Lady Kitty Spencer, cousin to Royals William and Harry, joined Give Us Time in 2014 and from that moment on she has shown deep commitment in helping military families in need and raise awareness on Give Us Time work.

In December 2015 Kitty was interviewed by Tatler Magazine about her experience working with Give Us Time and all she does to help the Charity: “I do it because it’s such a great charity, but mainly because it gives me joy and it challenges me.”

Kitty is deeply involved in the Charity, meeting military families, welfare officers and trying to persuade more people to donate free holiday accommodation to those military families most in need. “I know the value of family”, Kitty explained in the Tatler article, “I come from a big, extended family myself. It is a support system, a source of strength and comfort through life’s ups and downs. For military personnel, family is the all-important backdrop to their professional lives. They need the stability and love to come back to, and they also need time away together.”

Give Us Time is very proud of Kitty’s work and her deep understanding of the challenges military families’ experience is remarkable.

As the article says, during a visit to Wellington Barracks to meet Service personnel in need “her blue eyes filled with tears on hearing about a soldier who needs a holiday arranged at once because he has cancer and not long to live.” Kitty’s meeting at Wellington Barracks was only one of many fact-finding and support visits. “I recently went to Center Parcs in Woburn to meet Captain Matthew Harris, his lovely wife Louise and their three boys, Henry, Edwards and Albert. Captain Harris explained that this time away was not something they would otherwise have been able to afford. Too often this is the case for military families. Last month we sent several families to a golf resort and spa in Turkey. One married couple in their 40s had never been away together before. Not once. I am so proud that Give Us Time is able to provide this precious time for rest and reconnection for those who need it most.”

She then underlined the importance of putting long-term effort in helping our Service men and women, highlighting how this is an important responsibility for each and every one in our community. “Last year [2014], our combat mission in Afghanistan came to an end. It is imperative that we make sure that there is an enduring support network for those who have come home. Give Us Time envisions a nation that truly looks after our military families, not just now, but over the long term. This is not just a government issue. I believe it is our individual responsibility, to not only understand the service and sacrifices of our troops and their families, but to take action where we can, to help lighten their load. It’s the very least our military families deserve.”

A big thank you to Lady Kitty Spencer for her support to Give Us Time and all our military families.