The Northern Hub for Veterans and Military Families Research at Northumbria University has received over £35,000 in funding from the Forces
Children’s Trust to further
investigate the lived and emotional experiences of military connected children
and young people.
This
national pilot study will adapt existing evidence-based screening tools to
allow military-connected children and young people to self-report their lived
experiences. Using co-designed and preference-based research, the study will
modify tools such as the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), Benevolent
Childhood Experiences (BCEs), and Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs)
screening tools—currently used by practitioners—to make them more accessible
and user-friendly for children and young people. These adaptations will ensure
that the tools remain evidence-based while being better suited to the needs and
experiences of this population.
The
project will be led by Dr Paul Watson, Assistant Director of the Northern
Hub for Veterans and Military Families Research and Assistant Professor in
Nursing at Northumbria University, along with Professor Derek Farrell MBE,
Professor Darren Flynn and Claire Camara also from Northumbria University. It
will also involve epidemiological expertise from Dr Roxana Delgado, a Professor
and Military Research Scholar at the University of Texas Health Science Centre at
San Antonio’s (UT Health San Antonio) School of Nursing, Faye Acton from the
Veterans and Families Institute for Military Social Research and
representatives from Anglia Ruskin University.
Speaking
about the project, Dr Paul Watson said: “The aim of this pilot study is to gain
a fuller picture of the lived and emotional experiences of young people from
military families. We want to measure both adverse and positive experiences, alongside
the emotional health and wellbeing of military connected children and young
people in the UK to provide a balanced view of their lived experience.
“Traditionally
we focus on ensuring we understand the negative or not so good experiences of
young people from military families and providing interventions to support them,
however, this project will also give us a better understanding of the positive
experiences of this community allowing us to identify where we can create
additional opportunities for them.
“Our
plans to adapt the existing screening tools for children will give us an ideal
opportunity to ensure we capture the voice of the child, as opposed to an
adult’s interpretation of their experiences. It’s a great opportunity to
further our understanding of where and how we can best support those living
within the community, so we’re really excited about that.”
Children
and young people from military families will be given the opportunity to self-report
using the co-designed adapted tools, which will be shared through existing
networks across the armed forces sector, ensuring the experiences are captured
through first-hand accounts.
Speaking
on the project, Dr. Delgado at UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing, said:
“For the first time, we will be able to capture information that not only will have significant scientific contribution but
will also support the development of programs that address the needs of
military children. Coming together as research allies will help us serve the military
connected community, specifically their children.”
The
Forces Children’s Trust are a charity devoted to working together to assist any
dependent children who are in need, whose father or mother has died or has
sustained life-changing injuries whilst serving as a member of the Armed
Forces. Find out more about their work by visiting their website.
Speaking
on the funding award, Denny Wise, Founder and CEO of the Forces Children’s
Trust said: "We are delighted to have awarded Dr Paul Watson of the
Northern Hub for Veterans and Family Research funding to undertake a pilot
study to understand the relationships between adverse childhood experiences, benevolent
childhood experiences and positive childhood experiences of military connected
children and young people - from their perspective”.
The Northern Hub for Veterans and Military Families Research is a
multi-disciplinary team that conducts translational research in the Armed
Forces Community covering health and social care, public health, psychology,
social policy, human geography and nursing. The team work to facilitate
collaboration across the armed forces sector and work with a variety of
organisations including government, local authorities, the NHS and third sector
to improve the lives of those they support. Find out more about the hub’s work
by visiting their web pages.
Northumbria University is dedicated to reducing health and social
inequalities, contributing to the regional and national workforce and improving
social, economic and health outcomes for the most marginalised in society.
Through its new Centre for Health and Social Equity, researchers will be
delivering world-leading health and social equity research and creating
innovative, evidence-based policies and data-driven solutions to bring
impactful change across the region, the UK and globally.
