September 30, 2021

War Widows Knock on the Door: An Exploratory Study of the Experiences of Bereaved Military Families

NEW REPORT : War Widows Knock on the Door: An Exploratory Study of the Experiences of Bereaved Military Families The aim of this study was to explore and understand the impact that death, whilst in military service, has on the surviving family. Specifically, it focused on how casualty notification was undertaken and the impact that the current process had on the long-term wellbeing of the family. https://covenantfund.org.uk/.../war-widows-knock-on-the.../ loss.

Scotland: RCET new name, Forces Children Scotland

We have made big changes

Today, we have officially launched as Forces Children Scotland!

It was a major decision to change things, and we know that adapting to change can be hard. However, we realised our former name was proving a barrier to helping others understand what we do.
In changing our name, we're ready! We hope you like all the big changes we have made in co-producing our new brand with children and young people.

Learn more about our rebrand journey: here

Oakham Armed Forces & Veterans Breakfast Club

 


September 29, 2021

Youth Employment UK

Are you aged 16-19 and thinking about your future? Our free online Explore Work Experience programme can help. It’s a handy way to explore the world of work and start thinking about what might suit you. 

Edinburgh: Victim Support Group

click on image 👆 to enlarge

East Riding: ERYC Waste management as of 1st Oct

 

From 1 October 2021, East Riding Resident's will require a Pass or proof of residency to gain access to Household Waste and Recycling Sites (HWRS) by car. Households will receive a 'Pass' for use with HWRSs.

Your nearest Household Waste Recycling Sites:

Beverley: Weel Road, HU17 0SU Timings: Mon-Sun: 10am-5pm

Driffield: Church Lane, YO25 5XE Timings: Mon-Sun: 10am-5pm

For 'standard' and 'non-standard' bulk waste collection click HERE

For more information please go to: www.eastriding.gov.uk or download the ERYC App HERE

Social Security Scotland - Child disability Payment

Child Disability Payment will open for applications across Scotland from 22 November 2021.
You do not need to apply if your child already gets Disability Living Allowance for children.

From mid October children aged 16 or over who get Disability Living Allowance for children will have their award transferred to us in phases.

Clients aged up to 15-years-old will have their award transferred from spring 2022.

Payments will continue to be made at the same rates and on the same payment cycle.

September 28, 2021

Wattisham: Work Well Suffolk

Information provided by Wattisham HIVE

Northumberland: Citizens Advice


Our drop-in service is on a Monday & Wednesday between 10am-midday.

Oakham: Oakham Castle - A Brief History of Music

 

A Brief History Of Music

Oakham: Peppers, a Safe Place

 

Pop in for a cup of tea/ coffee, chat, play games, relax and have fun!

There’s no pressure, just a safe place to be yourself and take a break.

N.B drop-in sessions are for adults (aside from the Parent and Baby group)

September 27, 2021

Lancashire County Council - Jobs employment and volunteering


To see current employment vacancies or
volunteering opportunities visit our website below:

Chester: Topsy Tumbles at Northgate Arena, Tuesdays and Thursdays

Topsy Tumbles has returned to Northgate Arena

Ideal for children under the age of 5
Book on-line or call in at the centre
Booking recommended
Tuesdays and Thursdays 9.30-11.30am
£2.80 per child


 

National Careers Service

If you're thinking about taking an online course to gain a qualification you might benefit from our advice to get the most out of it by preparing yourself and your environment.
Read our tips and find where to get free courses to build your skills 👉

Blackpool: Armed Forces Football - For current & ex-forces personnel


NEW SESSION - Forces Football
Starting Thursday 8th October
5 – a – side football

Meet other current and ex-forces personnel, have a laugh and kick about with the opportunity to represent BFCCT at events against other professional football clubs.

Venue: Play Football, Blackpool, Garstang Road
Time: 6pm – 7pm
Day: Thursday
Cost: £2 per session – First session FREE

BOOKING is essential - please call 01253 348 691

More information http://www.bfcct.co.uk/community/armed-forces/

Leuchars: European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) available

click on images 👆 to enlarge

September 23, 2021

St Athan: MOD Police - NHS COVID Pass Scam


 Double click to enlarge

Money Talks - First Defence Finance Newsletter


To view the latest newsletter online, click HERE

First Defence Finance is a trading name of Plane Saver Credit Union. In October 2015, with the support of the Ministry of Defence, Plane Saver launched to offer our service for HM Armed Forces Personnel with deductions straight from their JPA payroll.

