Meet Our 2026 Finalists

Lynzy Savage is a remarkable member of the Armed Forces community whose strength, compassion and dedication make her truly inspirational. As the surviving spouse of Cpl William ‘Sav’ Savage, killed in action in Afghanistan in 2013, Lynzy transformed personal loss into purposeful service.

Through Families’ Activity Breaks (FAB), Lynzy supports families facing grief, stress, and uncertainty, offering empathy, reassurance and emotional safety. Her lived experience enables her to connect deeply with both adults and children, and families regularly request her support because of the comfort and stability she provides.

Lynzy also plays a vital operational role, supporting planning, fundraising, mentoring, and camp delivery.

For over ten years, Shelley Ellis has gone above and beyond in supporting Armed Forces families. As the founder of Green Paths Environmental Education CIC, she has built a vital support network for more than 400 military families, with a particular focus on those with children with SEND.

Shelley has organised hundreds of community events, raised thousands of pounds for families in need, and provided constant emotional and practical support. She also runs a military support group of over 1,000 families, and works closely with schools and local authorities to advocate for children and parents, helping secure vital school placements and resources.

Her selfless dedication, compassion and deep understanding of military life have made a lasting difference to countless families.

Amy Daly is regarded as a cornerstone of the military community. As the wife of a serving soldier, a working mother of three (including a child with additional needs), she still finds time to support everyone around her with extraordinary kindness and generosity.

Amy volunteers extensively at school, supports trips and events, leads the PTFA, and uses her first aid expertise to train children in both mainstream and special school settings (even learning Makaton to ensure inclusivity). Within the wider military community, she welcomes new families, supports those in crisis, celebrates diversity and ensures no one feels alone.

From helping families during deployments to advocating for military children with SEND at county level, Amy’s selfless actions make a lasting difference every day.

Brothers Luke (15) and Jack (13) Woodhouse are inspirational young members of the Armed Forces community, combining sporting excellence with extraordinary service to others.

Luke has rebuilt his life after a diagnosis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, training six days a week while managing ongoing treatment and achieving Welsh Athletics success. Jack, a fellow Welsh Athletics medallist, has been fundraising since the age of six and consistently supports veterans and service families.

Together, they volunteer with Forces Fitness, support Cardiff City Veterans Hub, raise funds for charities and champion service children in their school community. Their resilience, compassion and determination make them outstanding young role models.

The Nexus Youth Voice Group, brings together young carers from Armed Forces families across the UK to share experiences, build confidence, and lead change. Led by young carers themselves, the group has supported over 25 young people to raise awareness of the challenges faced by young carers in military families.

Despite managing caring responsibilities alongside deployment, frequent moves, overseas postings and disrupted support networks, members have created powerful resources including songs, poetry, animations, videos, school guidance and an online hub. Their work has helped professionals improve support and, crucially, has enabled more young carers to be identified and access help

Lliana Deans is an inspiring young leader whose kindness, resilience and generosity shine in everything she does. Growing up in a military family, she has embraced the challenges of service life with maturity and compassion, always supporting others with positivity and empathy.

A dedicated member of the Military Kids Choir, Lliana welcomes new members, builds confidence and proudly represents military children at events across the UK. She is also the founder of Lli’s Little Wishes, a bracelet-making business through which she donates profits to military charities, combining creativity with a strong commitment to giving back.

As a young leader at her local youth group, Lliana supports and inspires younger children, putting others before herself at every opportunity.

Jo Gordon is an inspirational advocate for Forces families living with disability. As a mother to a son with severe physical and mental disabilities, she has spent over 20 years navigating complex systems across multiple postings, campaigning for better communication and continuity of care. Her tireless work has helped improve pathways of support for other families, ensuring they do not face the same barriers alone.

Alongside her advocacy, Jo remains a cornerstone of her local community, welcoming new families and creating inclusive spaces, often while caring for her son single-handedly during her husband’s deployments.

Steffanie Curtis is a remarkable example of resilience and support within the SHAPE community.

Despite relocations across countries and significant personal challenges, she consistently supports others while balancing family life and her professional role.

Always ready to step in at short notice, Steffanie works tirelessly behind the scenes to make events happen, offering strength, positivity and unwavering commitment to her community.

Oliver Norman-Cunningham has shown strength and resilience in overcoming significant challenges and barriers related to Autism PDA and ADHD. Once unable to attend full-time education or social activities, he has made remarkable progress following diagnosis funded by the Naval Children’s Charity.

Now thriving in an additional needs school, Oliver confidently engages in social activities and provides vital support to his mother and younger sister during his step father’s deployments. His journey since 2021 is a powerful example of determination and growth.

Simone Riley, founder of Elite Force Mortgages, is an RAF aircrew family member who built her business around the realities of military life. After experiencing firsthand the challenges of deployments, uncertainty and solo parenting, she created a specialist mortgage service designed specifically for Armed Forces families.

