FREE Virtual Webinar Thursday 16th October - Are you interested in Cyber?
Plot twist: Your "chaotic" military spouse life is actually perfect cybersecurity training!
Managing multiple crises simultaneously? Perfect for threat detection
Keeping secrets and following protocols? Built-in security mindset
Working with people across different locations? Remote team collaboration expert
Staying calm when everything's falling apart? Incident response superhero
Join RFS October 16th at 12:30pm to see how your background translates to a thriving cyber career with flexibility that could work for military families!
Free registration: https://portal.recruitforspouses.co.uk/users/sign_in
You will find information, including comprehensive Location Guides – plus our local office’s contact details – on our Overseas Blogs at:
• Belgium (SHAPE)
• Brunei
• Brunssum
• Cyprus
• Gibraltar
• Naples
• Sennelager
For those posted elsewhere, anywhere in the rest of the World, our tri-Service iHIVE covers the area.
The iHIVE Blog hosts around 100 Overseas Location Guides that can be viewed or downloaded from our iHIVE Blog: https://internationalhive.blogspot.com/ with more being added routinely. These can also be accessed (by MODnet users) through the Army HIVE SharePoint site Overseas Postings area.
Most importantly, our iHIVE is also available to answer any enquiries about any overseas location worldwide, whether you are in the Royal Navy/RM, RAF, Army or civilian Service communities - please get in touch with any questions you may have.
iHIVE is listed in the Overseas Supportability Checklist as an action for any Service person/family assigned overseas, in order to check that local services, amenities and facilities meet each individual and family’s needs.
Our poster has iHIVE’s contact details, or get in touch by email: RC-Pers-HIVE-iHIVE-0Mailbox (MULTIUSER) RC-Pers-HIVE-iHIVE-0Mailbox@mod.gov.uk
Click poster to enlarge.
Help your child’s school to qualify for Service Pupil Premium funding by sharing your Service status by 2 October 2025.
The Department for Education (DfE) provides additional funding through the Service Pupil Premium in England. The SPP grant goes directly to academies and non-maintained state schools, as well as local authorities for each school they maintain.
The SPP grant for 2025 is £350 per Service pupil – children from Reception to Year 11 may be eligible.
To help your child’s school to qualify for SPP, Service parents are encouraged to inform schools of their Service status ahead of the autumn census deadline of Thursday 2 October 2025. You can do this by talking to the headteacher or school administration staff.
About the Service Pupil Premium
The main purposes of the Service pupil premium are to:
- help mitigate the negative impact of high mobility on a Service pupil’s education
- enable schools to offer pastoral support to eligible pupils, particularly during times of family separation such as deployments
It is for the school to decide how the money is spent. Funding can be used to help individual pupils or larger support projects.
Issue 30 of DIO’s Families First newsletter, dated 25 Sept, is now available to view online or download on the Defence Homes website
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The landmark event marked the next chapter for military gamers, putting the first generation of UK Armed Forces gaming talent at the forefront of global esports audiences. Featuring Rocket League, and built exclusively for the UK Armed Forces community, BFBS esports harnesses the worldwide phenomenon of the game to create a competitive arena where serving personnel, their family members, reservists, cadets, Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel, veterans, MOD civil servants, and members of the bereaved community can showcase their skills on an international stage.
Eight teams faced-off in a high-octane battle for the championship crown with British Army squads, Royal Air Force teams and civilian players all chasing glory. This was more than just a tournament – it was a platform driving connection, resilience, and community across the forces through one of the world’s fastest growing sports.
📢 Free financial webinars this October from Serve and Protect - don't miss out!
🌍 Eco-Friendly Ways to Save Money
🐖 Saving Made Simple
📝 Budgeting 101
☔ The Road to Financial Resilience
🚀 Credit Score 101
🔍 Before You Borrow
🔗 Register here: https://sandpcu.co.uk/hs-webinars
The following vacancies are now open for applications under the GFiE Scheme, all are Dept of Work & pensions roles, and all have a closing date of 19 Oct:
All three vacancies are located at Benton Park View, Longbenton, Newcastle upon Tyne
- Grade: EO
- Salary: £32,137
- Contract length:18 months
GFiE roles are available specifically to people who served in the Armed Forces, or be in your resettlement period and due to leave the Armed Forces within a reasonable time frame or a Military Spouse/Partner (your current partner must still be serving or was discharged within the last 12 months).
To apply, please submit a completed EOI Form (also see Guidance notes) and an up to date CV to GFIE@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
For more information on the GFiE scheme please go to: A complete guide to GFiE – Veterans, Military Partners/Spouses and Service Leavers – Life Chances – Going Forward into Employment (GFiE) (blog.gov.uk)
Monday 3 November, 9:00 – 17:00, Town House, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EQ
Kingston University are holding an important conference on the employability and skills of Service partners. Hear about the latest research which highlights the skills of Service partners in the workplace, and consider the practical steps needed to ensure these are incorporated – and valued – at work.
Serving personnel and partners, including those who are dual-serving and Reservists, are welcome to attend. Veterans, policy makers, employers and related organisations are also invited.