The Ministry of Defence is supporting three of the UK's leading credit unions to join forces and make saving simple and loans more affordable to the Armed Forces and its Veterans. To find out more click HERE

More Support for Veterans in Jobcentre Plus Locations



The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has increased its support for job hunting veterans, services leavers, and their families, at various Jobcentre Plus locations.

A new role of Armed Forces Champions Lead has been added, in addition to the existing 50 Armed Forces Champions. These Leads will be responsible for overseeing the Champions, and will be based in each Jobcentre Plus district.

September 22, 2021

Transition Life Skills Info Sheet No.16 - Preventative Welfare Guidance


This Life Skills Welfare Information Sheet seeks to highlight those welfare issues that most commonly affect Service Personnel (SP) and family members and offer some basic guidance on how some of these might be avoided, and if they cannot be avoided, signpost to where support and assistance can be found.

To view this document online, including the embedded links within the document, click HERE

If you are using a MODnet device and are unable to view the attached document, please email colernehive@armymail.mod.uk requesting that a copy of the document be emailed to you

Lancashire - Trafford Hall Families Programme 2021/22

What is it?

• Fully funded 3 day (2 night) residential programme designed to support forces
families that are facing challenge and finding it difficult to cope as a family unit
(targeting those with primary age children).

• Time away to reconnect/rebuild as a family unit, build communication, resilience
and learn to solve problems, become stronger as a family unit.

• At the very beautiful Trafford Hall www.traffordhall.com

• Delivered by our brilliant partners Healthbox www.healthboxcic.com

• Fully funded via the Armed Forces covenant fund https://covenantfund.org.uk/

Click HERE to find out more about Trafford Hall and what they can offer to Forces Families.

Use the Booking Form link below to book a place.

Weeton - Army Cadets - Recruiting Now

 
Now also on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/kirkhamandweetondetachment/

Broadband Providers Drop Cancellation Fees for Armed Forces Personnel


Mark Lancaster, Minister for Defence Veterans, Reserves and Personnel has announced that armed forces personnel will no longer have to face cancellation fees for their broadband and media packages when posted overseas or to another part of the UK not covered by their current provider.

The commitment from the UK’s biggest broadband providers representing 95 per cent of Britain’s broadband market comes into force immediately, and will benefit tens of thousands of forces households in the UK and abroad.

The change agreed to under the tenets of the Armed Forces Covenant includes BT, EE, Plusnet, Talk Talk and Virgin Media, who have all committed to treating military personnel fairly when cancelling their contracts.
Up until now, members of the armed forces deployed overseas or to different part of the UK not covered by their provider could be forced to pay a cancellation fee. They will no longer have to face this cost and be disadvantaged due to the mobile nature of service life

Weeton - Stay & Play - Back On


In association with HOME START Blackpool, Wyre & Fylde

STAY & PLAY FAMILY SESSIONS
Location: Weeton Community Centre

Everyone welcome

Lancashire - Healthier Lancashire - The Orange Button Community Scheme


Have you heard of the ‘orange button’ scheme?

It’s been set up to help people who are having thoughts of suicide, or who are worried about a friend or family member.

Weeton - Children's Centre - Family Session

Children & Family Wellbeing Service - Fylde & Wyre
WE ARE BACK!!
Location: Weeton Family Centre
Timing: 10:00am to 11:30am
Come along and join Hollie for the weekly sessions for families with children aged 0 to 4 years of age. The sessions will be held in the Weeton Family Centre, situated in the Unit Welfare Office Building and will provide a safe place for children and families to get to know each other and access many fun activities.

The Trades Brigade - Employment Support & Training For Service Leavers


The Trades Brigade is a national business that assists ex-military personnel who wish to become tradesmen or those who are already established as tradesmen. Built with a military ethos, the company provides work and training opportunities as well as business support and discount prices to ex-military tradesmen.

To visit the website CLICK HERE 

RBL - Teaching Remembrance

 

Whether you're home schooling or a teacher looking to teach Remembrance at your school, we can help. Our new Together Across The Commonwealth teaching resources look at collaboration between Britain and the Commonwealth, from the 5 millions volunteers who served alongside British troops in the Second World War to the diversity of modern Britain today. 

These are a great way to prepare children to take part in Remembrance this year so download yours today. 👉 www.britishlegion

HM Passport Office - Passport Renewal/Replacement

 

People have been urged not to delay in applying for a British passport and to allow more time for it to be processed.
While it is still illegal to holiday overseas and the “Stay in the UK” regulation remains in place, by applying for a passport now, people can make sure nothing stands in their way when they can.

