The University of Portsmouth’s second We See You event brought together diverse voices from across the Armed Forces community.
On 23 September, the University of Portsmouth held its second We See You event, bringing together people from across the Armed Forces community, the University, charities, education, research and local organisations.
The Learning Journeys Behind Service Life
The theme for the morning was The Learning Journeys Behind Service Life, exploring some of the experiences that can sit behind and around military service, including identity, transition, deployment, family life, education and belonging, particularly those that aren't always immediately visible.
We See You, co-led by David Mather and Sue Knight, brings together lived experience, education, research and community. Recognition sits at the heart of the work: creating opportunities to recognise the breadth of experiences connected to service, learn from different perspectives and consider how that recognition might inform what we do.
Following the success of the inaugural We See You event, which brought together voices from across the Armed Forces community to share experiences, build connections and encourage greater understanding, the initiative returned this year for its second event.
Different perspectives, shared learning
The morning brought together four very different perspectives.
Vice Admiral Sir Martin Connell, who recently retired from the Royal Navy following almost four decades of service, shared reflections on learning, leadership, identity and transition.
Debbie Sutton from Aggie Weston’s, who works with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, introduced the Emotional Cycle of Deployment and explored the experiences surrounding deployment, including those of families and relationships around serving personnel.
Dr Liam Satchell, Director of the SCiP Alliance Impact Centre, spoke about the work of the SCiP Alliance to improve educational experiences and outcomes for children from Armed Forces families.
Roger Morrad brought a deeply personal perspective to the morning, sharing experiences of service and life beyond it in a moving contribution that prompted considerable reflection and conversation.
The breadth of perspectives was deliberate. Rather than presenting a single account of Armed Forces life, the event created space for different experiences to sit alongside one another and for people from different organisations and backgrounds to learn from each other.
Reflection, connection and recognition
Conversation was an important part of the morning, with time for networking and a facilitated reflection inviting attendees to consider what they had heard, how it connected with their own work and experience, and what they might do differently as a result.
The event forms part of the wider and ongoing work of We See You, which has included work with trainee teachers and continues to develop opportunities for education and awareness across the University and beyond. It is also helping to strengthen connections between the University and the wider network of Armed Forces organisations, charities, researchers, educators, serving personnel, veterans and families.
The event demonstrated the value of bringing those different perspectives together, not because everyone shares the same experience, but because there is much to be learned by creating spaces where those experiences can be heard, recognised and connected.
We See You
Explore how we bring together research and lived experience to improve our understanding of how service-based communities shape wellbeing.
Community partnerships
Find out more about our work with members of the local community, care leavers, BAME communities and schools, plus the support on offer.
Civic University
Explore how we're collaborating with local partners to widen opportunities, strengthen the economy and support our local communities.
