Little Troopers Announces Free Autumn Weekend Online Workshops for Military Children

Little Troopers is delighted to announce a brand-new series of free weekend online workshops for the Autumn/Winter term, part of the charity’s popular All Together programme. Designed especially for children under ten from across the Armed Forces community, whether based in the UK or overseas, these online sessions bring military children together for fun, creativity, and connection.

The autumn line-up features an exciting mix of activities, including; Dance lessons, Live baking classes, Science experiments, Space adventures, Animal encounters and Art sessions.

The All Together programme was created to help military children feel connected, valued, and entertained, particularly during times of deployment or separation from a serving parent. These exclusive, funded events are a chance for young little troopers to try something new with other military children and enjoy a special activity at the weekend.

Families Posted Overseas – have you nominated a Trusted Contact?

 

Military Coworking Network: Free Online Events

 

Come hang out with us online this Autumn!

We have a new online events schedule with lots of great events, including some evening ones to help build connections and have fun, even if you’re stuck in with the kids (or just want to snuggle up in your comfies at home!).

All totally free to attend and open to all military spouses and partners, and ranging from coworking to crafts, masterclasses and games night.

Check out the website: www.militarycoworking.uk/events and sign up now!

Serve and Protect Credit Union: Fixed Saver Launched 1 Sept - Guaranteed return of 4% AER

Fixed-Rate Savings Account - Now Available

A quick update: a new issue of the fixed-rate savings account from Serve and Protect Credit Union is now available. This is part of the financial wellbeing benefits that Service personnel and MOD Civil Servants have access to as an employee.

• 4% AER fixed for 12 months (starting 1 October)
• No fees or surprises

This is simply for your awareness - it’s not a recommendation. Please take a look and decide if it’s right for you. The account is available to apply for until 28 September 2025 and you need to become a member first – which is free.
You can learn more here: https://sandpcu.co.uk/army-fs

Terms and eligibility criteria apply.

FAO RAF personnel and their family members: RAF Family Federation Awareness webinars

Want to know more about the RAF Families Federation?

Join upcoming webinars at 1500hrs on 1st and 4th Sept.

Register to attend by emailing: enquiries@raf-ff.org.uk

7th Sept 2025: National emergency alert test and guidance for victims of domestic abuse

There will be a test of the national emergency alert system on 07 September. This will come through to all mobile phones across the country. SafeLives have issued the following guidance for those who are victims of domestic abuse:

📢 A UK-wide emergency alert test will take place on Sunday 7th September 2025 at 3pm. Mobile phones will emit a loud siren and vibrate — even if they’re on silent.

Whilst these alerts aim to protect the public in emergencies, they could put victim-survivors of domestic abuse at risk — especially those who rely on hidden phones as part of their safety plan.

Please know, you CAN opt out of this test.

If you need to disable alerts for safety reasons, follow the steps here: Opting out of emergency alerts - GOV.UK

Milspo: FREE Business Launch Accelerator Course, Online from September

FREE MOD-funded, online business start-up course for spouses and partners of UK Regular and Reserve Armed Forces.

Want to turn your idea into a business that fits around this beautiful thing we call modern military life?

Then apply to join the Business Launch Accelerator Course.

Learn how to launch and grow a successful business around deployments, postings, childcare and all the unpredictability of UK Armed Forces life. It’s a course specifically created FOR military spouses BY military spouses, so flexibility is built in.

This 8-week online course is designed to take you from an initial idea to a full-fledged start-up business and provides a clear roadmap and the tools and support you need to succeed. Plus, you’ll get to know a group of other amazing military spouses and partners with similar goals.

It’s fully funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust and the MOD, which means it’s completely free for those taking part.

Find out more and apply to join the next course which starts on 15 September 2025:
https://milspo.co.uk/course/

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) bulk recruitment – EO Work Coach roles, Wales

The Department of Work and Pensions has 33 new DWP Work Coach Executive Officer opportunities in Wales. These are now open for applications until 11 Sept 2025.

Civil Service Jobs link: Universal Credit Job Centre - Work Coach - Wales (Ref: 744) - Civil Service Jobs - GOV.UK

More information on DWP, the roles available and the application process can be found on the DWP EO Microsite.

Gov.uk Armed Forces Pensions Update: Pension Scams

The over-arching link for all Armed Forces Pensions information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pensions-and-compensation-for-veterans

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) bulk recruitment – EO Work Coach roles, West Midlands

The Department of Work and Pensions has 100 new DWP Work Coach Executive Officer opportunities in the West Midlands. These are now open for applications until 09 Sept 2025.

Civil Service Jobs link: Universal Credit Job Centre - Work Coach - West Midlands (Ref: 743)

More information on DWP, the roles available and the application process can be found on the DWP EO Microsite.

Serve and Protect Credit Union – Sept Financial Education Webinars

Serve & Protect Credit Union have the following upcoming financial education webinars:

Topic: Eco-Friendly Ways to Save Money
Date: 04 September 2025
Time: 1200 - 1245
Register: Eco-Friendly Ways to Save Money | Serve and Protect Credit Union

Topic: Budgeting 101: Take Control of Your Money
Date: 08 September 2025
Time: 1200 - 1245
Register: Budgeting 101: Take Control of Your Money | Serve and Protect Credit Union

Topic: The Road to Financial Resilience: Preparing for the Unexpected
Date: 23 September 2025
Time: 1200 - 1245
Register: The Road to Financial Resilience: Preparing for the Unexpected | Serve and Protect Credit Union

Topic: Credit Score 101: Tips to Boost Your Score
Date: 25 September 2025
Time: 1200 - 1245
Register: Credit Score 101: Tips to Boost Your Score | Serve and Protect Credit Union

Topic: Before You Borrow: Key Things to Know
Date: 30 September 2025
Time: 1200 - 1245
Register: Before You Borrow: Key Things to Know | Serve and Protect Credit Union

For more information on Serve & Protect webinars, please visit: https://serveandprotectcu.co.uk/education/webinars/

Dorset: Little Troopers free family reconnection weekend Dorset, Fri 26th - Sun 28th Sept 2025

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

• Friday 26th September to Sunday 28th September, Portland, Dorset

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.

