Edinburgh: SSAFA Charity golf afternoon, Friday 15th August

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Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Give Us Time: New Motorhome Breaks Now Available

Give Us Time have had a new donation of breaks from the team at Sponsored Breaks. These are 3-day/2-night stays in their fully kitted out motorhome, which sleeps up to 4 people. The motorhome is based in Wolverhampton, so does need to be collected and dropped off back to site, and any drivers must be between 25 and 70 with 2 years’ experience of driving and less than 6 points on licence. Unfortunately no pets are allowed.

The dates available include some school holiday dates for Easter, half term, and the summer holidays:

• 4/5/6 April
• 11/12/13 April
• 18/19/20 April
• 25/26/27 April
• 23/24/25 May
• 30/31/1 May-June
• 4/5/6 July
• 25/26/27 July
• 30/31/1 July-Aug
• 2/3/4 Aug
• 6/7/8 Aug
• 9/10/11 Aug

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust: Latest round of grants under The Armed Forces Families Fund - Early Years Programme

The Early Years programme is back for 2025 and we’re excited to share that applications are now open!

Part of the MOD’s Armed Forces Families Fund (AF3), The Early Years Programme will award grants between £5,000 and £80,000 towards projects that enable early childhood education and childcare settings to meet specific needs of young service children.

What’s the 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 is designed to address barriers that service families may experience in accessing good quality childcare for their preschool aged children and will support projects lasting up to two years that can meet one of the four outcomes:

• Expanded capacity in early years settings, allowing more service children to attend.
• Enhanced learning environments that better support the educational development of service children.
• Improved staff skills and knowledge through targeted training and professional development.
• Establishing collaborative networks and shared resources through clusters to effectively address the needs of service children.

Month of the Military Child – April 2025

To find out more about this year’s Month of the Military Child, please visit: www.neversuchinnocence.com

You can watch the Dandelions music video, a song written by the Armed Forces Children's Choir for Month of the Military Child, on YouTube: Dandelions Music Video.

Stafford: SSAFA turns 140! There then, here now.

Dear Supporter, Welcome to your latest monthly update, and a heartfelt welcome to all new members of SSAFA. Your support changes the lives of our serving personnel, veterans and their families during their toughest challenges. This month discover our upcoming events for 2025 or sign up to any challenges you wish to take on. February is Payroll Giving month and below you can join to make regular donations whilst paying less tax. Plus, discover how SSAFA supported Gurkha veteran Jas, helping him stay in contact with his family. See link HERE Information provided by Stafford HIVE

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust - Reducing Veteran homelessness programme reopens for applications

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) has announced a new round of funding under the Reducing Veteran Homelessness (RVH) Programme in a bid to deliver further sustainable, supported housing options for veterans in need.

The Trust is delivering this important programme on behalf of the Office of Veterans’ Affairs (OVA) in support of the government’s ambition to end veteran homelessness and ensure veterans have access to the support they need, including housing.

The Ripple Pond – Spring newsletter

Please click here to read this issue online

Dalkieth: ABF scotland and Lothians Veterans Centre Charity Quiz and Curry night Thurs 17th April

Join the Army Benevolent Fund and Lothian Veterans Centre at the Bombay Lounge, Dalkeith for a curry and charity quiz night. On Thursday 17th April 2025 come along and enjoy a delicious curry, some quizzing and lots of fun with family and friends.

The Bombay Lounge, Scotland’s multi award winning Indian and Bangladeshi restaurant in Dalkeith has kindly offered to host us for the evening. The quiz will be set up in teams of 4. 

You can register as a pair or an individual at the link below. Teams will be mixed and chosen pre-event, you will be kept in the pairs you register in and teamed up with another pair of our choice. This is a great chance to get to know new people.

After the quiz you will have the opportunity to take part in our prize draw and auction. This promises to be an evening of fun with friends and family to raise funds and awareness for the Army Benevolent Fund and Lothian Veterans Centre.

For more information and for tickets 👉 Charity Quiz Night - Army Benevolent Fund

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Glasgow: ABF Scotland - Ladies who Lunch Monday 17th March

Join ABF Scotland for their first ever Army Benevolent Fund Ladies Who Lunch in Glasgow. 

