Kent and Medway has long been home to a large population of military service children and their families, and now they are set to benefit from a new project run by the Kent and Medway Progression Federation (KMPF) in partnership with the Service Children’s Progression (SCiP) Alliance.
The launch of a new Service Children’s Progression (SCiP) Alliance Kent and Medway Hub, led by KMPF, is a significant step forward for service children and their families in the area.
Officially launching later this year, the new hub will aim to support service children and their families in accessing education and training to support their future career aspirations.
Nathan Hazledene, Schools Manager, is leading the new initiative on behalf of KMPF.
He said, “At KMPF, we recognise the unique challenges that service children and their families face and will provide much-needed support from a network of professionals and organisations, including our partner universities across the region.”
Recent research findings suggest that children from military service families are under-represented in the higher education population.
To help address this and other challenges, KMPF will work closely with its partners and other organisations in the area to ensure that service children and their families receive the best possible information, advice and support to access education and training.
Nathan added, “Through the new hub, we will offer a calendar of events and support for service children and their families, as well as the professionals supporting them, including opportunities to consider future education and career options in an enjoyable and accessible way.”
The new Kent and Medway regional hub will be chaired by Angela Maxted, Headteacher at Cheriton Primary School, which is attended by many children from military service families from the neighbouring Shorncliffe Barracks in Folkestone.
She said, “This is an exciting opportunity to serve the needs of services children and their families more effectively. We look forward to seeing the positive impact that the hub will have on the wider community over the years to come.”
For more information about the new Hub, please contact Nathan Hazledene: N.Hazledene@kent.ac.uk