Armed forces families in Highland will be recognised, and celebrated, throughout April during the Month of the Military Child.
This year Highland Council’s Military Liaison Group (education) ran a ‘Design a Logo’ competition, asking children and young people to help create a visual reminder of the military children being supported.
This logo will now be used every April, in the Month of the Military Child which celebrates those children and young people from Armed Forces Families who are learning new ways, settling into new places and doing their best while their families serve, or when they did serve.
The competition attracted entries from across Highland, and judges were amazed by the creativity and artwork of all entries.
There were category winners for school stages, but the overall winner came from an upper primary pupil from Drakies Primary School, Inverness.
A whole school celebration assembly was organised by the school with Armed Forces representatives in attendance. The winner was presented with their prizes by Capt Baz Roberts, 3SCOTS Unit Welfare Officer, Inverness.
Presentations to other category winners were also made during the announcement week.
The Military Liaison Group hopes that the logo will be used across Highland, in communities, organisations, charities, businesses and across Highland Council teams.
The MLG (Education) Partnership Highland aims to ensure any child or young person from an Armed Forces family thrives in their education, health and wellbeing.
Dr Bernadette Cairns, Principal Education Psychologist, and Lead of the Children’s Rights and Participation Group Highland, said: “There is so much creativity in our children which we only really see when we give them the space and time to explore their views and experiences.
“This logo competition was one of a series of opportunities for children from Armed Forces Families in Highland to create resources that can be used to develop a sense of belonging and support to others in similar circumstances to them.
“It was important to the children involved to bring to the attention of others, the work they are co-producing with our lead for the Military Liaison Group (Education) in Highland and what better way to do this than with a very fitting wining logo to highlight that April is the Month of the Military Child.”
Fiona Jamieson, Acting Head Teacher of Drakies Primary School, said: “We are incredibly proud of the time and effort that went into creating this logo design.
“It truly highlights the creativity of our children and their ability to express the meaning behind the logo in a way that is both thoughtful and child friendly.
“With so many fantastic entries, having someone from our school selected not only as the ‘Upper Primary Category’ winner but also as the ‘Overall winner’ is a wonderful achievement.
“We are delighted to use this logo in school throughout April and in the years to come as we celebrate the Month of the Military Child.”
Capt Baz Roberts, 3SCOTS Unit Welfare Officer, Inverness, said: “The Highland military community is incredibly proud to see this creative and meaningful logo representing the Month of the Military Child. It reflects the resilience, adaptability and unique experiences of our children - many of whom navigate deployments, frequent moves, and the demands of military life with remarkable strength.
“To have a Highland pupil capture this so powerfully is genuinely inspiring. This logo stands as a visible reminder of the important role Armed Forces children play in our communities across the region and it helps ensure their voices and stories are recognised and celebrated.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
- Prizes for the competition were generously donated by MLG Partners; Reading Force, 3SCOTS Welfare Team, Army Welfare Service and Highlife Highland.
- The colour used for MotMC is purple because it mixes the colours of the military branches together – Army green, RAF blue, Navy blue, Marines green)
- The Armed Forces Families Highland website provides a wide range of information, guidance and learning for families, educators and practitioners and children and young people which is also helpful for communities across Highland: https://armedforcesfamilieshighland.wordpress.com/
- Highland Council signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant in 2018, a commitment to support our UK Armed Forces and their families wherever and however they can. Highland Council achieved the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Gold Award in 2021.