Invitation to attend Financial Literacy Focus Groups

Introduction

Financial literacy is a key life skill and is critical to the development of our personal and collective resilience. The Financial Times charity FLIC is has funding to expand financial literacy into the Armed Forces and they are running 2 online focus groups in June and one face to face focus group in July (details below). 20-30 Service personnel and family members across a mix of ranks, ethnicity and gender are being sought for each focus group, to help FLIC understand the financial challenges that the Armed Forces face, and the information that would be useful.

The three focus groups will take place on the following dates/times:

19 Jun 25 (1130-1230 tbc) – Online focus group delivered by via MS TEAMS (25 pers)

24 Jun 25 (0900-1000 tbc) – Online focus group delivered via MS TEAMS (25 pers)

17 Jul 25 0900-1200 – Face to face focus group delivered by FLIC, Buller Conference Centre, St Omer, Aldershot. (35 pers). Civilian attire, lunch at PAYD facility.

Register interest here: https://forms.office.com/e/at8DSE3evc

Volunteers will be asked to take part in a discussion to help shape a package that informs our Service community in a way that is relevant, engaging and accessible. The discussion will explore their topics of interest, financial challenges and how they want to receive the information. The session will also include the opportunity to test video and e-learning platform capabilities.

Medway Business Advice Service

Medway businesses connect with the Business Advice Service and get support to help businesses grow.

Medway has a diverse economy made up of more than 14,000 businesses.

The aim is to support business to deliver projects that can make Medway an economic powerhouse.

 

The Business Advice Service and local network offers impartial business advice to companies of all sizes and in all sectors. Designed to help guide local businesses to find solutions best suited to their own needs.

 
Resources include:

- Free business planning advice
- Help to access funding in the form of grants and loans
- Help finding the ideal Medway location for your business
- Support in recruiting staff and apprentices
- Advice on business start-up and licensing a business

Click HERE for more information.

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Serve + Protect Credit Union’s latest podcast about managing debt successfully

 

There are lots of times when borrowing money can be useful. However, managing your debt can sometimes become overwhelming.

The latest podcast episode from Serve and Protect Credit Union is full of useful information on managing your debt effectively and the support available if you are struggling.

Watch here: https://youtu.be/qtL02Yl2lV0?si=DJmTfo-KNo-G5euF

MOD staff benefit update: New fixed-rate savings account available from Serve + Protect Credit Union

 

A new issue of the fixed-rate savings account from Seve and Protect Credit Union is available from 1st to 26th June 2025.

This is available to you as part of the financial wellbeing benefits we offer through our partnership with them.

• 4% AER fixed for 12 months

• No fees or charges

This is just for your awareness - not a recommendation. Please review the details and decide if it’s right for you.

https://sandpcu.co.uk/hs-fixed-saver

Terms and eligibility criteria apply

Department for Work and Pensions (including Jobcentre Plus) bank holiday arrangements for 26 May 2025

The Department for Work and Pensions (including Jobcentre Plus) office opening arrangements are different for the 26 May bank holiday.

England, Scotland and Wales:

On Monday 26 May offices and phone lines are closed.

To make sure people get their payment on a day when our offices are open, arrangements have been made to make some payments early.

If the expected payment date is Monday 26 May then benefits will be paid early on Friday 23 May. If the expected payment date is not shown, customers will get their money on their usual payment date.

Richmond: The Richmond Banking Hub Mon - Fri

The Richmond banking hub is located at 20 King Street, DL10 4HP

Open Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm.

The hub offers a counter service operated by the Post Office, where customers of all major banks can carry out regular cash transactions, whenever it's open.

A community banker service is also available where customers can talk to their own bank about more complicated issues on allocated days:

Community Banker availability
Mon:
NatWest
Tue:
Lloyds
Wed:
HSBC
Thu:
Barclays
Fri:
Halifax

Please note that our community bankers may be unavailable during lunchtime as they take a well-deserved break.

National Stop Loan Sharks week 2025 – 19 to 25 May

It can take time – sometimes months, even years – for someone to reach out for help with a loan shark debt.

Stop Loan Sharks figures show some borrowers waited for around four years before seeking support. But it’s worth it when they do.

