Armed Forces families across Highland will be recognised throughout April as the Month of the Military Child is marked with events and community support.

Highland Council’s Military Liaison Group has introduced a new logo for the annual celebration following a competition involving children and young people across the region.

The initiative invited pupils to create a visual symbol reflecting the experiences of military children, with entries received from schools throughout the Highlands.

The overall winning design was created by an upper primary pupil from Drakies Primary School in Inverness.

A school assembly was held to celebrate the achievement, with Armed Forces representatives in attendance and prizes presented by Captain Baz Roberts.

Other category winners were also recognised during the announcement week, highlighting the breadth of creativity across participating schools.

The winning logo will now be used each April to represent the Month of the Military Child across communities, organisations and council services.

The initiative aims to highlight the experiences of children from Armed Forces families, many of whom adapt to new schools, communities and circumstances throughout their lives.

Dr Bernadette Cairns said:

“There is so much creativity in our children which we only really see when we give them the space and time to explore their views and experiences.

“This logo competition was one of a series of opportunities for children from Armed Forces Families in Highland to create resources that can be used to develop a sense of belonging and support to others in similar circumstances to them.

“It was important to the children involved to bring to the attention of others, the work they are co-producing with our lead for the Military Liaison Group (Education) in Highland and what better way to do this than with a very fitting wining logo to highlight that April is the Month of the Military Child.”

Fiona Jamieson said:

“We are incredibly proud of the time and effort that went into creating this logo design.

“It truly highlights the creativity of our children and their ability to express the meaning behind the logo in a way that is both thoughtful and child friendly.

“With so many fantastic entries, having someone from our school selected not only as the ‘Upper Primary Category’ winner but also as the ‘Overall winner’ is a wonderful achievement.

“We are delighted to use this logo in school throughout April and in the years to come as we celebrate the Month of the Military Child.”

Captain Baz Roberts said:

“The Highland military community is incredibly proud to see this creative and meaningful logo representing the Month of the Military Child.

“It reflects the resilience, adaptability and unique experiences of our children many of whom navigate deployments, frequent moves, and the demands of military life with remarkable strength.

“To have a Highland pupil capture this so powerfully is genuinely inspiring.

“This logo stands as a visible reminder of the important role Armed Forces children play in our communities across the region and it helps ensure their voices and stories are recognised and celebrated.”

The Month of the Military Child shines a light on the contribution and experiences of young people connected to the Armed Forces, recognising their resilience and place within communities across Highland.