Scotland: Enquire, the Scottish Advice Service for additional support for learning 'Moving to Scotland Guide'

Moving to a new country and education system can be a worrying and busy time for families with a child with additional support needs.

Enquire have explained the key information you need if your family is moving to Scotland. This includes how education and support work in Scotland, and what you can do to help get everything arranged for your child’s move.

To read the guide 👉 enquire.org.uk

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Bovington: Are you due to move to Bovington, Lulworth or Blandford?

Are you or someone you know due to be posted to Bovington, Lulworth or Blandford soon?
If so contact Bovington HIVE to request pre-arrival information.

Email: RC-Pers-HIVE-Bovington-0Mailbox@mod.gov.uk

Core information sheets are available from the HIVE and contain useful information on accommodation,employment,health & wellbeing, finance, childcare,schools & adult education as well as location overview of community amenities, facilities and activities etc. There is also help with general queries regarding the local area.

Bovington HIVE can also provide you with information sheets on other locations across the UK and overseas. Please call in to speak to the HIVE information officer or use the contact details above.

Information provided by Bovington HIVE

South East: Are you being posted to the South East of England?

Are you or someone you know due to be posted to the Aldershot, Pirbright, Minley, Marchwood, Worthy Down, Winchester, Gosport, Thorney Island, Hermitage, Bicester, Abingdon, Windsor, Sandhurst, London or Woolwich areas If so contact South East HIVE Hub to request pre-arrival information.

Email: RC-Pers-HIVE-SEHub-0mailbox@mod.gov.uk

Core information sheets are available from the South East HIVE Hub and contain useful information on accommodation, employment, health & wellbeing, finance, childcare, schools & adult education as well as location overview of community amenities, facilities and activities etc. There is also help with general queries regarding the local area or alternatively you can access the Army HIVE Info blog and click on one of the many categories depending on what information you need.

If you require any further information then please call in at the Aldershot Garrison Community Hub in North Camp to speak to one of the HIVE information officers or contact us on 01252 347650 or email us on the above email.

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub.

Defence Children Services: New information on school admissions and education support to Service families

Defence Children Services and Education Advisory Team (UK) have released some new information for Service families. This includes guidance about key dates related to school admissions which are coming up; the first of these is October 31st for families who have a child due to start secondary school in September 2025. There are also leaflets explaining the support available from EAT (UK) and the Overseas Education and Supportability Team (OEST):​

Letter for families

Top Tips Information sheet with some FAQ

EAT(UK) leaflet

OEST leaflet

​DCS also has a new website with comprehensive information for Service families: www.dcs.school

Launch of new British Forces Cyprus community website

 

HQBFC are pleased to announce the formal launch of the new British Forces Cyprus Website:

Welcome to British Forces Cyprus - The central point for all information on living and working in British Forces Cyprus.

​This open source website will provide a one-stop shop for service personnel, UK based civilians and their families to access useful information about being assigned to Cyprus alongside key information for living in Cyprus. HIVE and the HIVE location guides for BFC are to be added soon.

It is an iterative project that will continue to develop and improve over time and will seek to replace what is a high volume of individual unit SharePoint sites, unofficial social media groups and old fashioned paper arrival packs.

The website will significantly improve the information available to personnel and their families, accessible in a way that modern communications demands, enabling the whole family to understand what they need to know to consider an assignment in Cyprus or what they practically need to do once assigned here.

You will find the link within the BFC Sites list on the BFC SharePoint Home page and under BFC Key Information.

Stage 2, through the Autumn Term, will be continuing to develop the generic information such as what information is needed for when families depart Cyprus and working with the Stations to enhance their information pages.

If you have any specific questions or wish to propose content please email our British Forces Cyprus Community Information Website email: BFC-HQ-CmntyWebManager@mod.gov.uk

Lyneham: Welcome packs now available to collect!

 

Please click image above to enlarge

Upon moving into SFA in Lyneham, you should have received an A6 postcard with contact details for Lyneham HIVE as well as a QR code for the Lyneham HIVE Location Guide.

Welcome packs have now been created with additional local information including Welfare contact info and bin collection details, plus posters from the AWS CDW and Welfare teams regarding what they can offer in the area.

If you would like a pack but are unable to collect, please email rc-pers-hive-lyneham-0mailbox@mod.gov.uk.

Information provided by Lyneham HIVE

Scotland: Welcome to Scotland Guide updated for 2024

The Scottish Government Welcome to Scotland guide has now been updated for 2024.

Welcome to Scotland is a guide to support service personnel and their families upon their move to Scotland. 

Due to the moving nature of service personnel and their families they can be transferred to different bases. 

This guide gives key information on what to expect when moving to Scotland.

To read the guide in full click on image above 👆

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust launches first new Armed Forces Covenant Fund programme for 2024/25 - Serving Families: On the Move

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) has launched the first Covenant Fund programme under its exciting three-year Funding Framework.

Serving Families: On the Move is now open for applications for grants of up £120,000 for two-to-three-year projects that will improve the quality of life for Service families impacted by relocation as a direct result of Service life.

The Trust ran a public consultation in 2023, which identified that one of the key areas to focus on was ‘Reducing stress and challenges for Armed Forces families'. This family focused programme will address this aim by strengthening connections with local communities, leading to better support for those facing relocation as a direct result of Service. The consultation findings are available to read on The Trust website.

Inverness: Pupils from Armed Forces Families at Raigmore Primary School in Inverness have co-produced a ‘Welcome Book’ for new primary aged pupils from Armed Forces families arriving in the Highlands

Pupils from Armed Forces Families at Raigmore Primary School in Inverness have co-produced a wonderful ‘Welcome Book’ for new primary aged pupils from Armed Forces families arriving in the Highlands – but is a wonderful resource for any new Primary School pupil arriving.

The book is designed to be accessible for all, with options to click to listen or read text or both as you go through the book. They have talked about things that they want to highlight that are important to them when moving Schools.

The pupils hope you enjoy the book, that you share with those who will benefit and appreciate it and we can’t wait to hear your feedback. Click the image below to read the book.

To read the book 👉Book Creator | A Book to Welcome You!

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Preston & Weeton: Are you posted to the North/West?

Are you moving to the North/West?

If you are about to relocate to Preston or Weeton, please contact the HIVE office to request a pre-arrival information pack.

If you have just arrived in the area, HIVE will help you to find out more about your new location, where to register for doctors/dentists, find a nursery place, schools, employment, local area etc.

The HIVE also has information on all Army, RAF and Navy locations within the UK and overseas should you require information regarding a future posting.

Preston HIVE

Fulwood Barracks    - Tel. 01772 260025  (Mon, Tue)

Weeton Barracks     - Tel. 01772 260762  (Wed ,Thu & Frid) 

e-mail:  RC-Pers-HIVE-Preston-0Mailbox@mod.gov.uk 

International HIVE (iHIVE) - launch of additional Overseas Location Guides (OLG's)

 

Further Overseas Location Guides (OLGs) have been added to the iHIVE Blog. Existing guides have also been updated.

The iHIVE Blog hosts worldwide location information, to enable Service personnel and their families to find out more about a potential or current overseas assignment.

Overseas Location Guides offer location specific information to give a brief insight into a location, with the facility to fine out more from iHIVE from questions you may have.

Additional Oversea Location Guides added include:

• Canberra
• Oman
• Saudi Arabia
• Kuala Lumpur

Contact Sarah at our iHIVE with any questions, or visit the iHIVE Blog and view the guides and range of information provided to support Serving Personnel and families worldwide.

For more information please visit: https://internationalhive.blogspot.com/

New iHIVE poster

 

Please click image to enlarge

Did you know that contacting iHIVE is listed in the 'key actions to be taken' on the Overseas Location Compatibility Checklist?

For Service Personnel and families moving overseas, the Overseas Location Compatibility Checklist provides an initial list of personal and domestic factors to be considered pre-application for an overseas assignment, to determine the suitability of the overseas location, for the Service person and their immediate/close family.​​

For more information on this, or for any questions you may have on any location worldwide, contact iHIVE via RC-Pers-HIVE-iHIVE-0Mailbox@mod.gov.uk or +44 300 167 6864

You can also find ​the iHIVE Blog at: https://internationalhive.blogspot.com/. This platform hosts worldwide location information, including Overseas Location Guides, to enable Service personnel and their families find out more about a potential or current overseas assignment.

Our iHIVE HIVE Information Support Officer can also answer any questions that you may have, including regarding supportability for any specific in-country family requirements.

Argyll and Bute: Welcoming our Armed Forces - Argyll and Bute Council Education Service

A booklet has been released by the Argyll and Bute Council Education Service, with more than 40 pages of great information for families of Serving Personnel and Veterans in the Helensburgh and Lomond Areas.

To read the booklet click on the image above 👆

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Staffordshire, West Midlands and Shropshire: Are you on the move soon??

 Are you or someone you know due to be posted to Lichfield, Birmingham, Donnington, Ternhill, Bramcote or Kineton soon?

If so contact Lichfield HIVE Hub to request pre-arrival information.

Email: RC-Pers-HIVE-Lichfield-0Mailbox@mod.gov.uk

Core information sheets are available from the HIVE and contain useful information on accommodation,employment,health & wellbeing, finance, childcare,schools & adult education as well as location overview of community amenities, facilities and activities etc. There is also help with general queries regarding the local area.

Lichfield HIVE Hub can also provide you with information sheets on other locations across the UK and overseas. Please call in to speak to the Area HIVE information officer or use the contact details above.

Information provided by Lichfield HIVE

Stafford: Are you on the move soon??

Are you or someone you know due to be posted to Stafford soon?

If so contact Stafford HIVE to request pre-arrival information.

Email: RC-Pers-HIVE-Stafford-0Mailbox@mod.gov.uk

Core information sheets are available from the HIVE and contain useful information on accommodation,  employment, health & wellbeing, finance, childcare, schools & adult education as well as location overview of community amenities, facilities and activities etc. There is also help with general queries regarding the local area.

Stafford HIVE can also provide you with information sheets on other locations across the UK and overseas. Please call in to speak to the HIVE information officer or use the contact details above.

Information provided by Stafford HIVE

Assigned overseas? We want to hear your views on Service family life

 

Are you assigned overseas? We want to hear from you and learn more about your family's experience. Complete the Armed Forces Families and Safeguarding (AFFS) Overseas Families Survey to share your views on:

• Spousal / partner employment
• Childcare
• Communications
• Education
• Accommodation
• Safeguarding

It is important that we hear about the positive experiences and any challenges that families might be facing. The survey is anonymous, will take around 30 minutes to complete and is open until 04 August 2023. The responses will be analysed by AFFS and the Defence Analysis and Research Team and used to help review current policy and develop future families policies.

If you have any questions, please contact: People-AFFS-FamiliesTeam@mod.gov.uk.

New policy & guidance for Overseas Assignments - assessment of support needs

Where Service/MOD Civilians and their families are considering an accompanied assignment/transfer overseas, the MOD needs to assess whether the services and support available/accessible in the overseas location can meet their individual needs. The purpose of this policy is to describe the framework under which those needs are assessed, how decisions on supportability should be made and to describe the key roles and responsibilities in the assessment and decision-making process.
To view the policy booklet, please click HERE​

 

Claiming Universal Credit from overseas

Overview
1. Serving families (and Crown Servants) operating overseas remain eligible to claim Universal Credit, in the same way they would if serving in the UK.

Temporary solution
2. A temporary solution is in place to get around the difficulties with using BFPO addresses on Universal Credit software. With immediate effect, all eligible claimants are to use the following address in claims: UNIT or REGIMENT OPERATION; BARRACKS or CAMP or RAF STATION or NAVAL SHIP (if applicable); BFPO number; POSTCODE: HA4 6NG.

a. Most important aspect is the post-code, this will ensure the claim goes to the team of DWP Armed Forces (AF) Champions that will specialise in supporting serving personnel overseas.

b. If you are already serving overseas and claiming you are recommended to complete a Universal Credit change of circumstances form so that your claim falls under the one central DWP AF champion team.

Defence Children Services (DCS) Moving Your Family?

 

Moving your family to a new location? If you have any educational concerns, please feel free to contact Defence Children Services when you are moving on at

 DCYP-CEAS-Enquiries@mod.gov.uk 🏫

A is for Arrivals

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