This event is free to attend and will offer refreshments and networking opportunities.
Find out more about the event and register your place in advance.
If your posting is in the UK you can find our blog and location guides here. Please use our MS Forms enquiry function for any additional locations or if you have any enquiries.
Are you assigned overseas? If you’re posted to an overseas location where we have a HIVE, you will find information – plus our local office’s contact details – at:
• Belgium (SHAPE)
• Brunei
• Brunssum
• Cyprus
• Gibraltar
• Naples
• Sennelager
Posted elsewhere overseas? Don’t worry if your new location is not listed above, the iHIVE covers the rest of the world, with over 100 location guides available plus online enquiry support.
Our iHIVE is tri-Service and is listed on the Overseas Supportability checklist as an action, so that Service personnel and families can obtain the relevant information they may each require, to ensure that their new location can meet each individual’s and family’s needs.
For those with MODnet access, Army HIVE’s SharePoint site can also be used to download our information sheets or ask questions – please go to our Overseas Postings area
If you’re relocating back to the UK from overseas, or moving within the UK, our SharePoint hosts guidance and resources in our Relocating within or back to the UK section.
Nexus is a three-year project funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Trust. The project aims to improve support, resources and access to services for young carers within armed forces families.
The Autumn Newsletter can be read online at this link: Autumn Nexus Newsletter.
A new webinar series ‘A guide to the Armed Forces Covenant for young carers services’ has also been scheduled, with the first webinar taking place on the 11th November at 13:00. For more information please click here.
BFBS says, “We’re holding a massive day of fundraising for The Big Salute on Thursday October 16th and we’d LOVE you to get involved!
We’re inviting you to organise an event that will raise much-needed funds for small military charities. Charities that will help serving personnel, veterans and military families.
This year, the theme is the Big 10. How about a 10 hour endurance challenge, 10 laps of a swimming pool, baking 10 cakes for a Big Salute bake sale, or do something crazy like pull a truck for 10 meters! You could even organise 10 raffles, a 10 round pub quiz, take 10 dogs for a walk - you get the idea!
Your event can be as big or as small as you can manage. Every little helps!
You can download resources like posters and bunting to add a little sparkle to your excellent efforts and a sponsorship form here - https://www.bfbs.com/big10
Donations can be made at - https://www.justgiving.com/bigsalute/donate "
Give Us Time have TWO last minute breaks available FOR NEXT WEEK– Monday 29th September to Friday 3rd October.
Hengar Manor, Cornwall – sleeps up to 8 people
https://www.parkholidays.com/our-parks/cornwall/hengar-manor/caravan-holidays
Located in the heart of Cornwall and set on a stunning country estate, Hengar Manor occupies the grounds of a 35-acre country estate and is a great location from which to explore the delights of North Cornwall. With the rolling hills of Bodmin Moor nearby and the popular seaside towns of Port Isaac and Padstow a short distance away, it is easy to see why we are such a popular choice for a Cornwall holiday.
Brynteg Country and Leisure Retreat, North Wales– sleeps up to 6 people
https://www.parkholidays.com/our-parks/wales/brynteg/caravan-holidays
Perfectly placed in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, our Brynteg Country & Leisure Retreat offers stunning views of Snowdonia and the surrounding countryside of North Wales. Nestled in the foothills of Snowdon with its own private lake, Brynteg offers majestic mountain ranges, stunning beaches, and charming countryside. Whether it’s exploring castles in Caernarfon, soaking up history in Llanberis, or relaxing on Anglesey’s miles of coastline, it’s easy to see why people escape here time after time. For those who enjoy a more leisurely pace of life, indulge in the on-park facilities including an indoor pool, gym, restaurant, and bar.
Both breaks are available on our website now - https://bookings.giveustime.org.uk/login.
As always;
Breaks are accommodation only – we can not cover the costs of travel, food, entertainment etc
Families will need an account - https://bookings.giveustime.org.uk/login
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?
The Department for Work and Pensions has 51 new DWP Universal Credit Operational Leader Higher Executive Officer opportunities available across various locations in Scotland. These are now open for applications until 30 Sept 2025.
Civil Service Jobs link: Universal Credit Operational Leader - Scotland (Ref: 748)
Find out more about working for DWP on the DWP Careers Hub / Executive Officer Recruitment , DWP
On Friday 3 October 2025, Mission Motorsport, The Forces’ Motorsport Charity – will launch the 2025 “Race of Remembrance” at Thruxton Circuit.
They warmly invite you to join them for this free, multi-activity day to:- Meet some of the teams taking part in the event
- Connect with beneficiaries and supporters in the paddock
- Experience the build-up to the charity’s highlight of the sporting year: the Remembrance Service with an endurance race attached
Event Details:
- Date: Friday 3 October 2025
- Time: 09:00 – 17:00 hrs
- Location: Thruxton Circuit
Important: This is a ticketed event and pre-registration is required.
