Who is it for?
Third Culture Kids (TCKs) is the term used to describe anyone from anywhere who has spent time growing up outside their home country. The TCK forum is for anyone concerned with their welfare and usually meets once or twice each year.
What is its focus and what issues have we covered recently?
The forum’s main focus is to help and encourage the support, care, education and training of TCKs. Recent meetings have covered: 'Debriefing' for children on home leave and re-entry; children in restrictive societies; investigation procedures in child protection. The forum is also closely linked to the European TCK Network.
TCK Forum members provide one-day family-orientated events for families who spend time living and working overseas, and also run the Re-Konnect summer camps for TCKs aged 6-18 to aid return to the UK after a period of growing up overseas. A report on Re-Konnect 2011's 6-12 year-olds is available here.
Who is on the planning team?
The Chair is Steve Bryant (WEC International). Other members are Paul Lindsay (Global Connections), Janet Chapman (OMF), Ann Christian (SIM), Yolanda Jerrard (New Tribes Mission) and Gill Cheffy (Wycliffe Bible Translators).
If you would like help to think through your TCK care, including policies and procedures, please contact Paul Lindsay using the 'more information' link below.
Access to NHS Treatment for Mission Partners
The Department of Health has published some rules, procedures and documentation on access to hospital and primary health care, including NHS charges and exemptions for former UK residents currently working overseas. Missionaries are specifically named as an exempt category, eligible for free NHS treatment in England. Full information can be found on the Department of Health website.