Simone supports serving personnel, reservists, veterans, and defence-related professionals across the UK and overseas, specialising in complex military circumstances and transitions into civilian life. With flexible support, clear guidance and a reputation built almost entirely on word of mouth, Elite Force Mortgages is a trusted lifeline for families who want advice from someone who truly understands their world.

Dionne Ross is the founder of Veritas VA, a remote-first Virtual Assistant business created by a military spouse and veteran who understands the realities of service life. Launched in March 2025, Veritas VA was designed to provide flexible, portable work that fits around postings, uncertainty and caring responsibilities.

In under nine months, Dionne has built a profitable, values-led business growing through referrals and partnerships. Beyond her own success, she is developing the Squared Away Veteran-to-VA Programme, securing external funding to support veterans into self-employment through fully funded training places.

Dionne’s work demonstrates that military family-led businesses can be both flexible and commercially successful, while opening doors for others facing similar challenges.

Pad Wives Assemble is a dynamic online community created by and for partners of military personnel. Through their social media, podcast, volunteer programme and TV series Rationed and Ready, they provide a safe, supportive space for spouses and family members to connect, share experiences, and access advice on deployment, relocation and wellbeing.

They actively promote mental health, celebrate resilience, and foster humour and kindness across the military community. Their volunteer programme helps partners gain skills and confidence, while their charity initiatives and annual gala raise awareness and funds for Armed Forces causes.

Members report feeling less isolated, more supported and empowered. Pad Wives Assemble is a trusted, authentic and inspiring network that connects families, support organisations and the wider military community, making a profound and lasting difference every day.

Sharon Black works in welfare for 215 Multirole Medical Regiment and is a volunteer for Families' Activity Breaks (FAB), supporting bereaved military families. Always approachable and compassionate, she ensures families never feel alone, sharing vital support information, coordinating events, and responding promptly to social media messages.

Whether in the office or out on exercise, Sharon goes above and beyond, balancing her military career with voluntary service. She also creates content for her regiment and other charities, keeping communities connected.

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering consultancy and Gold Award holder of the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, deeply committed to supporting forces families. Through flexible working, office relocations, a dedicated Families Lead, and a Forces Steering Group with Board-level representation, the company ensures family voices are heard. Following the introduction of a dedicated forces budget, engagement with hiring managers to better interpret military family CVs delivered a 40% year-on-year increase in applications and a 267% increase in hires. Mott MacDonald has also secured a two-year sabbatical for an employee to join his deployed family overseas and made significant donations to military family charities.

Centrica stands out as a leading employer for military families through its Centrica Forces Network (CFN), a vibrant community of over 580 members offering peer support, mentorship, and career development. A Gold Award holder of the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme and twice a Covenant Signatory, Centrica supports veterans, reservists, spouses, and cadet instructors through its Pathways Programme. Initiatives include structured onboarding mentoring, inclusive storytelling, and volunteering opportunities, alongside flexible and reservist leave policies. Centrica actively fundraises for Blind Veterans, Scotty’s Little Soldiers, and Combat Stress, ensuring armed forces families are not merely accommodated but genuinely uplifted.

QinetiQ is not only a long-standing Armed Forces Covenant signatory and a Gold Award holder of the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, they are a leading advocate for the Armed Forces community.

Through tailored support for veterans, reservists, spouses, and service children, QinetiQ delivers employment pathways, mentoring, STEM outreach and community initiatives that make a real difference. Partnerships with Recruit for Spouses and the upcoming launch of Operation Ascension demonstrate QinetiQ’s commitment to long-term, meaningful support for military families.

NeuroDiverse Community (NDC) is a volunteer-led organisation supporting neurodivergent Armed Forces families through lived experience, compassion and practical action. They bridge vital gaps caused by frequent relocations, disrupted services and complex SEND systems.

Over the past year, they have supported hundreds of forces families through one-to-one SEND support, EHCP and benefits guidance, sensory sessions, youth programmes, and inclusive community activities (delivered locally, nationally and overseas). With no salaried staff and limited funding, NDC delivers thousands of hours of support each year. Their work creates safe, empowering spaces where families feel seen, heard and supported.

Home-Start Lomond is a small but powerful charity supporting Armed Forces families to integrate, connect, and thrive within the local community. Established in 2023, it is the only organisation in the area dedicated specifically to supporting military families.

Led by serving and veteran spouses, the team uses lived experience to deliver tailored one-to-one support, group activities, and peer-led initiatives. These include weekly Naval Playdates and adult-only support groups such as Navy Wife, Crazy Life, reducing isolation and building lasting friendships.