These are real words from borrowers who took that brave first step and reached out to Stop Loan Sharks for help:

“It feels like a massive weight has been lifted.”
“You just understand and haven’t been judgemental.”
“After reporting you came back really quickly which put my mind at rest.”
“The person on the hotline created an immediate bond with me. I feel so much better.”

The Stop Loan Sharks team is available 24/7. No call centres. No scripts. Just real people who care.

Call in confidence on 0300 555 2222

· Text or WhatsApp on 07860 022116

· Email reportaloanshark@stoploansharks.gov.uk

· Visit www.stoploansharks.co.uk where you will find a reporting form and a Live Chat option, available 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Serve & Protect Credit Union: Upcoming Webinars and May Update

 

This May, Serve and Protect Credit Union are delivering a range of free educational webinars on the following financial topics:

Thu 1st - Eco-Friendly Ways to Save Money

Tue 6th - Responsible Lending: How We Can Stop Loan Sharks Together

Thu 8th - Budgeting 101: Take Control of Your Money

Thu 15th - Credit Score 101: Tips to Boost Your Score

Wed 21st - The Road to Financial Resilience: Preparing for the Unexpected

Thu 22nd - Before You Borrow: Things to Know

With actionable tips to prepare for financial emergencies, improve your credit score, and budget your money, don't miss out on these free webinars from Serve and Protect!

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

Serve & Protect Credit Union - 2025/26 Cash ISA now launched!

 

Serve and Protect Credit Union's latest Fixed Cash ISA is here!

Secure a guaranteed and tax-free 4% AER return on your savings for the 2025/26 tax year, while supporting the wider community of those who serve and protect. Here’s how the new Fixed Cash ISA benefits you:

• Start Small, Save Big: Deposit as little as £5, with contributions up to £20,000 for this tax year.
• Tax-Free Growth: Enjoy a guaranteed 4% AER return to maximise your savings effortlessly.
• Peace of Mind: Your savings are protected up to £85,000 by the FSCS (Financial Services Compensation Scheme).
• Community Impact: Your savings make a meaningful difference by supporting others within the credit union.

Learn more at: https://sandpcu.co.uk/isa-hs-email

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.

NAAFI Fund 2025 – Applications Now Open!

NAAFI have just announced the launch of the NAAFI Fund Date for 2025! Applications are now open!

The NAAFI Fund was launched back in 2020 and has supported 467 projects so far, donating over £4 million to help improve the lives of service personnel and their families around the world. To read more about the projects that NAAFI have supported to date: https://naafi.co.uk/giving-back/

To read the blog post announcing new information regarding the NAAFI Fund 2025: NAAFI Fund: Applications Now Open - NAAFI

Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) - don't miss out on your State Pension entitlement

 

The 5 April 2025 deadline for paying voluntary National Insurance contributions to fill any gaps in your record between 2006 and 2018 is approaching. To support anyone wishing to check their records, or make a payment, there is now a DWP video and an online form to request a callback.

Watch the DWP video How to check your State Pension and pay for gaps in your National Insurance record on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_8GkTNgyXqs

DWP’s online form is available to request a call back at: https://ow.ly/oGbl50VarlC

Dept for Work & Pensions: Roundup of recent DWP announcements

Changes to strengthen Statutory Sick Pay

The Government has announced changes to strengthen Statutory Sick Pay which will benefit more than one million employees across the UK as part of efforts to grow the economy.

Through the Employment Rights Bill, Government is strengthening Statutory Sick pay by removing the Lower Earnings Limit so that the safety net of sick pay is available to those who need it most. We are also removing the Waiting Period so that Statutory Sick Pay is paid from the first day of sickness absence.

As part of the Government amendments to the Employment Rights Bill tabled this week, it was announced low earners who find themselves ill will either receive 80%of their normal weekly earnings or the flat rate of Statutory Sick Pay (which will be £118.75 per week from April) – whichever is lower.

This means some of the lowest earners will be up to £100 better off per week, compared to the current system and employees will be able to take the time off work that they need to recover, so they can get better and remain in work rather than risk quitting altogether.

This new percentage rate strikes the right balance between providing financial security for employees who fall ill, and the cost to businesses – all while retaining the incentives for people to return to work.

More information about the change to Statutory Sick Pay is available on GOV.UK, as well as the Government’s response to the Statutory Sick Pay consultation.

