Generic and local information for the UK Military community including Serving Personnel, Families, Veterans, and MOD Civilians.
This is best viewed through a personal device because the MODnet firewall may prevent access to some links.
October 31, 2024
Families First newsletter - issue 20
This and previous issues can also be found online at Families First - Issue 20
Elgin: Moray Council Libraries and Information Services Silent Book Walk Wednesdays
Come to the library on Wednesday 23rd October from 10:00am and chat with Living Streets about how 'A Wee Walk Works Wonders' - learn how short walks in our beautiful local community can be so beneficial for our mental & physical health and our environment, and how you can get started!
Then meet us outside Elgin Library at 11:00am for our popular Silent Book Group. We go for a walk while all individually listening to the same audiobook. We stop for coffee and cake halfway through at Grampian Furnishings, and talk about what we have heard so far. Then we will walk back along the River Lossie to finish, hopefully around 1:30-2:00pm, and see how many of us will continue listening!
For more information 👉 Silent Book Walk from Elgin Library | Moray Libraries
October 30, 2024
Moray: Starting Friday 1st November - Moray Wellbeing Hub Weekly drop-in every Friday 12 noon to 2pm
A new weekly, drop-in space for anyone looking for support with their wellbeing EVERY FRIDAY from 12 noon until 2pm at Foggies Bar in Elgin.
No need to book, just drop by and a Champion from Moray Wellbeing Hub will be there for support.
We can look at specific things together or just listen to you, whatever feels right in that moment.
We can also support with digital tools for wellbeing.
There will be free tea and coffee and a cosy space to connect with another human!
We'll be set up in the booths and the address of Foggies is Munro Pl, Elgin IV30 4LL
Information provided by Leuchars HIVE
October 29, 2024
NHS Step into Health: Internship Vacancy now open for Service Leavers and Veterans
Location: Leeds with agile working (home based will be considered)
Role: Fixed term (12 weeks). Full time, flexible working patterns considered.
Salary: £22,837 (pro rata)
Closing Date: 23:59 17th November 2024
The post-holder will join the Step into Health team and will gain valuable experiences and skills which will be beneficial and transferable into other NHS roles. The full job description can be found via this link, and is also attached here. Although SitH cannot guarantee employment when the internship comes to an end, they are able to support individuals to apply for other roles within the NHS.
To apply, please use the link on the vacancy page.
For more information on how the Step into Health programme can assist Service leavers and veterans into an NHS career, please go to https://www.militarystepintohealth.nhs.uk/.
Wiltshire: Recycling news
Please click here to read this latest newsletter online
Information provided by Colerne & Lyneham HIVEs
October 28, 2024
Stem cell donation - sign up to save a life!
Every 20 minutes someone in the UK is diagnosed with blood cancer.
Stem cell transplants are used to treat blood cancers like leukaemia, aplastic anaemia as well as other diseases of the immune system. Chemotherapy can help in some cases, but for many people a stem cell transplant is the only chance of a cure.
30,000 new donors are needed in the UK each year to find matches for the steadily rising number of stem cell transplants taking place in the UK every year. Stem cells are found in the bone marrow – a soft, spongy tissue at the centre of certain bones – and can produce all essential blood cells, including red and white cells and platelets (which stop bleeding).
Give blood and save a life
Supporting each other – give blood and save a life
October 25, 2024
AWS Community Support annual report 2024
This Report outlines some of the key achievements delivered and challenges faced by our team over the past year. It provides an overview of key areas of work, statistical information and also looks forward to the year ahead. It demonstrates the breadth and depth of the impact that the Community Support team have.
October 24, 2024
Hullavington: Free Yogalates at Buckley Barracks Community Centre - starting Wed 6 Nov
Interested? You need to register at 9regtwelfare@gmail.com who will book you in for either one session or a few!
Instructor Debbie says ‘the class is a combination of basic yoga and mat-based Pilate moves, designed to improve mobility, flexibility and build body strength. The class is suitable for all ages and abilities, shapes and sizes.'
