Nikki Scott BEM, Founder of Scotty's

The year before Scotty's was founded, Nikki's husband, Corporal Lee Scott, who served with the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, left home for a tour of Afghanistan. On 10th July 2009, Nikki got the knock on the door that every military wife dreads. Lee had been killed in action.

Nikki had to sit down her son, Kai, who was five years old at the time, and gently tell him his dad wouldn't be coming home. Her daughter, Brooke, was just seven months old, and would have no memories of her dad at all.

Nine months later, Nikki's cousin persuaded her to go on a family holiday. On that holiday, Nikki saw Kai looking happy and enjoying himself for the first time since his dad's death. It was a reminder that life is for living, and Nikki started thinking about all the other children who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces.

Nikki decided to set up a charity for bereaved military children and young people — she wanted them to feel part of a supportive community, remain connected to the military, and know that their parent hadn't been forgotten. In 2010, Scotty's was born.

As the charity has developed, we've supported hundreds of families and learned more about the impact of military-connected bereavement — bringing specialists onto the team, and tailoring support specifically to the needs of military children and their families.

Fifteen years on, Scotty's is supported by His Royal Highness Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, as Global Ambassador, and Nikki was awarded a BEM for her work. But the mission hasn't changed since the day it started: no family should grieve alone.