06.02.23

Fortis Vision is delighted to have donated £2,500 to Scotty’s Little Soldiers, a UK-based charity that provides long-term support to bereaved military children.

The funds were raised through team events, including Fortis Vision’s summer Golfing Day. It is the second time that Fortis Vision has donated to the charity, following a 2021 donation of £2,000.

Scotty’s currently provides a range of support to hundreds of bereaved Forces children and young people across the UK. It was established in 2010 by war widow Nikki Scott after she witnessed the devastating impact of the loss of her husband, Corporal Lee Scott, on her two children.

According to the charity, one of the biggest challenges bereaved children face is the sense of isolation, with many feeling like no one understands how they feel. Scotty’s aims to foster a caring community with hundreds of others who have also experienced the death of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces.

The charity supports youngsters across a range of initiatives, including providing access to emotional health and wellbeing care, offering development opportunities through activity and educational grants, organising fun in-person and virtual events that help reassure youngsters that they are not alone, and arranging respite breaks.

Airborne Forces Reservist and Fortis Vision’s Managing Director, David Borthwick, is an active supporter of Armed Forces charities and has supported Scotty’s for some five years.

“We hold this charity very close to our hearts for the exemplary work they do,” David said. “We will continue to focus our fundraising events to support the fine work that the charity does, albeit ‘small beer’ from us at present, we will endeavour to build year on year and have an extravaganza at some point.”

Fortis Vision’s donation will help Scotty’s Little Soldiers to continue to provide long-term support to bereaved children, such as 10-year-old Austen, who said: “Knowing Scotty’s is there for me means a lot. I feel really looked after, and I know that I am being cared for. The activities they organise help me forget everything bad that is going on.”

Scotty’s Founder Nikki said: “Fortis Vision’s donation means that we can continue providing support to children like Austen on a long-term basis. Thank you for your part in helping us to support bereaved British Forces children and young people.”

 

Committed to the Armed Forces

Fortis Vision’s donation demonstrates its commitment to supporting the Armed Forces.

As a 2022 Gold Award recipient of the Armed Forces Covenant, Fortis Vision is a forces-friendly employer dedicated to supporting the Armed Forces and the issues they and their communities face.

Fortis Vision welcomes veterans, helping them to develop careers beyond the Armed Forces by providing mentorship and funding training courses.

David added: “We value the skill sets and work ethos that veterans bring in helping us to deliver the exceptionally high standards that Fortis Vision is renowned for. We always strive to find roles for veterans within Fortis Vision and are delighted to continue to show our support to the wider Armed Forces family.”

To learn more about Scotty’s Little Soldiers, visit scottylittlesoliders.co.uk.