Armed Forces access to Jobcentre Plus services - update

 

As part of the Armed Forces Covenant, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has initiatives that help current and former armed forces personnel and your families access Jobcentre Plus services.

This includes having an armed forces champion in every Jobcentre Plus district who ensures that we provide support that meets your needs.

This page explains the role of the armed forces champion and the way you and your families can access our services.​

CLICK HERE​ to read the guidance

Defence Domestic Abuse Survivor Community & Awareness Network - for anyone employed by MOD

 

The Survivor Community is for women that are survivors of domestic abuse, providing peer support and signposting support and resources and has a safe, private group where survivors can interact. The wider network highlights and informs policy around domestic abuse in Defence, to help improve policies and practices and encourages engagement with wider Defence, promoting the need for survivors’ voices to be heard.

Read Defnet article

Read Welcome letter from Lt Col Elisabeth Roberts

Click HERE to view information flyer

Royal Mail - reinventing stamps for future generations

 

Royal Mail stamps are changing, so what should you do with your old stamps?

We’re adding barcodes to all our regular ‘everyday’ stamps. These are the stamps that should be very familiar with you. They feature the profile of Her Majesty the Queen on a plain coloured background. The barcodes will enable exciting new services by connecting physical stamps to the digital world through the Royal Mail app which you can download here.

We’re giving you plenty of notice about this change and any non-barcoded stamps you have will still be valid until 31 July 2023. If you won’t be able to use all of your stamps by that date you can swap them out for new barcoded ones.

Special Stamps with pictures on and Christmas Stamps without a bar code will continue to be valid and don’t need to be swapped out.

For more information and how to ‘swap them out’ visit www.royalmail.com/sending/barcoded-stamps

Chester: Upton Library - Regular Activities

Tuesday

Rhymetime: 2.15 - 2.45pm,weekly (term time only)

Wednesday

Scrabble Club: 10am - 12pm, fortnightly (alternates with Rummikub)
Rummikub: 10am - 12pm, fortnightly (alternates with Scrabble)
Not a Reading Group: 2.15pm - 3.15pm, last Wednesday in the month

Thursday

Knit and Natter: 10.30am - 11.30am, weekly
Poetry sharing: 2.15pm - 3.15pm, first Thursday of the month. No prior reading necessary. All welcome.

Friday

Storytime: 2.15 - 2.45pm, weekly (term time only)
A Cache of Crocheters: 5.45pm - 6.45pm, weekly. New crochet club. All welcome.

Saturday

Lego and mega bloks club: 10am - 12pm, fortnightly 
Children's board games: 10am - 12pm, fortnightly

Further information can be found HERE

Information provided by Chester HIVE

Update for Tax Free Childcare for Non-UK National Personnel and Families

 

For more information, visit the Defence Childcare portal ​(on MODnet), Discover My Benefits or dial in to one of the Wrap Around Childcare Webinars.

To view/listen to the update, please CLICK HERE

Op RESTORE - The new name for the Veterans trauma network

Op RESTORE is the new name for the Veterans Trauma Network.

CLICK HERE​ for full details

DIO's Service Family Accommodation 'Families First' newsletter - issue 8

 

To read DIO's Service Family Accommodation Newsletter: Families First - Issue 8, please CLICK HERE and click 'latest news for SFA residents'

Afghanistan - Voices Of Service

 

The Imperial War Museums (IWM) and King’s Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR) at King’s College London are seeking 100 participants to take part in a new oral history project on deploying to Afghanistan between 2001-2021. This project is also looking to hear from members of the Armed Forces community if their family member deployed to Afghanistan in the same period.

If you served in Afghanistan with the UK Armed Forces or experienced having a family member deploy, we want to hear from you.

This is an opportunity for you to share your experiences and your thoughts on the subsequent withdrawal of troops in August 2021.

Please click here for the full information sheet.

