Rayleigh and Wickford MP, Mark Francois, who is also Veterans Minister at the MOD, recently held a meeting in his office with Nikki Scott, the founder of award winning charity “Scotty’s Little Soldiers” which helps to support the children of service personnel who have fallen in the line of duty.
Nikki’s late husband, Corporal Lee Scott, who served in the Royal Tank Regiment, was killed on active duty in Afghanistan and Mark was present last year, when a plaque was unveiled in his memory on the Memorial Wall of the Royal British Legion Hall, in Rayleigh.
Partly in honour of Lee’s memory, his widow Nikki founded the charity Scott’s Little Soldiers which has helped to support dozens of service families and, particularly their children, where a parent has been killed in action. In recognition of this work, Nikki was awarded a Sun Military Award (a ‘Millie’) at a ceremony in the Imperial War Museum in the autumn of 2012.
In his capacity as Veterans Minister, Mark is responsible for liaising with Military charities and so he invited Nikki to come to the MOD to brief him on the progress which Scotty’s Little Soldiers has made. The charity now runs a rest home in Norfolk where families of the fallen can take holidays and spend time together away from the pressures of everyday life. Children who have lost a parent in action are also provided with a special pack of materials to try and help explain what has happened to them.
Commenting on his meeting with Nikki Scott, Mark Francois said:
“I am proud that Nikki’s late husband Lee is commemorated in my constituency and I am also a great admirer of the work that she has done to help the children of other families who have had to go through what she and her family have had to endure as well. I am pleased to hear that Scotty’s Little Soldiers is a charity in good heart and anyone who would like to make contact with the charity or would like to make a donation is encouraged to contact the them on 01553 763000 or via [email protected].”