Moray pupil recognised for commitment to military families
An S6 pupil at Elgin Academy has been recognised for his dedication to the needs of other children from Armed Forces families.
Alfie Crabb set up a service club for the children of military personnel, providing a first-of-its-kind platform at school, for armed forces children to talk about the ups and downs of postings and deployment.
Alfie’s club idea spread to other schools in the Oxford area, where his family were based ahead of their posting to Moray, and he now hopes to help start the club in Moray schools.
His commitment earned him a role as an ambassador for children’s charity Never Such Innocence, and taking to the stage at their 10th anniversary event at Edinburgh Castle recently, Alfie said it was “crucial the voices of Armed Forces children are heard”.
The 17-year-old, who’s following his father’s footsteps into the RAF, said: “It’s hard to put into words what makes being a military child so different. Compared to civilian life there are many changes, which can bring lots of excitement, but challenges too. It’s so important that we have clubs and groups in schools that can bring us together. Other young people from Armed Forces families understand what it feels like. Everyone just gets it.”
Alfie has joined forces with Moray’s new initiative, the Dandelion Project, which is led by Moray Council in partnership with RAF Lossiemouth and 39 Engineer Regiment at Kinloss Barracks.
The Dandelion Project, named after the flower that represents children of military families, is working to ensure the right support is in place in Moray schools.
The education support officer leading the Dandelion Project, Priyanka Chard, was at the Edinburgh Castle event. Priyanka met with Alfie and his family as well as other young people from Armed Forces families in Moray.
Lossiemouth High School pupils, Lily Gilmour and Rhianna Williams, both 16, sang a song which had previously been recorded at London’s Abbey Road Studios and performed on Britain’s Got Talent by the Never Such Innocence charity’s Voices of Armed Forces Children Choir. Rhianna has been a member of the choir since 2021, and Lily, her friend, is also from an Armed Forces family.
Afterwards, Rhianna said: “I heard so many beautiful words from Armed Forces children at the event and it gave me a better insight into what other service children feel and go through. I left feeling very inspired by my peers. I am really grateful to Never Such Innocence for allowing me the opportunity to perform alongside such talented people, and I am now really keen to get involved with the Dandelion Project in Moray because I agree, it’s so important to allow the voices of Armed Forces children to be heard.”
Priyanka said: “It was inspiring to watch Alfie, Lily, Rhianna, and all the other Armed Forces children presenting on stage. They were all full of courage and passion and I was honoured to be a part of such a powerful event that underpinned how important it is that the voices of children from Armed Forces families are heard.”
To contact the Dandelion Project you can fill out this form here: https://forms.office.com/e/E4Df0dyJby