‘Serving Personnel should follow local Unit/Bde Media Ops guidance before agreeing to participate’

Grantham: Story time at Grantham Library

Information provided by Grantham HIVE

 

HM Prison & Probation Service ‘Advance Into Justice’ Armed Forces recruitment – now open for applications

 

Whether you're in the process of leaving the Armed Forces, a veteran or a Spouse or Legal Partner of a Serving Person or Veteran; Advance into Justice is the opportunity for you. Advance into Justice allows you to take up a rewarding second career within HM Prison & Probation Service, access great resettlement packages, employment benefits, training and progression opportunities. Join us and you'll continue to use your transferrable skills to protect the public and play a vital role in the criminal justice system.

Advance into Justice offers a wide range of roles within both prison and probation environments across England and Wales.

Visit their website HERE

Further information is contained in their booklet HERE​

Lyneham: Bouncy castle for hire from 5Bn Welfare team

 

To book please scan the QR code or email vanessa.armand100@mod.gov.uk

Information provided by Lyneham HIVE

Chester: Cheshire West & Chester Libraries - eBooks, eAudiobooks and eMagazines - available from Borrowbox & Libby

Dip your toe into the best books of 2023 so far available now on BorrowBox!

With new releases from perennial favourite authors to smash-hit debuts. 

Borrowbox is free to use - for further information click HERE

Also enjoy our collection of eAudiobooks and eMagazines

Information provided by Chester HIVE

Grantham: Ready for a new you?

www.oneyoulincolnshire.org.uk

Information provided by Grantham HIVE

 

The Poppy Factory - new families employment programme

 

The Poppy Factory are launching a brand new Families Employment Programme!

The programme is designed to support adult family members or carers of veterans with health conditions get back into work, change careers, begin volunteering or improve their current employment situation.

The one to one support is offered fully remotely via video call, email and telephone.​

Please click here to visit the website

Serve & Protect Credit Union - 'play and give' charity challenge

Click here for details of the SSAFA challenge!

Or alternatively to find out more about all the different charity challenges, click here.

Gillingham: Armed Forces Day Celebrations, Great Lines Heritage Park on Saturday 24th June

 

Medway will once again be celebrating Armed Forces Day

There will be a spectacular gathering of the Armed Forces and Veterans at the Great Lines Heritage Park, Gillingham on Saturday, 24 June.

 
There will be plenty on, including a military parade, fairground rides and much more so stay frosty and watch your six for incoming updates

Find out more at: https://orlo.uk/kMBiW

National Cyber Security Centre - phishing: spot and report scam emails, texts, websites and calls

 

'Phishing' is when criminals use scam emails, text messages or phone calls to trick their victims. The aim is often to make you visit a website, which may download a virus onto your computer, or steal bank details or other personal information.

This link explains how to report phishing attempts, and protect yourself from scammers.

Corsham: Community hub market at MOD Corsham Community Centre

Please click image to enlarge

Review of offer for Serving Personnel and their families published

 

The Haythornthwaite Review of Armed Forces Incentivisation (HRAFI) is an independent review of terms and conditions – "the offer" – for Service Personnel. It also seeks to determine ways to attract and retain new and next generations out to 2035 and beyond.​​ Click the link below to read the review.

Agency and Agility: Incentivising people in a new era - a review of UK Armed Forces incentivisation - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Staffordshire: Forces Families Jobs - Defence Medical Services

Click www.forcesfamiliesjobs.co.uk/ to view jobs that are currently available at Defence Medical Services and other local employers.

Information provided by: Lichfield HIVE

Fife: Forces Children Scotland Ruby Boots for military children whose parents are transitioning out of the Armed Forces

click on the image to enlarge

When parents leave the armed forces, it means big changes for their children too.
Ruby Boots helps young people in Fife with parents leaving the armed forces or have recently done so.

Ruby Boots provide peer buddy mentors, who are young people who have already made the change from military to civilian life with their families.
Peer Buddy Mentors will share lived experience, answer important questions, provide friendship, and organise fun-based activities and much more.

So, that means we’re looking for young people who have veteran parents in Fife to get involved too to sign-up as peer Buddy Mentors.
We’re also looking for adults from all backgrounds to get involved as Facilitators to help relationships to flourish between the young people involved in Ruby Boots.

Ruby Boots is funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust.

