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- TOP: Blog posts by area; subject-specific information sheets; links to HIVE's Social Media, and a map of contact details for our worldwide information centres and their Location Guides.
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- RIGHT COLUMN: Contact HIVE with your specific query.
- CENTRAL SECTION: All the latest posts in date order:

May 31, 2024

Wiltshire: Garden waste collection renewals

 

Renew your garden waste collection by Friday 28 June to avoid missing a collection.

To help improve the security of your details, if you wish to sign up or renew a garden waste collection service online, you will need to sign into your Wiltshire Council account or register for a new account if you don't already have one.

If you're registering for the first time, there is a video and guide on our YouTube channel.



Information provided by Colerne & Lyneham HIVE's

Tidworth: Army Welfare Service - Volunteers needed


 Information provided by South West HIVE Hub

Scotland: The Army Benevolent Fund in Scotland events for 2024

Thank you for your support in 2023. None of what we do for the Army family would be possible without our fantastic supporters. Here is more information on the range of fundraising activities you can get involved in this year. Whether you are looking to get fit, become a part of our incredible fundraising community, or simply support the Army family, we have a wide range of events taking place across Scotland in 2024.

28 February - Glasgow Big Curry
28 March - Inverness Big Curry
2 May - Irvine Charity Golf Day
12 May - Fife Clay Shoot
16 May - Duddingston Charity Golf Day
25 & 26 May - Edinburgh Marathon Festival
7-9 June - Cateran Yomp
24 June - Big Bimble
5 September - Nairn Dunbar Charity Golf Day
14 &15 September - Kinloss Race The Runway
26 September - Bruntsield Links Charity Golf Day
24 October - Dundee Big Curry
30 October - Edinburgh Big Curry
5 December - Christmas Carol Service

You can find out more about the fundraisers listed and other ABF here 👉Events - Army Benevolent Fund


Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

May 30, 2024

Grantham: Business health innovation voluntary education community Bhive






Supporting Grantham and local community!

Information provided by Grantham HIVE

 

Grantham: The Night Light Cafe


Information provided by Grantham HIVE

 

Grantham: Supporting emotional health and wellbeing from 0-19


Free online courses for parents, grandparents, teens and carers. Parents courses can be accessed via inourplace|Solihull Approach-Lincolnshire|inourplace

Information provided by Grantham HIVE


 

Grantham: Reconnecting Grantham to its Historic Landscape



Londonthorpe Woods and Bellmount, two sites for families to explore and enjoy. www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/about-us/where-we-work/england/londonthorpe-woods-and-bellmount-project/


Information provided by Grantham HIVE

 

Dandelion Military Families bereavement support group

 

May 29, 2024

West Midlands: Parent/Carer Survey (Neurodiversity Perspective) Midlands Partnership Foundation Trust


 

Midlands Partnership Foundation Trust are looking to redesign the services for children and young people with neurodiverse needs.

We need your help to shape our services for the children and young people.

Everyone’s brains are wired in different ways.

‘Neurodivergence’ is where a person’s brain works differently from that of most other people.

Complete survey HERE

Information supplied by: Central HIVE Hub

Gloucestershire: 'The Robin' bookable bus service

 

Department for Transport (DfT) funding helped launch The Robin pilot, which currently operates in the Forest of Dean and the North Cotswolds. This pilot is now expanding into parts of Tewkesbury, Berkeley Vale and the South Cotswolds thanks to extra DfT funding of over £1.5million over two years.

The Robin is a local, friendly bookable bus service where passengers search for their ideal journey and book a pickup and drop off location that suits them.

It's affordable at only £2 per journey and connects passengers with transport links such as bus stops or directly to a location if there are no other transport options available.

The Robin improves connections between rural areas which often have infrequent or no other transport available. By offering this it increases access to services and the wider transport network in the county, expanding access to employment, education, healthcare and shopping.

Please click here for further details

Information provided by Lyneham HIVE

Lyneham: Available for hire for Lyneham SP and military families

 

Please note that these facilities are provided by 5 FS BN REME but available to all Serving Personnel and military families living and working at MOD Lyneham.

Information provided by Lyneham HIVE

Dalkeith: Female Veterans, partners and wives of Veterans drop in Tues 4th June 1700-2000 at the Lothian Veterans Centre


Ladies, for the next event you will be transported to Fiji 💮 thanks to our Fijian Veterans, wives and partners kindly offering to cook for the evening. You will also be treated to some traditional Fijian music.

Also Jane Thomson and Sandra Johnston, both Veterans Clinical Advisors for Help For Heroes, are joining us at our next drop in evening.


Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

May 28, 2024

Edinburgh: Military Wives Choir, Tuesdays 19:00-20:30

click on image to enlarge

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

May 24, 2024

May 23, 2024

Toby Carvery 20% off Monday to Friday Blue Light Card


Toby is proud to work in conjunction with the Blue Light Discount Card to offers it’s members 20% off Food Monday – Friday*.

