Nikki's Story
How a young military widow turned the worst day of her life into a charity that's now supporting hundreds of people in the bereaved military community.
Nikki and her husband, Corporal Lee Scott
On the 10th July 2009, I had the knock on the door every Army wife dreads. My husband, Corporal Lee Scott, had been killed on active duty in Afghanistan. In that moment, our world fell apart.
Our daughter Brooke was just seven months old. Our son Kai was five. The hardest thing I have ever done was sitting Kai down on his bed and telling him that his daddy wasn't coming home. There's no right way to say those words. I remember watching his little face, knowing I couldn't fix it or take his pain away. That moment has never left me.
I struggled to find any support that felt right for the children. We were living in a military garrison, surrounded by welcome home banners for other soldiers as they returned. For a long time, it felt like Lee was just still away, which made everything even harder.
About nine months after Lee died, my family took us away on holiday. I remember sitting by the pool, watching Kai laughing and playing with his cousins. It was the first time I'd seen that carefree smile in months. I realised how powerful those moments were and how much children needed them. That's where Scotty's Little Soldiers began.
In the early days, it was about helping bereaved military children smile again. As the charity has developed, we've supported hundreds of families and have learned more about the impact of military-connected bereavement, brought specialists to the team, and tailored our support.
Over time, we've seen how grief ripples through whole families, and it can resurface at any stage of life. There is no timeline for grief. There will always be moments — birthdays, milestones, ordinary days when the absence feels heavy.
2012 was a turning point for Scotty's. We won The Sun Military Awards for support to the Armed Forces — I couldn't believe it. It was televised on ITV and my award was presented by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, surrounded by celebrities. I honestly had to pinch myself.
Being recognised for our work was as amazing as it was for the children, but the thing about it, was that it got us into people's consciousness. That meant we had more money coming in, and more families signing up.
We're not here to replace what's been lost. We're here to notice, to remember, and to walk alongside people for as long as they need us. Everything we do comes from lived experience. From knowing how powerful it is when someone remembers your person, shows up for you, and reminds you that you're not alone.
Scotty's has spent more than fifteen years working alongside hundreds of bereaved military families, every day. In that time, we have learnt an enormous amount about the needs of the bereaved community. We have lived experience at the heart of the charity and listen continuously to what the families tell us about how we can improve our services. That’s why we have extended our support to anyone affected by a military-connected bereavement.
I never thought when we started the charity back in 2010 that we would be where we are today. We see the difference it makes. We are so grateful to everyone who has supported us along the way, and I want to thank you for joining me on my mission to support the bereaved military community.
Scotty's Promise
We promise that everyone affected by military-connected bereavement will have:
- Confidence and clarity in navigating their entitlements.
- The chance to build social connections.
- The very best mental health and wellbeing support.
- Outstanding development opportunities.
Join the
Community.
If you've been affected by a military-connected bereavement, the Scotty's community is here for you. Join the community and get involved as much or as little as you want.
What you'll get
- A monthly email, tailored to you
- Help navigating your entitlements
- Access to bereavement support
- Invitations to events and webinars
- Our annual magazine by post
- Care packages on anniversaries and difficult dates
- And lots more
Phone / WhatsApp
0800 092 8571
07392 868291
welcome@scottyslittlesoldiers.co.uk
Need help now?
Call our team directly or dial 999 in an emergency. You don't need to join first to get support.
Join the
community
Step 1 of 5Which best describes you?
By clicking “Join” you agree to our terms and for Scotty's to be in touch about the support available to you. You can leave the community at any time.