For more information 👉 https://forceschildrenscotland.org.uk

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Chester: LGBT Support Group - Saturdays at 10.30-11.30 - Rage Fitness Centre, Blacon

LGBTQIA+ Support Group every Saturday at 1030 till 1130 at the Rage Fitness Wellbeing Centre in partnership with Calm Coffee.

This is a support group for people within the LGBTQIA+/ alternative community to get together to support each other and for allies to support us as well.

This group is to help build confidence in a supportive community environment within the Blacon/ Chester area for the LGBTQIA+/ alternative community to stand strong and proud, while feeling that they can do that in a safe environment.

No need to book just turn up.

Information provided by Chester HIVE

Chester: Running Club - FREE - Meet Every Saturday at 9am - The Rage Fitness & Wellbeing Centre, Blacon

Rage Fitness & SPT Running Club is for everyone, especially those who have always fancied running but don’t think it’s for them. Any ability, any age, children MUST Be accompanied by an adult.

Our running club is completely FREE, a fantastic way to learn to run, improve overall health, loose weight and feel fantastic.

Every Saturday at 9am, meeting location at The Rage Fitness Wellbeing Centre, Blacon

Information provided by Chester HIVE 

Grantham: Fibromyalgia, CFS and Chronic Pain Peer Support Group

Information provided by Grantham HIVE

 

Stafford: SSAFA tri services and veterans support centre Stoke-on-Trent

Families in need can get free food at weekly event set up by veterans' charity

Items on offer at the Tri Services and Veterans' Support Centre include fresh fruit and veg, tinned goods and a variety of snacks.

At Tri Services we have a food bank that can be used by veterans & their families also married or single service personal can ask for support . Phone 07935152590.  If you need to use this service pop into the HIVE and talk to Dawn she will explain how you can request and receive any food parcels you need . 

https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/families-need-can-free-food-4577073?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar

Information provided by Stafford HIVE

Are you planning on using Wraparound Childcare from Autumn term 2023? Have you applied for a TFC account?

 

The Wraparound Childcare (WAC) scheme provides funding to eligible Service parent(s) for up to 20 hours per week of before and after school childcare during term time only.

Funding for WAC is designed to assist working Service families with the cost of before and after school childcare and to allow partners to get back into work (or for both partners to potentially work more hours).

If your child is under 4 years old or you are a civilian, find out what childcare support is available to you on gov.uk.

Medway Council: Loneliness and Isolation Hub

 

Have you seen Medway's new online information hub which can help you find all our services and resources that help with loneliness and social isolation? If you or someone you know is feeling lonely, there are lots of helpful resources available - from ways to connect, to mental health advice as well as specific help for young people and carers.

Find it HERE

Information provided by Chatham HIVE

Leuchars: AWS Community Support are looking for volunteers

click on image to enlarge

If you think you can spare a few hours and help Kerry and Jane then please get in touch; jane.allen208@mod.gov.uk.

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Leuchars Station: Pop up Post Office

A Pop up Post Office is held in the Leuchars Community Hall (building with the cash machine/co-working hub).

Opening hours are Wednesday 9.30am - 11.30am

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

NHS England Armed Forces healthcare update - Jun 23

 

Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA)

The Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance’s (VCHA) website has been refreshed to support an easier user journey. New content includes an introductory video on the VCHA, which is a group of NHS ‘Veteran Aware’ accredited provider organisations in England committed to providing the best standards of care for the Armed Forces community. Also available is information on the team behind the work, useful links to resources for the Armed Forces community and information on its broadened scope to accredit independent providers and hospices (as directed by the Government’s commitments in the Veterans Strategy Action Plan 2022 – 2024).

70 per cent of all NHS trusts in England have now joined the alliance and are accredited as Veteran Aware. Accreditation helps to ensure that the specific health and wellbeing needs of veterans is recognised and supported to help improve patient outcomes and experience.

Chester: The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) - Find Activities Near Dale Barracks

The Conservation Volunteers bring people together to create, improve and care for green spaces. From local parks and community gardens to Local Nature Reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest; from school grounds and hospital grounds to waterways, wetlands and woodlands; we connect people to the green spaces that form a vital part of any healthy, happy community.