The event will be held in O Sole Mio, Glasgow’s oldest Italian restaurant. O Sole Mio has been part of Glasgow’s vibrant restaurant scene for more than 55 years and we are delighted they have agreed to host our Ladies Who Lunch. 

Kick start the week with a lunch full of fun, fizz and fabulous ladies whilst being waited on by professional and charming staff.

Welcome drinks on arrival, followed by a beautiful two course Italian lunch. 

Following lunch you will hear from guest speaker Frances McMenamin K.C., Tales From The Scottish Bar.

Tickets - £35 per person

For more information 👉 Ladies Who Lunch - Glasgow - Army Benevolent Fund

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Scotland: Nominations open for the Scottish Veterans Awards - closing date 23rd February ***last week to nominate or apply***

⭐ Last Week to Nominate or Apply for the Scottish Veterans Awards! ⭐

Apply or Nominate today, Closing date 23rd February! 

The awards will take place at the amazing 5* Prestonfield House, Edinburgh on the 30th April 2025.

Veterans Awards across the United Kingdom our group main sponsor is Thales group and our lead sponsor for the Scottish Veterans Awards is DXC Technology.

The Scottish Veterans Awards are open to all Armed Forces Veterans, serving reservists and those organisations / Companies that support our community in Scotland.

If you are or you know a veteran that's done some great things since transition to civilian life, a reservist doing great things, a business / organisation / charity that goes above and beyond to support our former military personnel through employment programs or veterans support then feel free to apply or nominate on the Scottish Veterans Awards Website:
https://veteransawards.co.uk/scottish-veterans-awards/

Little Troopers celebrates the Month of the Military Child – come and get involved!

 

April is the international Month of the Military Child and the charity Little Troopers is celebrating by launching a new dandelion-themed book for military children, as well as organised a special month packed full of workshops, activities and events for all forces families and schools with service children.

Dandelion Book

Launching on Dandelion Day – Friday 4th April – “Dandelions” is a brand-new book from Little Troopers’ resident author, Donna David. The book follows the story of a military child who is about to move home and learns all about why the dandelion is the official flower of the military child – strong, resilient and putting down roots wherever the wind takes it. Ideal for children aged eight to eleven, Little Troopers will be giving away 100 copies throughout April.

School Pack and Dandelion Day

Schools can now download the brand-new Little Troopers “Month of the Military Child School Pack”. Education settings are encouraged to hold their very own ‘Dandelion Day’ on Friday 4th April where students can come into school wearing something yellow to signal the school’s recognition and inclusion of military children. The Little Troopers school pack features new activities and classroom ideas to engage service and civilian children, as well as tips on involving the local military community in the special day. You can download the pack to share with your child’s school here.

Basingstoke: Ready Steady Mums walking group every Wednesday

Ready Steady Mums walks are free, fun and informal social walking groups for new parents. Giving you the social support and motivation to get out in the fresh air. 

We will meet you at the War Memorial Park Bandstand, we will be stood in or next to the Bandstand ready to greet you and will be wearing bright green Barnardo's lanyards.

Click HERE for more information. 

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub.

Stafford: SSAFA Discover what's coming up for SSAFA in 2025

Welcome to your latest monthly update, and a heartfelt welcome to all new members of SSAFA. We’d like to kick off 2025 by saying a huge thank you for all your support in 2024. 

Whether you took part in an event, made a generous donation, gave up your time to volunteer, or even just opened one of our emails, you helped improve the lives of our Armed Forces community. 

We are always in awe of the incredible generosity of our supporters, so a BIG THANK YOU!

Read the newsletter here

Information provided by Stafford HIVE

Little Troopers launches All Together family reconnection weekends

The military children’s charity, Little Troopers, has launched a series of free family reconnection weekends for forces families to spend quality-time together.

Funded by Team Forces, the four Little Troopers weekends invite young people and their parents to go away for an exciting few days of outdoor adventure and connection where they’ll be encouraged to put down their phones, meet people, do new things and spend quality time together.

