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Army HIVE Christmas and New Year Closures

The majority of Army HIVEs will be closed after duties on Fri 19 Dec 25 and will reopen on Mon 5 Jan 26. There may be localised variations to these dates for individual HIVEs.

Army HIVE HQ is also closed during the festive fortnight, so any enquiries submitted via the ‘If you need further information’ MS Forms function on our UK, Cyprus or Overseas blogs will be answered when we return in the New Year.

We will periodically cover private messages on our Army HIVE Facebook platform (and X/Instagram where possible) whilst we are closed. However, this will not be 24/7 and should not be relied upon for anything that requires an urgent response.

To support our customers with more immediate requirements however, the Army HIVE HQ email will provide a comprehensive out of office autoreply, detailing points of contact that are either 24/7, emergency providers, or open over the festive leave fortnight. To receive this autoreply, please email:
RC-Pers-HIVEComms-0Mailbox@mod.gov.uk

Individual HIVEs will also provide localised contact details for Christmas and New Year cover wherever possible in their automated replies. Therefore, if you email your closest HIVE, which you can find on HIVE’s page on the Army website, their autoreply may be of additional assistance.

Army HIVE wishes all of its Service community customers, and our internal and external stakeholders, a very happy Christmas and New Year. We look forward to continuing our support and engagement in 2026.


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December 4, 2025

Hereford: Free school meals for the Christmas holidays




𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗗𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗥𝗘 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 | Free School Meals Support Continues for Herefordshire Families This Christmas
Thousands of children and young people across Herefordshire will continue to receive free school meals support during the Christmas school holidays, helping families manage rising living costs.

Over 4,700 primary and secondary school pupils entitled to benefits-related free school meals will receive a food voucher worth up to £30 (or equivalent) directly through their schools.
This voucher is designed to cover the cost of a lunchtime meal during the holiday period.
Children eligible for the early years pupil premium who are not in a school setting will receive their voucher posted directly from Herefordshire Council

For more information about the Herefordshire free school meals scheme for the Christmas holidays, visit: www.herefordshire.gov.uk/holidaysfsm
· The free school meals food voucher scheme is funded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) through the government’s Household Support Fund.

Information provided by Wales HIVE Hub