Colerne: Vivo and Pinnacle housing clinic - Thu 27 Nov

 

Reps from Pinnacle will also be in attendance.

Please use this opportunity to speak to the team and raise any concerns or chase outstanding jobs.

Can't attend? Please email rc-pers-hive-colerne-0mailbox@mod.gov.uk who will take your concerns forward.

Information provided by Colerne HIVE

Grantham: Housing Surgery

Next Housing Surgery at the HIVE Community Centre, Building 162, Thursday 20th November, 1030 - 1230. All welcome!

Information provided by Grantham HIVE

Colerne: Welfare facilities booking request form - Colerne Station

 

The following facilities can currently be booked by scanning the QR code or clicking the link below:

• Welfare house / flat
• Community Centre
• Soft Play
• Noah's Ark family pass

Welfare facilities booking request form

Please note these facilities can be used by any Service Personnel or their family working on Colerne Station (21 Sigs, 13 Sigs, etc.) or living in SFA in Colerne

To find out more about Welfare's facilities, please click the link below to visit the Sway info page:

Colerne Station Welfare Sway info page

Information provided by Colerne HIVE

Blandford: Garrison housing issues - Wednesday drop in sessions 3rd & 17th Dec

1st & 3rd Wednesday of every month, 0900-1200hrs. At the Pinnacle Office located in the Estates Building, Murdos Road, Blandford Camp.

If you have any issues regarding your Service Family Accommodation and would like to speak to someone face-to-face, pop along, no appointment necessary.

Information provided by Bovington HIVE

Bovington: Garrison coffee morning & DIO housing surgery Wed 3rd Dec

If you have any housing issues or concerns, please use this opportunity to come along and speak in person to a housing representative from Pinnacle/Vivo. Appointments are not necessary, just drop in. 

Information provided by Bovington HIVE

New Defence Housing Strategy published

 
Defence Housing Strategy

Following an announcement by Secretary of State for Defence, John Healey MP this afternoon, we are delighted to share the new Defence Housing Strategy.

Independently led by a team of experts and driven by the input of more than 6,000 service families, the strategy sets out the most significant change for Armed Forces housing in over 50 years. It marks the start of a fully costed ten-year programme to reshape, redevelop and modernise the Defence housing estate to best meet the realities of modern service family life.

We have summarised some of the key changes set out in the strategy for you and your family below:

Redevelopment and modernisation of UK SFA

• Every service family deserves a home they can be proud of. This transformation will create thousands of high-quality homes, supporting our Armed Forces and their families for decades to come.  
• We will be giving over 40,000 military homes a makeover – new kitchens, bathrooms and heating systems to ensure you have what you need for comfortable modern living.  14,000 of these homes will be substantially refurbished or replaced.
• Rapid improvements are already underway through a Consumer Charter for Forces Families introduced earlier this year. New and upgraded military homes will meet modern property standards comparable to the best professional housing organisations, ensuring they are warm, spacious and of high quality.

Chatham: Vivo Housing Surgery, Tuesday and Thursday mornings

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Dreghorn: Pinnacle drop-in sessions, Tuesdays 1300-1500

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Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

DIO SFA Communications Update: 23 Oct – Defence Homes Colour Palette

Patch Hacks: New painting guidelines for UK SFA

As part of their commitment to modernise outdated policies and give Service families more freedoms, DIO has introduced a new Defence Homes Colour Palette. And they say:

“We understand that being able to personalise your home is important. Whilst previously all interior walls had to be returned to magnolia or white before moving out, our new colour palette offers a broader range of colours for families to choose from.

“Colours within this range are light and neutral and will not require reverting to white. Take a look at our new colour palette along with some inspiration on how they could be styled in your home here.

“To give you as much freedom as possible, we haven’t dictated particular paint brands, colour names or types (like matt or silk). If you’re unsure whether your chosen colour complies with the approved range on the colour palette, you can check with your dedicated Housing Officer.

“As always, you are welcome to paint your interior walls other colours outside of the new palette range, but these will require reverting back to white upon move out.

“More information on this new policy, including a Top Tips guide for painting the interior of your SFA, can be found on the Defence Homes website. This includes helpful guidance on everything from choosing the right type of paint for a room to prepping the walls and aftercare.”

Defence Homes Paint FAQs page

Lyneham: Vivo & Pinnacle Housing Surgery - Thu 13 Nov

 

The remaining 2025 sessions are as follows:

• Thu 13 Nov
• Thu 11 Dec

Information provided by Lyneham HIVE

Scotland: Veterans Housing Scotland

Veterans Housing Scotland has over 100 years’ experience in providing homes for Veterans in Scotland who are disabled.

