Family Stories

The Scott siblings opening Reading Force post I’ve had a familiar feeling in my stomach for the last week or so, as we prepare for the arrival of something we can’t see but know is coming. Talking to my Reading Force colleagues this morning, I suddenly realised what it was – the feeling I always got when preparing for an unaccompanied tour. It’s a combination of emotions: uncertainty, knowing that I wanted to hold my family close; having enough resources to support us all and keeping us thinking about anything other than a long separation. And [...]

Founder of Reading Force, Alison Baverstock, reflects on her long-lasting Forces friendships, the next generation, and a new year’s resolution… We spent New Year with family friends in France. The original friendship, between us and a couple we met when we were both posted by the Army to Wiltshire, has been maintained by the next generation and we were there with their eldest child, herself a member of the Forces, her friends and our daughter. Everyone in the group of ten had a link with the Military, either currently serving or having grown up as the child of a Serviceperson – [...]

We send books to Forces families all year round to enjoy sharing, whether a family is together at home or separated by deployment or training. But with Christmas fast approaching, we’re especially thinking about families who will have a loved one away from home on Christmas day and through the holiday season. Over this festive period, we’re aiming to send around 1,000 books to help families just that little bit. Here, four mums share their situations and thoughts on Christmas in the military and how books and sharing stories across the miles can help... Sian and four year old daughter Amelie [...]

Julie Boyle found out about Reading Force from a post shared on a military wives Facebook page, when her daughter Chloe was not yet two. “I looked and thought that sounds brilliant.” She ordered a scrapbook and book through the Reading Force website. Since then the family have completed three scrapbooks and take great pleasure in crafting them. Here, Julie shares her Reading Force experience and top tips for scrapbooking… I was so excited waiting for our first scrapbook to arrive and to see Chloe’s face when she received the new book! Chloe has enjoyed reading since she was tiny so [...]