With over 70% of the families they support coming from the military community, Home-Start Lomond consistently goes above and beyond, ensuring families feel valued, supported, and connected, often long after formal support would usually end.

The Ripple Pond is a UK charity providing vital, independent support to adult family members caring for injured serving personnel and veterans. By offering a family-centred pathway, carers can access help in their own right, reduce isolation and rebuild confidence.

This year, The Ripple Pond expanded significantly, delivering peer networks, wellbeing workshops, and family-focused resources reaching over 1,200 families. They also supported professionals across statutory and voluntary sectors to improve understanding and support for military carers.

With specialist emotional support for those facing trauma, isolation and severe distress, The Ripple Pond ensures carers are seen, heard and supported, making a profound difference to families across the UK.

Angela Lewis has devoted over ten years to supporting the Armed Forces community through her voluntary co-leadership of the Compass Armed Forces Network. She has driven military inclusion initiatives, supported veterans, reservists, spouses, and families, and also helped Compass Group achieve double Gold status in the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme.

Beyond her company role, Angela volunteers with the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, leads fundraising campaigns, mentors colleagues, and promotes military awareness across communities.

Lynsey Sykes is the driving force behind Richmondshire Scouts and a passionate champion for Armed Forces families. By prioritising access for Forces children, building a team of serving and veteran leaders, and working closely with local garrisons, she has created a safe, inclusive environment where young people can thrive despite the challenges of military life. Her dedication also saw her help raise over £3,000 to ensure Scouts from Forces families could attend the VE Day Concert in London, highlighting her commitment to inclusive and life-changing experiences for every child.

Mott MacDonald Armed Forces Steering Group champions Forces families, veterans, reservists, and cadet instructors across the business. With Board backing and a dedicated budget, the group has delivered policy changes, wellbeing initiatives, mentoring, recruitment support, and high-profile sponsorships.

From internal coffee breaks to Big Brew-Ups for SSAFA the group ensures military community members are supported, valued, and included at every level. Their work makes a real, tangible difference to the lives of Forces families.

Lisa Brown is a serving Army Major, military spouse and mother of three, who also founded and chairs the MoD’s Service Couples Network.

Drawing on her lived experience, Lisa has become a leading advocate for dual-serving families, a previously underrepresented group. She has driven major policy improvements in career management, accommodation, leave, and formal recognition of dual-serving families across MOD policy. She has ensured their inclusion in the MOD Families Strategy and improved communication and support through internal platforms, and the recently launched Families Hub.

Balancing senior military service, voluntary leadership, and family life, Lisa’s passion and commitment has delivered lasting change for service families.

While working at Moray Council, Priyanka Chard made a powerful impact supporting children from Armed Forces families. She established a wide range of well-received activities for military children as a passionate champion of Month of the Military Child, ensuring young people were recognised and celebrated.

Priyanka has moved onto a new role at BFBS, however she continues to champion the Armed Forces community. As a military spouse, Priyanka brings valuable lived experience to her work, strengthening her advocacy and impact.

Liz Mawdsley is a single parent to two neurodivergent children and a Trainee Development Coordinator at RAF Cosford. Drawing on her lived experience, she voluntarily leads multiple initiatives providing guidance and reassurance to service personnel and families navigating neurodiversity challenges, including a weekly support group and active involvement in the RAF Disability and Carers Network, attending conferences to ensure personnel are effectively signposted to appropriate support. Beyond this, she dedicates five hours each week to delivering inclusive swimming lessons at RAF Cosford Dolphins Swimming Club for children aged 4 to 18, including those with neurodiversity and disabilities, and is leading the military collaboration strand of RAF Cosford's museum renovation project, which will highlight the RAF's evolving understanding of neurodiversity.

Martyn Shaw has volunteered with Recruit For Spouses since 2017, delivering more than 300 hours of one-to-one coaching to over 25 military spouses and veterans.

A former apprentice bricklayer and former Army serviceman, Martyn draws on both lived experience and professional expertise to support spouses facing career disruption due to relocation. His empathetic, empowering approach has helped many rebuild confidence, achieve personal goals and secure sustainable employment, with feedback frequently describing his impact as life changing.

Lesley Collier is the founder of NeuroDiverse Community Catterick (NDC), a parent-led organisation supporting Armed Forces families affected by neurodiversity. A military spouse and parent carer to neurodivergent children herself, she recognised the lack of support for families navigating complex SEND needs and founded NDC in 2019.

Through her volunteer leadership, NDC has grown to support hundreds of forcea families across the UK and overseas, offering peer support, advocacy, sensory sessions and youth empowerment programmes. Lesley volunteers 20+ hours a week, providing personalised guidance, late-night calls and resources to families in crisis.

Her compassion, lived experience and tireless dedication have transformed isolation into connection for countless Armed Forces families, making her a true lifeline and inspiring leader in the military community.