As we celebrate our 110th Anniversary in 2025, we complete a five-year strategy of significant but organised change. The charity now starts the next five-year phase of its strategy that will see huge investment into property refurbishments. We are incredibly proud of our history and the service we have provided to those who have served their country. We are equally excited about our future and how we as a charity will continue to work with and support members of the Veterans Housing Scotland family.

👉 Read the full Autumn 2025 newsletter here:
https://www.vhscot.org.uk/news/vhs-newsletter-autumn-2025

Victory Services Club, London – catch up on the latest newsletters

August: Club Life Newsletter - August 2025

Sept: Club Life Newsletter - September 2025

London: Victory Services Club

Experience the inclusive camaraderie of the Victory Services Club. It is the only military members' club in London open to all ranks and all services of the UK Armed Forces, NATO and the Commonwealth and their families. 

Membership to the Victory Services Club is entirely free for serving personnel. For former service personnel and their immediate family, the Club offers membership at affordable and highly competitive rates.

Click HERE for more information.

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

DIO Families First Newsletter for SFA Occupants – Issue 30 Out Now

Issue 30 of DIO’s Families First newsletter, dated 25 Sept, is now available to view online or download on the Defence Homes website

Service Family Accommodation (SFA) Communications Update - 19 September 25

An update on SFA maintenance appointments

The SFA Consumer Charter announced in April 2025 shared our commitment to provide reliable repairs and clearer communication for serving personnel and families.

In response to your feedback and to improve our service to you, we are making a change to the allocated appointment window for SFA repairs and maintenance bookings.

We currently provide a one-hour window when you can expect an engineer to arrive at your property to carry out repairs and maintenance tasks on behalf of Amey or VIVO. While we had hoped this would provide you with greater certainty around the timing of the engineer’s arrival, we have found that providing such a short window can make it difficult to achieve the best outcomes for you.

We understand it can be frustrating when our maintenance teams arrive early or late for appointments, or when tasks are not completed within the allocated time because they need to move onto the next appointment. Similarly, where jobs require spare parts, there is not always time to complete the task within the allocated time slot and follow-up appointments are often required.

From 1 October 2025, you will be given a 4-hour window within which your engineer will arrive to carry out your repairs and maintenance tasks. This aligns line with common industry standards and will allow engineers more time to complete tasks fully, as well as undertaking any additional tasks identified to reduce the need for follow up visits.

Extending the arrival window will mean our teams will get to more appointments on time and enable them to spend longer completing jobs to deliver a better service for you and families.

Requests for repairs and maintenance to your home should continue to be directed to Pinnacle on 0800 031 8628, who will book your appointment and confirm the four-hour window. You will receive a reminder message from Amey or Vivo the day before your appointment.

New complaints process (UK SFA)

DIO and our suppliers are focused on providing the best service we can to you and your families. However, we know sometimes things go wrong and we want to ensure you feel heard and supported.

The SFA Consumer Charter, published in April 2025, outlines a series of commitments we will be making to improve our accommodation service offer. This includes a revised, streamlined complaints process that will shorten the process to two stages in line with industry best practice, so that you have quicker resolution.   

In collaboration with Chief of Defence People Accommodation team, important changes have been made to the complaints process currently outlined in Joint Service Publication (JSP) 464. These changes are designed to make the process quicker, simpler, and more robust, providing you with greater confidence and assurance.

What’s changing?

Blandford: Welfare/contact house short term use accommodation

Click on poster above to enlarge

For booking enquiries and to check availability email:

Julie.Osmond100@mod.gov.uk or BLANDFORDGAR-BGSUWELFARE@mod.gov.uk

Information provided by Bovington HIVE via BGSU Welfare team

Lyneham: Contact House booking form

 

Please scan to QR or click here to book online

Information provided by Lyneham HIVE

Highlands: The Armed Forces Covenant, Armed Forces Support in the Highlands

click on image to enlarge

The Military Liaison Group (MLG) (Education) provides information, resources, news and updates to inform and support our Armed Forces families, educators, wider teams and organisations across Highland. 

 As a partnership we also work collaboratively with Health and Housing.

Education, Health and Housing are inextricably interlinked and together strive to support the needs our Armed Forces Families in Highland

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Scotland: Housing Options Scotland, Military Matters

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For more information  👉 Housing Options Scotland | Right Home, Right Place

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Leuchars: Pinnacle Drop-in sessions, Wednesdays 13:00-15:00

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Your local Pinnacle office Drop-in is on Wednesdays 13:00-15:00.

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE