Grantham: Shine Connect Winter Support 2025

As we approach the festive season and look ahead to 2026, we are pleased to launch our Shine Connect Christmas and Winter Support Magazine which can be found here: Christmas Shine Connect 2025. It’s a practical information guide designed to support people who may be struggling, feeling isolated, or in need of extra help over the Christmas period.
The magazine brings together a wide range of key services from health, care and community VCFSE partners, all in one place.
It includes information on local support available over Christmas and New Year, warm and welcoming spaces for those who need them, free phone helplines offering a friendly voice, and community services that help people connect with others and reduce loneliness and isolation during the holiday period.

Information provided by Grantham HIVE

Grantham: Carers UK Winter Magazine

Carers UK have just shared their Winter Magazine, it has some great carer stories and information -Carers UK

Information provided by Grantham HIVE

Grantham: Beacon Cafe a space for Veterans - Military - Reservist - Emergency Services

Information provided by Grantham HIVE

Grantham: Gloji Energy Upcoming Programme Book Your Space!

Information provided by Grantham HIVE

Wiltshire: Community pharmacies opening on Christmas Day across Bath, Swindon and Wiltshire

 

A dozen community pharmacies across Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire are to remain open on Christmas Day this year, meaning people living in every part of the region should be able to access in-person help for minor illness and injury.

Community pharmacies do much more than just handle prescriptions, with the 12 sites due to be open on Thursday 25 December able to share practical advice on how to treat common winter illnesses and carry out private consultations to determine if further help is needed.

Trained pharmacists can also dispense medication, including antibiotics, for seven common conditions, which can save people from having to make an appointment with their GP practice.

For the full list plus opening times, please click here

Information provided by Colerne & Lyneham HIVE

Wiltshire: SEND newsletter - December 2025

 

Highlights this month include:

• Six ways to support your child over the Christmas period
• Have your say: SEND reform national conversation
• Help shape health and care services for children in Wiltshire - last workshop
• Discover what's new on Wiltshire's Local Offer

Please click here to read the newsletter online

Information provided by Colerne & Lyneham HIVEs

Wiltshire: Family and Community Learning - Understanding School Anxiety - online course

Information provided by South West HIVE Hub 

Recruit for Spouses Upcoming Session – Wellbeing Programme

Wellbeing Programme:

• Expert-led support
• Genuine peer connection
• Practical tools for mental wellness

Register now to secure your place or join the waiting list:

https://portal.recruitforspouses.co.uk/users/sign_in

MOD Stafford Regional Christmas and New Year Medical Cover

 Information provided: Central HIVE Hub

Warminster: First Aid Awareness - 18th December - Warminster Library - free event

 Information provided by South West HIVE Hub

Lichfield Combined Medical Practice - Christmas and New Year Health Care Provision - 20 Dec - 4 Jan

 Information from: Central HIVE Hub

Catterick: RESET - Helping Military Personnel address problematic behaviours and addictions every Tues

Information provided by North HIVE Hub
 

North East England: Mental Health Charity for Veterans

 

Anxious Minds is a mental health veterans charity based in the North East.

Their counselling centres in Wallsend, North Tyneside and Blyth, Northumberland offer free counselling to veterans and family members for an agreed period.

Services are accessed through referral to the Anxious Minds Veteran Recovery College.

Programmes include tailored therapeutic courses, one-to-one counselling, peer-led groups and outdoor therapy such a woodland walks.

Their Hope Recovery Centre runs drop-in events open to all, with events including mindfulness and Tai Chi, along with a veterans and community kitchen offering nutritious, low-cost meals and a weekly breakfast club

North East Counselling & Community Mental Health Services

Information provided by North HIVE Hub

Bath, Swindon & Wiltshire: Free Wellbeing Workshops with BSW Recovery College

 

The course list for January '26 to March '26 has now been published on the BSW Recovery College website.

Upcoming online courses include:

• ADHD - Minds Of All Kinds
• Managing Anxiety
• Building Resilience
• Managing Intense Emotions
• Self Kindness

Other sessions are also available face-to-face in Swindon, Bath and Trowbridge.

Click here to find out more

Information provided by Colerne & Lyneham HIVE

Wales: Launch of the new Welsh Government Additional learning needs (ALN) parent and carer toolkit

 

Launch of the new Welsh Government Additional learning needs (ALN) parent and carer toolkit

Developed with parents, carers and professionals from across education, health and social care, local authorities and third sector, it explains how the system works and where support is available for children, young people and families.

All resources are available in English and Welsh, with accessible versions including Easy Read.

Additional learning needs (ALN) parent and carer toolkit

Information provided by Wales HIVE Hub.

Army HIVE Christmas and New Year Closure

 

The majority of Army HIVEs will be closed after duties on Fri 19 Dec 25 and will reopen on Mon 5 Jan 26. There may be localised variations to these dates for individual HIVEs.

Army HIVE HQ is also closed during the festive fortnight, so any enquiries submitted via the ‘If you need further information’ MS Forms function on our UK, Cyprus or Overseas blogs will be answered when we return in the New Year.

We will periodically cover private messages on our Army HIVE Facebook platform (and X/Instagram where possible) whilst we are closed. However, this will not be 24/7 and should not be relied upon for anything that requires an urgent response.

To support our customers with more immediate requirements however, the Army HIVE HQ email will provide a comprehensive out of office autoreply, detailing points of contact that are either 24/7, emergency providers, or open over the festive leave fortnight. To receive this autoreply, please email: 

RC-Pers-HIVEComms-0Mailbox@mod.gov.uk

Individual HIVEs will also provide localised contact details for Christmas and New Year cover wherever possible in their automated replies. Therefore, if you email your closest HIVE, which you can find on www.army.mod.uk/hives, their autoreply may be of additional assistance.

Army HIVE wishes all of its Service community customers, and our internal and external stakeholders, a very happy Christmas and New Year. We look forward to continuing our support and engagement in 2026.

Royal Wootton Bassett: New location for the Carer Cafe as of January 2026!

 

Click here to find out more about Carers Together Wiltshire

Information provided by Lyneham HIVE

Gloucestershire: Latest 'Families in Partnership' e-newsletter for families with SEND

 

Highlights this month include:

• Helping your child navigate the sensory pressures of Christmas
• Festive Lights - where to enjoy them sensitively in Gloucestershire this solstice
• Carer support over Christmas
• SEND Information Fair 2026 - Mon 9 Feb
• Peer support coffee mornings
• December activities

Please click here to read this latest update online

Information provided by Lyneham HIVE

St Athan: Men's Group, every Tues 10 - 12 at The Gathering Place, St Athan

Information provided by Wales HIVE Hub

Catterick: AWS SEND Haven every Wednesday

 Information provided by North HIVE Hub