The Army v Navy Match Committee is delighted to announce that Little Troopers has been selected to be the Charity of the Day at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Little Troopers is the only tri-Service charity in the United Kingdom dedicated to supporting and celebrating all children who have one or both parents serving in the British Armed Forces, both Regular and Reserve.
Growing up with a parent in the Forces is a unique way of life. It can bring amazing adventures, memories and friendships, but it can also bring a lot of change and uncertainty. Frequently moving house and school can be hard and being separated from a serving parent for long periods of time, due to deployment and other service commitments, is one of the biggest challenges that military children face.
Little Troopers was founded in 2011 to be there for British Armed Forces children and to ensure that wherever they are in the world, they have access to support whenever they need it both at home and in school.
Through its resources, programmes, events and initiatives, Little Troopers connects with thousands of military children each year. Nearly 1,000 schools now use the Little Troopers at School programme and tens of thousands of military families have used the charity’s resources and initiatives at home in the past decade. From separation packs to birthday cards, wellbeing videos and a dedicated children’s newspaper, Little Troopers knows that showing military children you understand their life experiences can make a huge difference.
The charity also runs a deployment club for children who have parents serving away from home, including residential weekends for teenagers, and has recently launched a military-specific Therapy Programme for children of all ages who are going through a particularly tough time and need additional support.
Louise Fetigan, founder of Little Troopers, commented: “We are thrilled that Little Troopers has been chosen as the Charity of the Day for the biggest day in the military sporting calendar. We know that everyone in the crowd will understand just how amazing military children are. Giving them the spotlight at the home of England Rugby shows them how proud we all are of the important role they have to play in our British Armed Forces community.”
Chair of the Army v Navy Match Committee, Captain Sarah Oakley, added: “Little Troopers is a charity which does an amazing amount of work which is valued across the UK Armed Forces, but which does not have the same kind of profile as other military charities. With the Army v Navy match we are privileged to be able to offer Little Troopers the opportunity to have a showcase at one of the biggest days in the military calendar.
“We are sure that Louise and her team will have a fantastic day, and all the match committee urge everyone who comes to Army v Navy 2024 to be generous – £1 from every match day programme sold on the day will go direct to the charity.”
April is the official Month of the Military Child, so Army v Navy 2024 will be the final event in the charity’s busy schedule of celebrations, which include a 10K fundraising race and fun run in Aldershot and a visit to the Royal Chelsea Hospital. Little Troopers will be bringing 12 military children to Army v Navy, who are all winners of the ‘Little Trooper of the Month’ award, which recognises military children who have been especially brave and resilient. Rugby fans are encouraged to look out for the winners who will be wearing their very own Little Trooper medals.
For more information about the charity visit www.littletroopers.net
The Army v Navy match returns to Twickenham Stadium on Saturday 4 May 2024, with the Senior Men and Senior Women providing a double-header of action for the biggest day in British military sport.
Tickets are on sale now, with prices starting at just £10 for Under-16s and £25 for adults. Book online 24/7 at www.eticketing.co.uk/rfu