Deadline to fill National Insurance gaps to increase State Pension

People have until 5 April 2025 to fill gaps in their National Insurance (NI) record dating back to 6 April 2006. After this date, payments can only be made for the previous six tax years.

The quickest and easiest way for people to check a State Pension forecast and find out if they can benefit from paying to fill NI gaps is by checking their NI record on GOV.UK or in the HMRC app. Guidance on how to download the HMRC app is on GOV.UK.

For anyone who is unable to get through on Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) phoneline ahead of the deadline, there is an online call back request form. This will enable people to request a call back about paying voluntary National Insurance contributions to fill gaps in State Pension entitlement between 2006 and 2018.

The form will be available on the Contact the Future Pension Centre page on GOV.UK. DWP will call back to discuss payment of voluntary National Insurance contributions. When a person submits a request, a message will appear on their screen to confirm that their request has been sent to the DWP Pension Centre. This will normally be within 8 weeks of submitting a request, there is no need to make further contact with DWP or HMRC.

Move to Universal Credit update

Tax credits are closing on 5 April 2025, and customers must respond to their migration notices by their deadline date to continue to receive financial support from the Government. DWP continue to increase the number of migration notices being sent to customers receiving ESA, with all notices due to be sent by the end of 2025.

The department recognises that some tax credit customers may wait until their deadline to claim Universal Credit. For those customers who have a deadline date close to the tax credit closure date, we want to ensure that we provide as much support as possible and are therefore opening our Universal Credit Migration Notice Helpline on Saturday 5 April, to answer any customer questions, telephone: 0800 169 0328*.

The end of March 2025 marks the closure of the Universal Credit Programme and its transition from delivering ‘Move to UC’ from a Programme-led approach to a ‘business as usual’ operation.

* 0800 phone numbers are free to call from mobiles and landlines.

How to protect yourself from Loan Sharks

 

How to protect yourself from loan sharks

A loan shark – or illegal money lender - is someone who lends money illegally without proper authorisation from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

That means if you borrow from them, they don’t have to follow the rules – they can decide how much you pay back and when.

These criminals are not always easy to spot - they can be a friend, a fellow service member, even a senior officer.

Whoever they are, they will usually appear as a friendly face, offering you a favour. They may tell you that what they are offering is nothing more than peer-to-peer lending and their offer may seem hard to resist.

But very quickly the situation can spiral out of control, and you could find yourself having to pay back much more than you initially borrowed. You might even be subjected to threats, violence and intimidation if you struggle to make a payment.

There are some signs that you can look out for, which may indicate that an agreement has crossed the line from peer-to-peer lending into more sinister and dangerous territory.

Catterick: Banking help at Catterick Library every week

Did you know Darlington Credit Union and Lloyds Banking Group come to our library each week?
They can help you with a variety of banking tasks and account support.

Darlington Credit Union are at Catterick Library every Thursday 10am – 1pm.

Lloyds are at Catterick Library every alternative Wednesday 10am – 4pm.

Information provided by North HIVE Hub

 

Serve and Protect Credit Union's latest Fixed Saver account

Serve and Protect Credit Union's latest Fixed Saver account is here.

Secure a guaranteed 4.25% AER return on your savings over the next 12 months. Available to apply throughout February.

Learn more at: https://serveandprotectcu.co.uk/save/fixed-saver/

Universal Credit for Armed Forces personnel posted overseas

 

Serving Personnel and families are entitled to claim Universal Credit, regardless of their location. This means families stationed overseas can submit claims in the same way as those in the UK.

Please click here to find out more

Lyneham: Cost of living support leaflet from the Royal Wootton Basset & Cricklade Community Area

 

Please click the images to enlarge

Alternatively please click here to view a PDF document with live links to the above-listed websites

Information provided by Lyneham HIVE

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.

 
https://loom.ly/NFlSts8

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Service community discounts - make yourself a 2025 priority and make savings

 

As we welcome the new year, January provides the perfect opportunity to focus on your wellbeing and make yourself a priority.

From boosting your fitness, improving mental health, and focusing on nutrition, to spending quality time with loved ones, the discounts available as part of ‘Your Offer’ in Defence can help kickstart a positive and balanced year ahead.

Your discounts can be accessed from: