MOD’s Families Hub is now in its second year – have you used it yet?

 

AFCFT ‘Supporting Partners Programme’ opens for applications, closes 23rd Sept with notification by end of Nov

Supporting Partners Programme reopens for applications

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) are pleased to let you know that the Supporting Partners programme under the MOD’s Armed Forces Families Fund is now open and ready to welcome new applications!

What’s the programme all about?

Since 2023, the Trust have awarded over £2.5m on behalf of the MOD to 45 projects under the Armed Forces Families Fund: Supporting Partners programme which seeks to provide support and solutions to help partners of serving personnel navigate the challenges of service life.

Today, the Trust are reopening this programme for new applications which will achieve one or more of the following outcomes -

• Partners of serving personnel have increased their skills and confidence through additional opportunities to explore new ways of working and/or to change careers.

• Partners of serving personnel, including non-UK nationals, are better able to access and engage with employment support that reflects the challenges of service life, such as mobility and separation.

• Service providers and employers demonstrate improved understanding of the unique challenges of service life, enabling more informed and effective support for partners of serving personnel.

• Improved mental health and wellbeing for partners of serving personnel, leading to increased confidence and greater empowerment in personal and career choices that work within service life.

Grants of £10,000 to £150,000 are available for projects lasting up to three years.

Planning to register and claim for the UK Nursery Authority (UKNA) from September? Living in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland? Volunteers needed for the user testing

Planning to register and claim for the UK Nursery Authority (UKNA) from September? The childcare team are asking for volunteers to take part in user testing and provide feedback on some of the products required to register and claim the UKNA reimbursement.

If you haven’t heard about UKNA, read the announcement from March 2026:

Transformative new childcare support will save Defence families up to £6000 a year - GOV.UK

Criteria for taking part in the testing:

• Service personnel (SP) must be Regular or FTRS (FC)
• SP with children aged 9 months to 2 years old living in Scotland or Wales, and SP with children aged 9 months to 4 years old living in Northern Ireland.
• SP that are currently paying for childcare at a registered childcare provider.
• SP that use a Tax-Free Childcare account to pay their provider.
• SP that have sufficient time available to test the product and provide feedback to the team.

User testing will take place between now and September.

If you fit the criteria and would like to take part in the user testing, please contact the Defence childcare team at people-affs-child-expenses@mod.gov.uk

Stop Loan Sharks: Spring Newsletter and Lived Experience Report published

Stop Loan Sharks have published their latest newsletter. To read this issue in full please go to this link: https://www.stoploansharks.co.uk/resources-newsletters/

Additionally they have recently launched a report following their lived experience research. This can be read online at: https://www.stoploansharks.co.uk/a-community-of-silence-the-lived-experience-of-people-borrowing-from-loan-sharks-in-england/

Scotland: MyGov Scot Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods

Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods are payments that help towards the costs of being pregnant or looking after a child.
About Best Start Grant

The 3 Best Start Grant payments are:

Pregnancy and Baby Payment

Pregnancy and Baby Payment helps with the costs of having a baby. You can apply for this payment during pregnancy to help prepare for your baby's arrival, or after your baby is born.

Early Learning Payment

If your application is successful you'll get £319.80 to help with the costs of early learning. You can get the payment when your child is aged between 2 years old and 3 years and 6 months old. To get this payment your child does not need to go to nursery.

School Age Payment
School Age Payment is a payment of £319.80 per child. It helps with the costs of preparing for school when your child is first old enough to start primary school.

South West: MoneyHelper Financial Wellbeing Network - the links between money and mental health

 

For some people, money can impact on their mental health, or their mental health can have an impact on their money. We know that 74% of people who experience a mental health problem struggle to keep up with bills and payments. We also know that 25% of people who experience a mental health problem are likely to be in problem debt.

These are important statistics, and it is important we start to understand the links between mental health and money, and to provide people across the SW with access to guidance, support and resources to help them with their financial wellbeing.

Please click here to read more online

Information provided by Colerne & Lyneham HIVE

Serve & Protect Credit Union: Upcoming June Webinars

🐖 Saving Made Simple: Practical Tips to Boost Your Savings

Date: Wednesday 17th June
Time: 12:00-12:45
What to Expect: Explore 10 practical savings methods that anyone can apply to build a healthy savings cushion.

✍️ Budgeting 101: Take Control of Your Money

Date: Thursday 18th June
Time: 12:00-12:45
What to Expect: Create a budget that meets your short and long-term financial goals, plus tips to cut your spending.

Financial Resilience: Ready When it Matters

Date: Friday 19th June
Time: 12:00-13:00
What to Expect: Understand why financial resilience matters and hear some simple, practical tips to help you improve it.

🚀 Credit Score 101: Tips to Boost Your Score

Date: Thursday 25th June
Time: 12:00-12:45
What to Expect: Understand the importance of looking after your credit score, plus actionable tips to improve yours.

💸 Borrow Smarter: Tips to Strengthen Your Loan Application

Date: Friday 26th June
Time: 12:00-12:45
What to Expect: Understand what happens throughout the journey of a loan application, some of the key factors lenders evaluate, and what to do before you apply.

🔗 Register for free here: https://sandpcu.co.uk/hs-webinars

Defence Update on Long-term relationships: Closing the gap on allowances

Long-term relationships: Closing the gap on allowances

If you’re in a long-term relationship, a range of allowances and support are now available to you – the same as your married or civil-partnered colleagues.

What’s changed?

Many allowances were only available to Service Personnel who were married or in a civil partnership. That wasn’t fair – not everyone wants to get married, even when they’re in a committed relationship.

From 1 May 2026, if you are in a Long-Term Relationship (Established) – known as an LTR(E) – you can claim allowances and provisions that were previously unavailable to you, just like your married colleagues.

Sarah Houghton, Director Armed Forces People Policy said:
“This is a real step forward for our people and their families. Around 20,000 Service Personnel are set to benefit – with those in long-term relationships being treated the same way as married colleagues, for ten allowances.”

Which allowances and provisions are affected?

The following are now available to Service Personnel in an LTR(E):

• Disturbance Expense (DE)
• Duty Travel
• Get You Home (Travel)
• Home to Duty Travel
• HM Forces Railcards
• Longer Separation Allowance (LSA)
• MOD Passport provisions
• Movement and Storage of Personal Effects (MSPE)
• Subsistence

This means, for example, that when you move home for service reasons, you can now claim expenses that reflect your real situation living with a partner – rather than being treated as single.

HM Forces Railcards and MOD-provided UK passports for service travel can also be extended to your partner, where eligibility criteria are met.

Are there still some allowances not covered?

Defence Update: Your move, better supported - Fairer moving costs for UK PASH users

Your move, better supported:

Fairer moving costs for UK PASH users

Moving home is never easy, but the Armed Forces are making it a little simpler and fairer.

If you live in Single Living Accommodation (SLA) – in a Mess, Barrack Block or equivalent – and you need to move your things when posted to another unit, there are two ways you can get help:

• UK Private Arrangements Self Help Scheme (UK PASH) – you arrange your own move and claim back some of the costs
• Self Pack Service (SPS) – your unit helps move your belongings through stores

What's changing?

UK PASH remains a popular choice – used by over 1,500 Service personnel last year – and from 1 May 2026, it’s getting even better.

Right now, you can claim back up to £298.56 for things like van hire, a trailer, packing boxes, or a removal firm. That cap isn't changing.

But here's the new bit: you can now also claim Motor Mileage Allowance (MMA) on top of the £298.56. MMA is paid at 25p per mile for one return trip – including any required detours, like picking up a hired van.

In short, you get:

• up to £298.56 for your moving costs
• 25p for every mile you drive

Why does this matter?

Moving further away costs more money. But until now, everyone got the same cap – no matter how far they had to travel. That wasn't fair, especially as personnel don't always get to choose their posting – moving to where Defence needs them.

This change means longer moves get more support. It's a practical improvement that better reflects the costs involved in Service life.

Part of Your Offer

The Armed Forces Offer is about making sure that the people who serve our country are treated fairly and looked after well, with real support when life gets disrupted – like when you need to move home to serve at a new location.
Further information

Full details and information on all the rules around removal support are available in JSP 752, Chapter 12, Section 4.

Serve & Protect Credit Union: Free financial webinars this May

🎲 Harmful Effects of Gambling with GamCare
Date: Tuesday 5th May
Time: 12:00-13:00
What to Expect: Discover the financial impacts of harmful gambling with representatives from GamCare.

🌍 Green Living: Simple Eco-Friendly Tips to Lower Your Bills
Date: Friday 8th May
Time: 12:00-12:45
What to Expect: Tips for living a greener life to save money and protect the planet!

📆 Planning Ahead: Wills, Trusts and LPA Explained
Date: Tuesday 12th May
Time: 12:00-13:30
What to Expect: Find out about Wills, Lasting Power of Attorney, Trusts, and Probate with representatives from Estates Planning Seminars.

🐖 Saving Made Simple: Practical Tips to Boost Your Savings
Date: Wednesday 13th May
Time: 12:00-12:45
What to Expect: Explore 10 practical savings methods that anyone can apply to build a healthy savings cushion.

✍️ Budgeting 101: Take Control of Your Money
Date: Thursday 14th May
Time: 12:00-12:45
What to Expect: Create a budget that meets your short and long-term financial goals, plus tips to cut your spending.

🛡️ Financial Resilience: Ready When it Matters
Date: Wednesday 20th May
Time: 12:00-13:00
What to Expect: Understand why financial resilience matters and hear some simple, practical tips to help you improve it.

🚀 Credit Score 101: Tips to Boost Your Score
Date: Thursday 21st May
Time: 12:00-12:45
What to Expect: Understand the importance of looking after your credit score, plus actionable tips to improve yours.

💸 Borrow Smarter: Tips to Strengthen Your Loan Application
Date: Thursday 28th May
Time: 12:00-12:45
What to Expect: Understand what happens throughout the journey of a loan application, some of the key factors lenders evaluate, and what to do before you apply.

💛 Best Kept Secret in Finance: The Credit Union Difference
Date: Friday 29th May
Time: 12:00-12:45
What to Expect: Learn how credit unions' people-focused approach benefits communities worldwide.

To find out more or to register for a webinar, please go to: Webinars - Serve & Protect

KCC: The Kent Money Advice Hub

 

'People go to the Money Advice Hub  with a lot on their shoulders, and they finish the call with an instant sense of relief and an increase in confidence.'

Are you worrying about money? The Kent Money Advice Hub could help you.

 
Click HERE for more information

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

April’s offers from Motorfinity

Have a look at this month’s offer sheets including some of our latest models, top discounts, and new models – all available with the new registration plate!

Exclusive webinar invitation - Financial Inclusion in the Public Sector, by Serve + Protect Credit Union

Register for free today!

We are pleased to invite you to an exclusive webinar on Tuesday 28th April 2026 at 13:00

Discover the key insights from our 2026 Financial Resilience Survey, which generated responses from 7,647 Serve and Protect members from January to February 2026.

In this webinar we break down the findings of the survey to uncover the common financial challenges facing public sector employees in 2026. From difficulty accessing responsible financial products, to preparing and coping with financial emergencies, you will be equipped with the knowledge of what is impacting your people today.

Don't miss this opportunity to better understand and support your colleagues.

Read the full Financial Resilience Report 2026

Serve and Protect Credit Union Cash ISA 2026/27 - Guaranteed Tax-Free Return of 3.85%

Serve and Protect Fixed Cash ISA | Guaranteed Tax-Free Return of 3.85%

Serve and Protect Credit Union have launched a Fixed Cash ISA for the 2026/27 tax year giving employees within the Police, Prison, Military, Fire and Health Services the opportunity to earn a guaranteed tax-free return of 3.85% AER (Annual Equivalent Rate).

• Minimum effort, maximum return: Start depositing from as little as £5 and up to a maximum of £20,000 for the 2026/27 tax year.
• Attractive returns: Enjoy a guaranteed tax-free return of 3.85% AER, allowing you to earn more from your savings effortlessly.
• Safety assured: Rest easy knowing your savings are protected up to £120,000 by the FSCS (Financial Services Compensation Scheme).

For people, not profit.

Serve and Protect Credit Union prides itself on being more than just a financial institution. As a not-for-profit, by opening an account, you can make a real impact to the lives of those who serve and protect our nation. Your support provides crucial funds to help fellow colleagues seeking affordable credit.

For more information or to apply please visit: Serve and Protect | Tax-Free Savings with a Fixed Cash ISA

MoneyHelper free webinar: Retirement planning for Gen-Z, Wed 20th May at 2pm

To register:

https://shorturl.at/MJr7C

MoneyHelper: Understanding debt and getting the help you need

A tough topic, but such a vital one to talk about, Debt Advice. 

Across the UK there are hundreds of thousands of people struggling with the burden of problem debt. Debt can be a taboo topic, difficult to talk to family or friends about, and many people are left feeling isolated and anxious, and many of them simply do not know where or how to reach out for help and support. This month’s article outlines some of the demographics around debt, signs to look out for and where to go for help. Please, do not suffer in silence, there is free and impartial, fully regulated support available. Let MoneyHelper support you on a journey a debt free future and more positive financial future.

For more Information please CLICK HERE

Hampshire: Forces Connect South East

Forces Connect South East

Hampshire County Council is proud to be part of Forces Connect South East

Forces Connect South East is a cross border partnership comprising Hampshire, Surrey, Kent, East Sussex and West Sussex County Councils, Brighton and Hove, Medway Councils and Sussex NHS.

It is a two-year Ministry of Defence Armed Forces Covenant Funded Programme aimed at making it easier for servicemen and women and their families, as well as reservists and veterans, to access public sector services including healthcare, housing, schools, financial advice and support to find jobs.

Click HERE for more information.

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub.

Catterick: LLoyds Banking Group is at Catterick Library alternate Weds from 8th Apr

Lloyds Banking Group will be at Catterick Library tomorrow (Wednesday 8th April) between 10am-4pm.
Community bankers will be available to help you with banking services and account support.

If you can, please call ahead to let us know you are coming. You can contact Catterick Library on 01609 534595.

Can’t make this one? They’ll be back again on Wednesday 22nd April for all your banking needs.

Information provided by North HIVE Hub

Forces Cars Direct: April Car Offers – Save on Your Next Vehicle

It’s April, and there are some fantastic offers available to you this month, including the brand new Jaecoo 8 with a saving of £9,619 and the Nissan Juke with a saving of £5,251.

Our team is on hand to help you make the best decision when choosing your next new car and to guide you through the exclusive savings available.

To view all of this month’s offers, please visit the link below: https://www.forcescarsdirect.com/special-offers/monthly-offers

Wifinity Armed Forces Offers: eSIM for travel and deployment, and SFA Forces Fibre

The current MOD offers from Wifinity include:

Low cost eSIM for deployment and travel - Wifinity | Explore our low cost eSIM plans

• Cheapest options on the market for MOD personnel and families going abroad
• 10% discount for MOD personnel and families using code HIVE10
• 20% discount for existing Wifinity customers. Customers can log into their ‘My Account’ to get their code

Ultrafast broadband flexible for families into SFA homes - Wifinity Forces Fibre

• Monthly rolling contracts available
• Cheaper than major providers such as BT
• Faster installation times than the UK average
• 26% faster speeds than the UK average
• Currently available at Kendrew, Chicksands, Lyneham, Marham and Aldershot
• Further SFA sites being rolled out in 2026
• Get your first 2 months free when sign up for 12-month plan