During the pandemic, Her Majesty’s Passport Office has seen a significant drop in the number of people applying for passports. In a normal year it processes around seven million passport applications, however in 2020 just over 4 million people applied for their passport.
While all applications will be processed as quickly as possible, people should now allow up to 10 weeks when applying for their British passport to help manage this demand.

Applying online is the cheapest and easiest way to obtain your passport.

Forces Pension Society - Rules on the Resettlement Grant

MoD has updated the Resettlement Grant figures on their website , so we thought why not explain a little more about the rules around the Grant.

Some people think that the RG is something to do with paying for resettlement courses or training – this is wrong. The RG is a tax-free lump sum intended to help Regular Service personnel settle into civilian life. There is no stipulation as to what you can spend it on BUT you need to remember that there are breaks in service to be observed and, if you take up another military post too quickly, you might have to repay some or all of your RG.

To read more 👉 Forces Pension Society 

Veterans' Gateway - Is Your Family Leaving the Services?

 

Is your family leaving the Services? 
to us and we can help you plan early. From deciding where to live and what job you want to do, to enrolling your kids in the local school and finding out where to meet new people in your community, planning early is key.
Get in touch and let us help you 📞 0808 802 1212 💻 veteransgateway.org.uk

Barclays Van hits the road!

 

Barclays have taken the bank’s financial expertise on the road, by providing a face to face and accessible service for those living in remote and rural communities.

The van is parked up at towns and villages, hospitals, colleges and businesses across the county, helping those who need support with budgeting, financial wellbeing or saving for the future.

Hosted by local Barclays bank colleagues, the van offers financial mentoring, digital education and the chance to complete complex banking services on your doorstep – and is a service open to both customers and non-customers.

If an appointment with a specialist is required, simply visit barclays.co.uk/van to find out when the van will be nearby.

Ripple Pond - Support For You If You're Looking After A Physically Or Mentally Injured Serving Person Or Veteran


If you're looking after a physically or mentally-injured serving person or a veteran, Ripple Pond are here to support YOU.


They'll connect you with a network of Forces families who have felt - or are still feeling - the exact way that you're feeling right now.


Please click HERE to find out more



 

Active solutions to prevent the practical act of suicide - The Jordan Legacy

 

Please click on the above image 👆 to read more

Children's Education Advisory Service

Please click on the image above 👆 to access the full CEAS Leaflet

Defence Children Services (DCS) Moving Your Family?

 

Moving your family to a new location? If you have any educational concerns, please feel free to contact Defence Children Services when you are moving on at
 DCYP-CEAS-Enquiries@mod.gov.uk 🏫

Forces Pension Society - Rejoining? What happens to your AFPS05/15 EDP and RG?

 

Last month in the June 2021 issue of Pathfinder we looked at how pensions are abated on taking up further military posts.

This month we examine what happens to AFPS 05 and AFPS 15 Early Departure Payment (EDP) and Resettlement Grants (RGs) -both of which are only payable to Regulars - in the same circumstances.
To read article in full go to 👉 forcespensionsociety.org

Enhanced Learning Credit (ELC) Scheme and Publicly Funded Further and Higher Education (PF FE-HE) Commitment Scheme Policy Change

 

Forthcoming Enhanced Learning Credit (ELC) Scheme and Publicly Funded Further and Higher Education (PF FE-HE) Commitment Scheme Policy Change

This DIN informs Service personnel and Education Staff about a planned forthcoming policy change to the Enhanced Learning Credit (ELC) and Publicly Funded Further and Higher Education (PF FE-HE) Commitment Schemes, with effect from 30 March 2021. The ELC and PF FE-HE schemes can be accessed by Service leavers up to 10 years after they have left service. The policy change will allow those who left the Armed Forces between 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2016 to have their original 10-year entitlement reinstated.

DOMESTIC ABUSE - Safety plan

 

To view the full document please click HERE

September 21, 2021

Trading Standards Scotland - scam Royal Mail texts

There are still lots of reports of scam Royal Mail texts which ask you to tap a link to pay a dispatch fee

Royal Mail DO NOT collect shipping costs by email/text

Links in unexpected texts often lead to scam sites designed to gather your details

Z is for Zestful




Y is for 37 Years!

 


X is for Xenial



A is for Arrivals



Are You Travelling Abroad Soon? Take A Look At This Travel Checklist


For further advice and guidance, click HERE


Catterick: Contact - Royal British Legion