* T&Cs apply

Staffordshire - Funded Childcare



Are you entitled to help with your Childcare costs? for more information go to staffordshire.gov.uk/fundedchildcare

Information provided by: Central HIVE Hub

The Armed Forces Families Fund: Early Years programme is now accepting new applications!

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (The Trust) are offering grants of between £5,000 and £50,000 for projects that will help to enhance early childhood education and childcare settings to meet the specific needs of young children from Armed Forces families.

What is the Early Years Programme all about?

The Early Years programme is designed to help Armed Forces families access good quality early childhood education and childcare provision close to where they live or Serve.

The programme will address specific needs that early childhood educators have identified and will award projects that will contribute to one of three outcomes.

* Increased capacity at the setting to allow more Service children to attend.

* Providing better learning environments for Service children.

* Providing appropriate training and development of staff to support Service children.

Who can apply?

Applications are now open for early childhood education and childcare providers serving Armed Forces families near where they live or work. To be eligible, your setting will need to offer group-based childcare where children from Armed Forces families comprise at least 50% of the children on roll.

Have a smaller number of Service children than this? Settings with less than 50% Service children on roll can form ‘clusters’ of two or more settings. As a cluster, you can apply for funding for:

* staff training with an Armed Forces focus.

* funding for a shared resource, such as a roving Armed Forces Early Years Support Worker.

Local authorities and organisations providing specialised training for staff to support Service children can also apply.

What type of projects are we looking to support?

The Trust are looking for projects that can significantly benefit Armed Forces families with children under 5 years by improving access to good quality childcare. You’ll need to show that your project will address existing support gaps, deliver sustainable change, and be developed in partnership with Armed Forces communities.

Sonia Howe, Director of Policy at the Trust, said “We are delighted to once again be able to offer opportunities for Early Years settings to build on the provision they can offer for Service children. The three core outcomes of this programme represent a positive future for Armed Forces families with children under 5 years. We are excited to see how settings interpret the programme outcomes, and we’re looking forward to receiving some great applications for support.”

The first application deadline is 12pm on 24 July 2024. A second round will close at 12pm on 20 November 2024.

Find out more

You can find full details of the programme, eligibility and how to apply on the Trust website.

Join the ‘Early Years’ webinar

The Trust are inviting you to a Lunch & Learn webinar for the Early Years programme to learn in more detail about the application process for this exciting grant and a chance to meet the team and ask any questions you have. 

The webinar will take place on Wednesday 12 June 12pm-1pm. 

Sign up now on the following link: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/56809230-f74b-4373-94b4-07b21d93e300@572211ac-11a2-4107-aff2-ed44b7c6d939


 

Relate and Home Start - Strengthening Parents Programme - Free support for military parents



The only eligibility criteria is that one or both parents/carers are serving or have served recently, are experiencing parental conflict and have children under 18 (or 25 if disabled). ​

 

May 22, 2024

North Yorkshire: Childcare funding for your 2 year old



 Information provided by North HIVE Hub

Leconfield: AWS Your Opinion Counts

 Information  provided by Leconfield HIVE

Service Family Accommodation - UK-wide Townhall Events

Click to enlarge.  

Click here for further information

Lifeworks - Employment Support

Lifeworks provides employment support courses for veterans from all services and their partners. Whether you have been out for 1 day or 20 years Lifeworks can help guide you into meaningful work. Their experienced multi-disciplinary support team will help YOU identify your best career choices & how to get them. For more information please click here.

May 20, 2024

Wales: Building Heroes Wales - Course dates for the 2024/2025 academic year

Click image to enlarge.

Building Heroes Wales - Course dates for the 2024/2025 academic year:

Building Heroes has been an incredible journey of empowerment and skill-building for countless individuals, and we're excited to bring this opportunity back to Wales and Southwest England for the next year! Whether you are a service leaver, a veteran, a reservist, or a military family member, we want to support our military community in being part of this life-changing experience.

Our programme is designed to equip our learners with essential skills, boost career prospects, and provide a supportive community that understands the unique challenges faced by those who have served or are connected to the military. We provide a Level 1 Construction qualification, Level 1 Health and Safety, and a CSCS card. The course includes instruction in plastering, tiling, painting and decorating, bricklaying, plumbing, and carpentry.

Below are the dates for the first three courses in Cardiff for the 2024/2025 academic year:

09/09/24 - 11/10/24

11/11/24 - 13/12/24

06/01/25 - 07/02/25

To find out more information and enrol on our course, please visit our website or feel free to contact me for an informal chat. https://www.buildingheroes.org.uk/courses/foundation-in-property-maintenance.

We also kindly ask for your support in raising awareness this opportunity within your communities. Our goal is to assist as many members of the Armed Forces community as possible on their journey to successful civilian lives. Please share the attached flyer far and wide and encourage anyone interested to apply by visiting our website.

We eagerly look forward to welcoming and supporting many more learners from across the armed forces communities into the Building Heroes family!

Warmest regards,

Meg Rees
meganr@buildingheroes.org.uk

Information provided by Wales HIVE Hub. 

Grantham: Solihull Antenatal Parenting Group


Information provided by Grantham HIVE

 

Catterick: Armed forces & Veterans Support Service iHub Every Monday


 Information provided by North HIVE Hub

C is for Cadet

 

Find your nearest HIVE here

May 19, 2024

DST: Louise's Barbers

 

Located next to the Bedding Store

Opening Hours

Monday - Closed

Tuesday -12-3 pm

Wednesday/Thursday - 12-3 pm & 4-7 pm

Friday - 12-3 pm

*Information provided by Leconfield HIVE*

May 17, 2024

Veterans' Gateway

 

Please click the image above to read this leaflet in full.

Alternatively click here to visit the Veterans' Gateway website.

Leconfield: AWS Military Youth Voice Network

 Information  provided by Leconfield HIVE

May 16, 2024

NHS Scotland Armed Forces Talent Programme

The Armed Forces Talent Programme (AFTP) is a national programme commissioned by the Office of the Chief Executive of NHS Scotland to support the entry of the Armed Forces Community (in its widest possible definition) to enter the health and social care workforce.

We work across all 22 health boards in Scotland and aim to increase the awareness of the employment opportunities within NHS Scotland and the pathways into them. Also to support our recruiting managers to better understand the knowledge, skills and experience the Armed Forces Community can bring to our workforce.​

If you have never thought of roles within NHS Scotland, why not join our Monthly Online Webinar; an informative overview to answer the “what” questions – Pay, locations, roles, training required, routes in etc.

​The next webinar is on Tuesday 4th June​​ at ​​14.30 - you can ​register for this or other webinar's by scanning the QR code or clicking here.

For more information visit the AFTP Webpage.

Dorset: Home Start support and friendships for families

 



Home-Start offers friendship, practical support and emotional advice in the homes of families who are having difficulties managing parenting for a variety of different reasons such poor mental health, post-natal depression, disability, domestic abuse, bereavement, isolation and multiple births.

Our mission is to give children the best possible start in life, by supporting parents so they grow in confidence, strengthening and enjoying their relationships with their children and widening their links with the local community.

For details of Home Start in your area see below links

SOUTH EAST DORSET (includes Purbeck, Bovington area)

NORTH DORSET (includes Blandford)

WEST DORSET 

Information provided by Bovington HIVE

Veterans' Capital Housing Fund - Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust

 

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust are inviting applications for the Refurbishment Grants programme – could you be one of our next funded projects?

Part of the Veterans’ Capital Housing Fund, this programme awards grants of up to £75K towards projects that assist in the refurbishment or extension of accommodation for Veterans with a housing need.

Full details are available here https://covenantfund.org.uk/.../refurbishment-grants.../

Apply by 19 June 2024.

May 15, 2024

Hereford: Weekly Stay & Play sessions at Halo Leisure Centre in Bromyard


Have you tried the FREE weekly Stay and Play family sessions at Halo Leisure Centre, Bromyard, for families with children aged 0-3 years?

Every Wednesday 1pm – 2.30pm

To find out more about these sessions please click here.

Information provided by Wales HIVE Hub.

Hereford: Healthy Families Group Sessions in Hereford & Leominster


The Healthy Lifestyle Service are offering family groups focused around the health & wellbeing of you & your family, both in Hereford & in Leominster.

Learn about services available to support your health goals while children play.

No need to book, just drop in & for more information please click here.

Information provided by Wales HIVE Hub.

May 14, 2024

Cadets - sign up for Defence Discount Service savings!


Are you a cadet over the age of 16? Sign up to Defence Discount Service and start saving!
Tell your friends too!
Just follow these simple steps on our website or app to sign up:
  • Click register on our home page
  • Select 'Cadet Forces'
  • Fill in your details, including the name of your cadet unit
  • Hit register

Medway: FInd a Scout Group in the Area

 


Would you like to join scouts but don't know which group is near you? Please contact the groups listed below for information on when and what time they meet.



Information provided by Chatham HIVE

May 13, 2024

Childcare applications for parents with 9-month-olds now open

 

Visit https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

UK Health Security Agency advice - be tick aware

 

Ticks can be active all year round, but they are most active in the months April to July, and sometimes later in the autumn.

Don't let ticks stop you from enjoying the outdoors but reduce the chance of acquiring a tick bite by:

  1. Using a repellent that prevents ticks
  2. Wearing long sleeves and long trousers to reduce direct skin exposure
  3. Keep to clearly defined paths and avoid brushing against vegetation
  4. Regularly check for ticks and brush off any you find immediately
  5. When you’re back indoors, check for any ticks on you, your children and pets
  6. If you find a tick, remove it as soon as possible with a removal device

Find out more, including what to do if you're bitten

East Riding of Yorkshire: Support for those who Serve



Information provided by Leconfield HIVE