Outstanding GCSE Results at The Duke of York’s Royal Military School

Outstanding GCSE Results at The Duke of York’s Royal Military School

Students at The Duke of York’s Royal Military School are once again celebrating a year of exceptional success in their GCSE examinations, with nearly a third of all entries achieving a grade 9-7. 79% of students achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and Mathematics. This year’s results reflect the hard work, determination, and ambition of Dukies, with a significant number earning coveted academic and sports scholarships as they move into Sixth Form.

Principal Alex Foreman commended students and staff alike, stating: "We are incredibly proud of our students' achievements. As one of the top-performing non-selective boarding schools in the country, we are delighted to see so many Dukies choosing to continue their journey with us into Sixth Form. Our university-style boarding environment, alongside our academic and enrichment programmes, offers a truly unique education. Students thrive here – not just academically, but as confident, well-rounded individuals prepared for the future path they choose."

This year, 13 students were awarded academic scholarships for outstanding GCSE performance, while 7 received sports scholarships recognising their talent, commitment, and leadership on and off the field. 4 of these students will join the school’s elite Rugby Performance Pathway, delivered in partnership with Ealing Trailfinders – a testament to the school’s dedication to developing athletic as well as academic excellence.

Among the many outstanding achievements this year are Samuel McLay, who earned six grade 9s and three grade 8s; Bijes Rai, with three grade 9s, four grade 8s and two grade 7s; Nina Umeh, who achieved four grade 9s, one grade 8 and four grade 7s; Chidera Achomadu, who secured two grade 9s, four grade 8s and three grade 7s; and Parisha Rai, who secured one grade 9, five grade 8s and three grade 7s.

The school’s distinctive ethos, combined with small class sizes, exceptional education, and outstanding opportunities, continues to support students to exceed expectations and reach their full potential.

Applications to the school are welcome, with academic scholarships available for external applicants.

For more information, visit www.doyrms.com

2025 Army Families Federation questionnaire on Service pay

The Army Families Federation (AFF), Naval Families Federation (NFF) and RAF Families Federation (RAFFF) are jointly running a questionnaire to hear from Regular Service Personnel and their families about satisfaction with pay and personal financial circumstances over the past 12 months.

The responses will help to:

Better understand the financial challenges faced by service families.

Identify any trends or issues specific to each of the single services.

Provide robust, evidence-based feedback to the MOD, the Armed Forces Pay Review Body, and other key stakeholders.

To take part in this questionnaire, which is open to serving personnel, spouses and partners, please click the link below.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AFF2025_Pay_Questionnaire

The questionnaire should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete and every response helps strengthen the evidence that family federations can present on behalf of families.

Career Transition Partnership Employment Fairs – remaining 2025 dates

To view all CTP employment events, and to register to attend an event, please visit: https://www.modctp.co.uk/home/list-events

Are you being posted overseas? Our Overseas and iHIVE Blogs hold information on your new location

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

GOV.UK: Updated guidance for Service personnel and their families on Early Years childcare and child welfare policies

The Gov.uk website has been updated today, with new information in the ‘Free Early Years Childcare entitlement for children aged 9 months to school starting age (including 15 or 30 hours’ free childcare)’ and ‘Overseas Nursery Authority (ONA)’ section.

To review the revised information please go to: Guidance for Service personnel and their families on child welfare policies.

Going Forward into Employment (GFiE): Latest HMRC Vacancies in Newcastle, Belfast and Portsmouth - available exclusively to Service Leavers, Veterans and Military Spouses/Partners

The following vacancy is now open for applications under the GFiE Scheme:

GFIE-448 – HMRC Review Officer - Newcastle, Belfast and Portsmouth

Closing Date: 12 September 2025

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)

Department for Work and Pensions (including Jobcentre Plus) bank holiday arrangements for 25 August 2025

The Department for Work and Pensions (including Jobcentre Plus) office opening arrangements are different for the 25 August bank holiday.

England, Scotland and Wales:

On Monday 25 August 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 25 August then benefits will be paid early on Friday 22 August.
If the expected payment date is not shown, customers will get their money on their usual payment date.

How satisfied are you with family life while serving overseas?

As the Overseas Survey draws to a close on 30 August 2025, MOD are making one final call to hear from Armed Forces families living overseas. These insights are vital in shaping the support, services, and policies that matter most to them.

Whether it’s childcare, education, employment or military life in general—their  voice makes a difference https://surveys.mod.uk/index.php/458476?lang=en (link to survey).

Also a reminder to everyone that, for anyone who hasn’t had a chance to take part yet, there’s still time. It only takes a few minutes, and feedback is invaluable.

MOD would like to say a big thank you to everyone who’s already shared their experiences. Their contribution will help the MOD to build a clearer, stronger picture of life overseas.

Every response counts.