Find out what  Activities are on: HERE

Information provided by Chester HIVE

JSP534 - Tri-service resettlement manual - updated June 2023

 

JSP534 - the Tri-Service Resettlement Manual - has now been updated.

Please see HERE for full details.

BFPO EU postal update - June 23

 

In January 2023, BFPO informed customers of important changes when sending mail and parcels via the BFPO system to European Union member states as part of the European Union Import Control System 2 requirement. It’s important to note that these changes are not unique to BFPO mail and will be applied to all worldwide mail.

Please click here for more information.

The main change to BFPO customers sending items to EU locations is the introduction of Harmonised System Codes which need to be included as part of the business to customer/e-commerce item customs declarations. As a basic rule, businesses who send international mail should already be including Harmonised System Codes as part of their item data declarations and from the 01 July 2023 any items addressed to EU locations that do not have mandatory data fields completed will be at risk of being delayed or even returned.

Become a Community Connection Champion with SSAFA

 

#ConnectionMatters is the theme of this year's #LonelinessAwarenessWeek, and the wonderful groups and events that SSAFA's Community Connection Champions host are a chance to connect with others.

Bowling, walking groups and art sessions - there's so much happening!

If you are interested in becoming a Community Connection Champion, you can find out more here.

Broadband boost for military staff and their families

 

Better broadband is on the way for military personnel and their families. Teams across Defence have already improved broadband speeds and reliability for Service Family Accommodation (SFA). Working hard with industry partners, they’re ensuring everyone has access to high quality broadband. To read the full article, click here

How can SFAs report a slow download speed issue?​
We’re still making improvements and need your help to deliver the best service. If you’re a resident in SFA and suffer from poor download speeds, we’d like to know. Please take a screenshot of your speedtest and let us know the time and day of the reading. Send this to ukstratcomdd-cis-fc-brdbnd@mod.gov.uk.

Kinloss: Mobile Information bus

click on image to enlarge

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust: Funding available for transformational work with the Armed Forces community

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) has announced the launch of their Transformational Grants programme for 2023/24.

Hexham: Farmers' Market

Hexham Farmers' Market is back this Saturday. It takes place on the second and forth Saturday of each month. You can check out the local producers who take part here  https://www.hexhamfarmersmarket.co.uk/our-producers/

Information provided by Newcastle HIVE

Carers week 2023: Information for Carers in Defence

 

Every year, Carers Week raises awareness of the experiences, responsibilities, and challenges of being a carer and recognises their valuable contribution.

This year, Carers Week takes place from Monday 5 June to Sunday 11 June, with the theme ‘recognising and supporting carers in the community.’

Defence strives to provide a supportive workplace for carers, offering a whole range of support, information, and guidance for carers and their managers.

To read about guidance and support for all Carers in Defence, please click here.

Scotland: The latest issue of Scotland 4 kids is now available.

click on image to read magazine

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Rochester: Medway Adult Education, Free Courses Online or in the Centre

 

There’s never been a better time to update your numeracy skills with a short course either online or in-centre.

These practical and informative sessions are designed to build confidence with numbers and be of use in everyday life. They can help with everything from planning your weekly shopping spend, managing bills, cooking to helping the kids with their homework.

It's fun getting to grips with numbers via practical topics such as gardening, cooking, pottery and more

Do it for you: https://orlo.uk/gp3Y7

Information provided by Chatham HIVE

Forces Employment Charity: help into employment for service personnel, veterans and their families

 

If you’re looking for support with your CV, returning to work after a break or need advice on transferring skills and qualifications from the military, we can help!

Our expert employment advisors offer advice and guidance and work one-to-one with you providing tailored support to help you uncover strengths and aspirations and find a career to suit you.

Sign up at forcesemployment.org.uk/EM3​

Facebook: Forces Employment Charity
Instagram: @forcesemploymentcharity
Twitter: @ForcesEmploy

Rutland Cottesmore: Little Legs Nursey Kendrew Barracks Cottesmore

 

Information provided by Cottesmore HIVE