want a hug when Dad is away."

Georgia

"I’ve enjoyed going around to lots of places around the world, it's adventurous and exciting."

Harry

"In my eyes, you have hundreds of friends in different places."

Ieuan

"My mum got a chalk board and it says how many sleeps on it with chalk, every minute it’s getting closer for him coming home."

Mia

"I don’t want him to get promoted... I want him to get promoted but I don’t want to leave."

Oliver

"I might be going to boarding school so that I don’t change schools every few years."

Ryan

"I've been to seven different schools; I’ve not stayed put in one school long enough."

Shana

"He has been away for six months and he is back for two weeks, then he goes away again."

Sianed

"My parents were in the Army. My mum is a like a nurse and my dad went to the war in Afghanistan. I actually didn’t really know what he was doing so I was like, ‘Cool Dad, go there,’ but then I found out and thought, 'Thank God he came back alive.'"

Sanjog

"He signed off last week, so he will be done by the end of this year. He’s done 24 years. I find that better because he will be around a lot. He likes watching us playing rugby, so he will get to see us more."

Lewis

"I’m going to a new place entirely. They don’t know anything about me and that’s a big restart and that’s really good for me."

Piaras

"I moved to Wales because my dad was posted in the Army. I thought I would get bullied and I was shy when you meet new people, but I made some friends."

Dan