Please register using the link below or by scanning the QR code on the attached poster:
https://RoR-launch2025.eventbrite.co.uk
Today, BFBS (British Forces Broadcasting Service) proudly marks BFBS TV’s 50th anniversary. First launched on 18th September 1975 in Celle, West Germany, this golden milestone coincides with the Royal Television Society’s (RTS) Cambridge Convention at King’s College, a fitting stage to celebrate five decades of trusted partnerships, delivering top-quality television to the UK Armed Forces and their families overseas.
On its inaugural broadcast Hilary Osborn declared: “It is a historic moment for us in BFBS as we open up our first television service.” From a 30-foot mobile control room at Trenchard Barracks, with content support and engineering expertise from the BBC and ITV contractor London Weekend Television, BFBS TV began transmitting UK programmes abroad.
From tape distribution in 1975 in Celle, to live news and sports via a bespoke microwave link in the 1980’s - stretching from Wembley across northern, eastern and western Europe, eventually reaching West Berlin – to satellite coverage in the 1990’s and the introduction of multi-channel and initial live services for the Royal Navy, BFBS TV has consistently adapted to meet the needs of its audience.
The launch of secure streaming in 2014, followed by on-demand services in 2018 brought BFBS TV into the digital era, offering over 2,000 hours of content to browse, and up to 40 live channels wherever personnel are posted. This includes bespoke edge solutions enabling streaming, catch-up TV, audio and digital print offerings, whether at sea or in locations where connectivity is limited.
As of 2025, BFBS TV works with more than 20 trusted partners including British public service broadcasters, subscription TV and streaming platforms, international studios and sports rights holders, all supporting the service in reaching armed forces communities overseas.
Ben Chapman, CEO of BFBS, said: “Celebrating 50 years of BFBS TV at the RTS Convention was a powerful moment to honour our history and thank the studios, stakeholders, and teams whose outstanding content and collaborative partnerships have kept the UK Armed Forces connected for half a century. We also raised a glass to every colleague who has made this possible.”
Adam Hardwick, Deputy Director of BFBS TV & Cinemas, added: “Reaching this milestone is about recognising the breadth of services BFBS TV delivers today. From live sports, movies and series to trusted news, children’s content and so much more, we’re proud to offer a service that continues to innovate and evolve to meet the changing needs of the armed forces community wherever they are deployed or posted.”
More information on BFBS TV can be found here.
The following vacancies are now open for applications under the GFiE Scheme, all are Dept of Work & pensions roles, and all have a closing date of 8 Oct:
- GFIE-455 - Associate Supplier Manager Location: Peel Park, Blackpool, Grade: EO, Salary: £32,137, Contract length: 18 months
- GFIE-453 - Associate Capability Manager Location: Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle, Birmingham. Grade: EO, Salary: £32,137, Contract length: 12 months
- GFIE-454 - Digital Capability Manager Location: Newcastle (Benton Park View). Grade: EO, Salary: £32,137, Contract length: 12 months
- GFIE-452 - Capacity & Capability Delivery Assurance Officer Location: Leeds (Quarry House), Grade: EO, Salary: £32,137, Contract length:18 months
- GFIE-456 - Associate Business Services Practice Manager Location: Peel Park, Blackpool & Quarry House, Leeds. Grade: EO, Salary: £32,137, Contract length: 12 months
- GFIE-457 - Software Engineer Location: Sheffield, Manchester. Grade: EO, Salary: £32,137, Contract length: 18 months
Army HIVE staff, wherever they are based worldwide, all have access to MODnet and are thereby able to source both MOD and Army policy documents to support customer enquiries.
Often, the answers that our customers need on topics like entitlements, allowances, eligibility and access to services are contained within JSPs (Joint Service Publications), DINs (Defence Instructions and Notices), ABNs (Army Briefing Notes), and AGAIs (Army General and Admin Instructions). Whilst these can all be accessed internally by MODnet users, and some JSPs are published externally on Gov.uk, knowing which policy the required guidance is contained within - and where to find it in the document - is not always that easy.
This is where HIVE staff can help; if we don’t immediately know where the answer can be found, we will carry out all the research required to assist both our Service community customers and our colleagues within the MOD. We always aim to provide a timely answer, and usually within 24 hours wherever possible.
TWO WEEK BREAK TO FLORIDA!
Give Us Time says:
Discover a perfect blend of comfort and family-friendly fun at Encantada Resort from 27th September to 11th October 2025. Sleeps up to 6 people - please note flights are not included! Escape to our enchanting haven, where every moment becomes a cherished memory.
Situated in the heart of Orlando’s attractions, the resort is an ideal retreat for families, couples, or groups of friends. Relax in spacious vacation homes tailored to accommodate your family’s needs and indulge in our top-notch amenities.
Whether you’re lounging by the inviting pool oasis or exploring the nearby thrilling attractions, Encantada Resort promises an unforgettable getaway for everyone. Vacation your way at Encantada Resort!
Live on the website for booking now - https://bookings.giveustime.org.uk/login
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Stress and anxiety
Self-refer by emailing: 
Or call their free helpline for support: 0800 999 3697
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