October 23, 2024
Forces in Mind Trust post-Service employment research policy & practice summaries
These summaries form part of our commitment to ensuring evidence is at the heart of decision making for the benefit of ex-Service personnel and their families.
The summaries provide easy digestible access to up to date research evidence and an overview of current policy and service provision focused on post-Service employment among ex-Service personnel and their partners.
You can access the full summaries and two-page infographics here:
Research summary: Research | FiMT Research Centre (fimt-rc.org)
Kinloss: BookBug - songs,rhymes and stories for babies and toddlers
Fife: Bookbug Sessions, free, fun and friendly
Bookbug sessions are free, fun and friendly events for babies, toddlers, pre-schoolers and their families to enjoy together.
Bookbug is Scottish Book Trust’s national Early Years programme.
October 21, 2024
Armed Forces in Policing - online recruitment events
The events are advertised on Eventbrite and are as follows:
Tuesday 14th January 2025 from 1800 x 1900
Tuesday 15th April 2025 from 1800 x 1900
Tuesday 15th July 2025 from 1800 x 1900
Friday 14th November 2025 from 1800 x 1900
North Wiltshire & Gloucestershire: Bin collection calendars
Please choose your area from the following list to find out your rubbish and recycling collection calendars:
October 18, 2024
Wiltshire: 'Recycle Week' – highlighting everyday items that can be recycled
This year’s theme, Rescue Me, aims to empower people to look out for the five items missed most often in recycling collections because they are placed in the household waste bin. This is also a key theme of the Council's ongoing 'Recycling: Let’s Sort It' campaign.
These items include:
- Empty aerosols
- Yoghurt pots
- Toilet roll tubes
- Cleaning spray bottles
- Cans
To help Wiltshire Council achieve our goal of recycling more, please make sure you are recycling more of the right things, more often. Materials collected for recycling are sent to re-processors to be turned into new products or raw materials to go back into the manufacturing process.
Wiltshire Council have been spotlighting commonly missed items on their social media channels this week, so make sure you’re following them on Facebook and X.
'Travel to Refuge' scheme - free travel for those fleeing domestic abuse
- Rail to Refuge, a joint initiative between Women’s Aid and the Rail Delivery Group, set up in April 2020, providing free rail travel for survivors of abuse.
- Road to Refuge, a joint initiative between Women’s Aid and National Express, set up in 2023, providing free coach travel for survivors of abuse.
October 17, 2024
Reminder - set up your eVisa Account
For more information on getting an eVisa, visit: www.gov.uk/get-access-evisa
Scotland: Military Matters supporting members of the Armed Forces Community for Housing in Scotland
Military Matters service supports anyone who is a member of the Armed Forces Community.
With excellent connections with veterans housing and services across the country and support people who have served at any stage in their life.
Get in touch 👉 https://ow.ly/xSBo50TqT7q
Information provided by Leuchars HIVE
Staffordshire: Lichfield Families Health & Wellbeing Service - 0-19 Parent Podcast

Did you know Health Visitors and School Nurses from our service have launched a podcast series with the aim of sharing health advice and information to parents, carers and young people?
Take a look at what subjects we have already covered by clicking this link
https://www.mpft.nhs.uk/.../staffo.../what-we-offer/podcasts
You can listen for free and subscribe using your favourite podcast software through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Pocket Casts and Radio Public
Information provided by: Central HIVE Hub
October 16, 2024
RAND Europe Research - Meeting the Needs of the RAF and RN/RM Family
We are recruiting participants!
As part of our research, we want to better understand the experiences of current and former RAF, RN and RM serving personnel and their families. We are intending to do this through interviews and surveys, focusing on:
- RAF, RN and RM families' experiences of military life, military-to-civilian transition and post-Service life.
- Issues/challenges former and current Service personnel and their families may be experiencing in relation to day-to-day living, health and wellbeing (including mental and emotional), education, housing, finance and employment.
- Experiences with accessing support and perspectives on how support to RAF, RN and RM families could be improved.
Who is eligible to participate?
Introductory Flight Scholarship (IFS) and Junior Rank and Officer Pilot Scholarship Scheme (JROPSS) 2025 - applications invited from RAF Personnel
The following opportunity may be of interest to RAF staff within Tri-Service locations both UK-wide and worldwide.
Applications from RAF Junior Ranks (JR) and Junior Officers (JO) are now invited for the IFS and JROPSS 2025. Generously funded by the RAF Charitable Trust (RAFCT), and delivered through selected RAF Flying Schools, the JROPSS is open to JR (Cpl and below) JO (Flt Lt and below) from the RAF Regular and RAF Reserve Services.
Further details can be found here
Full eligibility requirements and terms can be found at www.RAFSA.co.uk
Lancashire Armed Forces Covenant Guide 2024/25
To view the latest Lancashire Armed Forces Covenant Guide, click HERE.
Information provided by Preston & Weeton HIVE
Are you eligible for Pension Credit?
In addition to Pension Credit, those who qualify could also receive Winter Fuel Payment and other support like help with housing costs, help with Council Tax and a free TV licence for those aged 75 and over.
Thanks to the Pension Credit backdating rules, it is possible to apply for Pension Credit and have the claim backdated by up to 3 months, (ticking the backdating box on the claim form). This means that the latest date to apply and still qualify for Winter Fuel Payment is 21st December 2024.
To note, Pension Credit can also provide extra support for heating costs such as The Warm Home Discount Scheme and Cold Weather Payments.
Checking entitlement is easy with this on-line calculator: Pension Credit calculator - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Elgin: DYW - Are you looking to start a new career, perhaps in the healthcare industry?
Join us on Tuesday 12th of November in the AGBC Conference at the UHI Moray Street Campus from 6pm - 8pm.
Get your FREE tickets now at https://www.eventbrite.com/.../pathway-to-professional...
Lyneham: Lyneham Banks update
Information provided by Colerne & Lyneham HIVEs
Staffordshire: MPFT Families Health & Wellbeing Service - Virtual Group Programmes

Please book 👉HERE.
Information provided by: Central HIVE Hub
October 15, 2024
Veterans ID Card accepted as Polling ID
The government has backed the armed forces community by allowing HM Armed Forces Veteran Cards to be used as Voter ID in forthcoming elections.
More information can be found here.
Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust: Over £380K awarded to enhance Early Years provision for Service families
The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (The Trust) have awarded funding worth over £380,000 to a further 12 fantastic projects supporting Service children in the latest round of the Early Years programme!
These projects are set to help enhance early childhood education and childcare to better support the unique needs and challenges of young children from Armed Forces families.
Dedicated resources for Service children across the UK
Part of the MOD’s Armed Forces Families Fund, the Early Years programme supports initiatives that help Armed Forces families access good quality early childhood education and childcare provision. This will enhance capacity, allowing more Service children to enrol, create improved learning environments, and offer suitable training for staff development to address the unique challenges faced by Service children.
Wiltshire: Support to help quit smoking
Free, expert stop smoking support is available across Wiltshire:
- Call 0300 003 4566 (Select Option 1)
- Email health.coaches@wiltshire.gov.uk
- Or contact your GP Surgery
Defence Children Services: New information on school admissions and education support to Service families
Letter for families
Top Tips Information sheet with some FAQ
EAT(UK) leaflet
OEST leaflet
DCS also has a new website with comprehensive information for Service families: www.dcs.school
October 14, 2024
October 11, 2024
Dishforth: Come along and experience the Military Wives Choirs!
Dishforth Military Wives Choir, is part of a network of choirs uniting over 2000 women nationwide, in 72 choirs across the military community. The choir welcomes all women whose lives are currently impacted by their military connection; our network supports each other and forms life-changing friendships that lead to new and uplifting experiences through singing
The Dishforth Military Wives Choir currently has 35 members across North Yorkshire and meets weekly at 6 Regt RLC in Dishforth. With no auditions and no pressure to perform, the Military Wives Choirs places welfare at the core, giving its members the opportunity to spend time with women that truly understand the challenges associated with military life.
The choir is always looking for new members
Information provided by North HIVE Hub
October 10, 2024
West Midlands: AWS CS Donnington Little Munchkins - MOD Donnington Community Centre

Fylde Memorial Arboretum - Bispham - First UK Fiji Memorial Bench unveiled
A beautiful bench, decorated with the Fiji National Coat of Arms and motto, was dedicated at a special ceremony attended by civic dignataries, serving soldiers, families and members of the public.
The man behind the memorial, Fleetwood town councillor and veterans champion, Fijian Jimi Kuruvakadua, said: "We have have one thing in common which is always to remember and reflect on the lives of our brothers and sisters, our communites, our individual groups and associations we are involved in.
"I am grateful to you for your support, donations and to the veterans who prepared for today.
This bench is the first memorial in the UK dedicated to the Fijian Community and we appreciate it being situated here.
Comrades are always remembered in our hearts.
Today we remember them, honour them and keep them always in our hearts."
Manager of the arboretum, Paul Binns, welcomed guests and said how proud they were to have this special memorial situated in the arboretum and said that all connected with the Fijian community would be welcome there.
Other speeches welcoming the memorial and its importance were made by Vice-Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire, Brigadier (Rtd) Peter Rafferty; Blackpool Mayor Peter Hunter and Ilimo Torau, founder of the Commonwealth Veterans and Families Support Group.
A posy of poppies was laid by Councillor Kuruvakadua's daughter, Vasanai.
Two poems, written specially, were read by poet Anne Margaret Ward.
The dedication service, with choir of Fijian soldiers, was led by Methodist Minister the Rev Jimione Kaci, who is chaplain to Fijians serving in the British Army.
Launch of new British Forces Cyprus community website
Welcome to British Forces Cyprus - The central point for all information on living and working in British Forces Cyprus.
This open source website will provide a one-stop shop for service personnel, UK based civilians and their families to access useful information about being assigned to Cyprus alongside key information for living in Cyprus. HIVE and the HIVE location guides for BFC are to be added soon.
It is an iterative project that will continue to develop and improve over time and will seek to replace what is a high volume of individual unit SharePoint sites, unofficial social media groups and old fashioned paper arrival packs.
The website will significantly improve the information available to personnel and their families, accessible in a way that modern communications demands, enabling the whole family to understand what they need to know to consider an assignment in Cyprus or what they practically need to do once assigned here.
You will find the link within the BFC Sites list on the BFC SharePoint Home page and under BFC Key Information.
Stage 2, through the Autumn Term, will be continuing to develop the generic information such as what information is needed for when families depart Cyprus and working with the Stations to enhance their information pages.
If you have any specific questions or wish to propose content please email our British Forces Cyprus Community Information Website email: BFC-HQ-CmntyWebManager@mod.gov.uk
October 9, 2024
Gloucestershire: Library locations and regular events
Gloucestershire Libraries are located across the County, including in the following areas:
- Cirencester
- Fairford
- Lechlade
- Churchdown
- Longlevens
- Gloucester
- Cheltenham
- Tewkesbury
As well as books and digital resources, regular events include:
- Baby bounce & rhyme
- Lego club
- Story time
- Knit & natter
- Author talks
- Nature club
- 'The library of things'
Click here to find your nearest library and the available activities
Information provided by Lyneham HIVE
Wiltshire: 'Get Out Get Active' community activities
Please click image to enlarge
Activities will be held across Wiltshire, including in Chippenham, Calne and Melksham.
Information provided by Colerne & Lyneham HIVEs
Swindon: Interested in joining an American Football Women's Team? 'Swindon Storm' are recruiting players!
All equipment is supplied, and no experience is needed.
Information provided by Colerne & Lyneham HIVEs




















