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

Lyneham: Craft & Chat Group - Wednesday nights 1830-2130 hrs

 Information provided by Colerne and Lyneham HIVE

Grantham: Lincolnshire Domestic Abuse Specialist Service

The Lincolnshire domestic abuse support service (LDASS) is live!

This service offers improved assistance to Lincolnshire families experiencing domestic abuse.

If you are suffering from domestic abuse please call: 01522 510041. For urgent help, call 999.

Information provided by Grantham HIVE

 

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'

Looking for a new Career - Watch our Webinar

To watch the Replay on Modnet click HERE

To watch the Replay on an external device click HERE

The presentation commences at 16 minutes, please fast forward.

Information provided by Catterick HIVE Hub

 

Hereford: Events in aid of St Michael's Hospice

Please see all the following events being run in aid of St Michael's Hospice.

https://www.st-michaels-hospice.org.uk/event/st-michaels-hospice-swimathon/

https://www.st-michaels-hospice.org.uk/events/

Information provided by St Michael's Hospice.

Gateshead: Costco, MOD membership

Information provided by Newcastle HIVE

 

Shropshire: NHS inourplace online course for adults understanding your relationships

Information provided by Stafford HIVE

 

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’

Shropshire: Free online course for parents - understanding the impact of the pandemic on your teenager

 

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Information provided by Stafford HIVE

Shropshire: NHS inourplace all online courses

 

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Information provided by Stafford HIVE

Shropshire: Free online courses from inourplace NHS

 

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Information provided by Stafford HIVE

Shropshire: Solihull Approach presents two online courses exclusively for Teenagers

 

Information provided by Stafford HIVE

Shropshire: NHS understanding your Child 0-19yrs online course for parents

 

Information provided by Stafford HIVE

Grantham: Story time at Grantham Library

Information provided by Grantham HIVE

 

Shropshire: A new online course for parents - understanding your child with additional needs

Information provided by Stafford 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

Catterick: Support Group for Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide

Information provided by Catterick HIVE Hub

 

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

East Riding: Free Green Sacks

Information provided by Leconfield 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

East Riding: Cuppa Chorus

Information provided by Leconfield HIVE
 

Stafford: Over 55's Tuesday mixer club - White Eagle Club, Riverway Stafford

Information provided by Stafford HIVE

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.

Colerne: Discounted park passes available from Colerne Station Welfare team

 

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Corsham: Community hub market at MOD Corsham Community Centre

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North Yorkshire: Lightwater Valley discounted admission

To show our appreciation we are offering discounted admission to Teachers, Military personnel and the Emergency Services on dedicated weekends this June and July!

As a thank you to all of those working in these amazing professions, we would like to invite you to the park on the listed weekend, for JUST £15PP!

Teacher Weekend - 24-25 June. Use code 'LOVETEACHER' at checkout.

Military Weekend - 1-2 July. Use code 'LOVEMILITARY' at checkout.

Emergency Services Weekend - 8-9 July. Use code 'LOVEEMERGENCY' at checkout.

Pre-book your tickets today!

T&C's
You must bring some form of workplace ID with you, alongside your booking reference, to gain entry.
This is an online offer only.
This discount is available for the member of staff who works in the profession, PLUS 4 other family members, reducing the ticket price to £15pp.
This discount is available on standard 90cm+ and disabled tickets only.
The teacher weekend is available for anyone working in the educational profession. 

Information provided by Catterick HIVE Hub

North Yorkshire: Wensleydale Railway Offers

Children travel for only £1.00 on all our normal scheduled train services and this offer is valid all year round!! We also offer our local residents a 25% travel discount. Combining both these offers give local families a great value day out on our volunteer-led heritage railway. As the summer holidays approach, there has never been a better time to visit us! For more information and to book tickets:
Visit - https://wensleydale-railway.co.uk/running-days-2023/
Email - admin@wensleydalerailway.com
Phone - 01677 425 805

Information provided by Catterick HIVE Hub

 

Kent Police: Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)

 

Crimes and behaviour covered by the term Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) include:

- rape and other sexual offences
- domestic abuse
- stalking
- ‘honour’-based abuse (including female genital mutilation forced marriage, and ‘honour’ killings)
as well as many others, including offences committed online

We are committed to eradicating all forms of violence against women and girls and have a strong approach to actively pursue violent perpetrators. We want women and girls who live, work and socialise in our communities to feel safe. To achieve this we will be focusing on five key areas: 

Read more

Information provided by Chatham HIVE

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

Leuchars: Rhyme time for babies & tots Tues 9:15 - 9:45 now held in the Community Centre

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Rhyme time is now held in the Community Centre.

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

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

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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

 

Northallerton: Forces Friendly NAAFI break time 1st Weds of every month

Information provided by Catterick HIVE Hub