Royal Caledonian Education TrustThe Royal Caledonian Education Trust (RCET). RCET announce new Chief Executive Colin Flinn. Pictured in front of Edinburgh Castle. For more information please contact Jen Nash, 07971 466220, [email protected] . Pic free for first use relating to RCET. © Malcolm Cochrane Photography +44 (0)7971 835 065 [email protected] No syndication No reproduction without permission
Colin shares his thoughts on the importance of remembering the children and young people impacted by war during his final Remembrance as CEO of the Royal Caledonian Education Trust:
One of the responsibilities I have had as CEO over the last five years has been to lay a wreath on behalf of RCET on Remembrance Sunday. As an Armed Forces Charity and personally, we of course remember all those who made the ultimate sacrifice and it has been a great honour to represent the charity on such an important day for our country.
For over 200 years RCET has not only commemorated the fallen but we have also given a separate moment of reflection for those children impacted by WW1, WWII and modern day conflicts. But why is this?
As a Children’s Charity, we believe it is important to reflect on the impact of war on children and young people including those young boys who have lost their lives in historic conflict. Many more children felt the impact of war at home too. WW1 saw the biggest loss of fathers in modern British history with an estimated half a million killed in the conflict. Many of those who returned home to their families bore the mental and physical scars of war. Throughout the war, children experienced disruption to their home life and education and faced challenges of coping with the emotional and practical impact of absent parents and the deaths and injuries of family and friends.
In reflecting on the challenges faced by children during WW1, it’s important to remember that some of these continue to face children and young people in Armed Forces families today. Being part of an Armed Forces family can be a hugely rewarding experience, but it can also be tough with children and young people facing a range of challenges including coping with parental absence, high levels of mobility, disruption to education, and in some cases the injury or death of a parent.
I will of course be unable to lay our wreath this year. I hope however that you will be able to join me at 11am this Sunday to come together virtually or at home to commemorate not only those who laid down their lives but all those children and young people affected by war and conflict.