Open to families with up to four siblings aged 9 and over, the weekends will be packed with adventurous activities including coasteering, raft building, kayaking, mega SUPing and coastal bushcraft, as well as time to relax on the beach, watching the sunset with a hot chocolate.

With a mix of child-only and parent-and-child time, the itinerary has been organised so that the small number of five to six families attending will have an enjoyable break and make memories to last a lifetime.

The dates for the Little Troopers All Together reconnection weekends in 2025 are:

Never Such Innocence: Month of the Military Child - April 2025

Never Such Innocence will be offering a wide variety of activities for Month of the Military Child in April. Whether you are joining the 'Purple Up' day on 25 April, entering the poetry and art competition or singing Dandelions - there is something for everyone! Please visit their website to learn more or access their range of activities. www.neversuchinnocence.com/month-of-the-military-child

Soldiers Arts Academy - free online workshops

 

The Soldiers' Arts Academy aims to provide a platform through which serving and veteran military personnel and their families can participate in the creative arts. Using their skills and experiences to create and engage audiences worldwide, the SAA strives to encourage excellence, engagement and inspiration in its members, as well as building a supportive and strong community.

Online workshops include art, signing, guitar lessons and poetry. All are free for military personnel, veterans and military families. Find out more at www.soldiersartsacademy.org

Royal British Legion Poppy Hike, Epsom Surrey – Sunday 18 May

 

The RBL Poppy Hike is taking place in the beautiful Surrey Hills on Sunday 18th May. By taking part, you'll be helping to raise vital funds and awareness so that RBL can continue to support serving & ex-serving personnel and their families, for as long as needed.

Starting and finishing at Epsom Racecourse, you'll hike through stunning landscapes in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. You will also pass through a Centenary Wood which commemorates the sacrifices made in WW1.​

For more information on this event, please go to: rbl.org.uk/eventhike There is a discount for the military community available of 20%, reducing the registration cost to £20. To access the discount code, please ask your local HIVE; use our DM/Contact Us facilities; or email RC-Pers-HIVEComms-0Mailbox@mod.gov.uk​

To find more information on:

• Other RBL fundraising events and challenges, please visit: rbl.org.uk/eventbrochure
• The RBL and how they support beneficiaries, please visit: Our Beneficiaries
• How to be a volunteer, please visit: rbl.org.uk/event-volunteer

SSAFA Gurkha Services

SSAFA's Gurkha Services are available to all serving and veteran members of the Brigade of Gurkhas, and their families. They provide local SSAFA volunteers with up to date information, awareness and translation services, to ensure the Gurkha community have the same support opportunities as any other member of the Armed Forces community.

They work collaboratively with other Gurkha specific organizations such as the Gurkha Welfare Trust, the Gurkha Brigade Association, the Army Welfare Service, Gurkha communities and others.

Click here for further information

Aldershot: The Vine Centre

Based in Aldershot, Hampshire and supporting Rushmoor and the surrounding areas, we aim to support our community with their needs as and when they arise. The Vine Centre provides a broad range of services to the most disadvantaged members of our community and we seek to fulfil the basic needs of anyone who seeks our help.

Our mission is to serve the community, enabling individuals to move towards independence, make sustainable change in their lives, reduce social isolation and improve their quality of life by offering specialised support in a safe environment. We support adults and families that are socially isolated, long-term unemployed, homeless or poorly housed, suffering with mental health, addiction or learning difficulties. Often individuals will access more than one of our services - and they are always welcome to join anything we have on offer.

Click HERE for more information

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Grantham: Never battle alone - ssafa The Armed Forces Charity - "Requiring Backup"

www.ssafa.org.uk/lincolnshire

The Lincolnshire Branch of SSAFA, as part of the East Midlands Region, is the trial area for a new SSAFA brand campaign which seeks to increase the visibility of our organisation to potential beneficiaries, future volunteers and also funders. The campaign is entitled 'Requiring Backup' and the poster, which is now visible in Lincoln Central station, features a Lincolnshire Veteran who has been supported by SSAFA and of course the NHS, through a period of personal trauma as he transitioned from the military into civilian life.

Information provided by Grantham HIVE