Dorset: Veterans hub Dec opening times & Christmas day dinner (Weymouth)

Click on poster above to enlarge

Visit the Veterans Hub – The Veterans Hub

Information provided by Bovington HIVE

London: Veterans Partnership Better Together

Click on image to find out more.

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Northern Ireland: Veteran's Hub Christmas Lunch Portavogie - 12 December

 

You're invited to our Veteran's Hub Christmas Lunch, to book for you or your group, just call the Rendezvous Café Portavogie on 02891244040 leave your name and contact number and how many guests and we'll be in contact with you.

Book early, as spaces are limited!

This is funded through our VPPP2 project Thrive Together Schomberg Mourne UlsterScots Mourne Veterans Hub @MAPS in Tyrone @Veterans Hub Londonderry Regenerate Veterans Group Brooke House Health & Wellbeing Centre The Antrim Coast Veterans Network Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust Veterans Voice NI Veterans News Hub NI @followers

#ThriveTogether #ThriveTogetherNI #veteranssupportingveterans #veteranshelpingveterans #veteransupport #VeteransCommunity

Information provided by HIVE NI

Civvy Street Magazine – Dec 25/Jan 26 edition out now

 

The latest digital edition of Civvy Street Magazine is available here

Barry: Veterans Christmas Dinner Invitation

Information provided by Wales HIVE Hub

Leuchars: The next Veterans Breakfast will be held on Tuesday 2nd December

click on image to enlarge

The next Leuchars Veterans Breakfast will be Tuesday 2nd of December 10am-12pm in Leuchars Community Centre, it will be hosted by The Bula Café. They look forward to welcoming you.


Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Northern Ireland: Help For Heroes Upcoming Cafe Dates throughout December

 

Join us for a cuppa and chat and hear about the wonderful opportunities for the Armed Forces community in your own area.

If you know another veteran friend/family member who could use a bit of the same, bring them along too!

Bangor: Wednesday 3rd December, 10.30–12.00
Pit Stop Café, 39 Balloo Road, Bangor, BT19 7PG

Belfast: Thursday 4th December, 13.30–15.00
Tim Hortons, Connswater Retail Park, Belfast, BT5 5DL

Antrim: Wednesday 10th December, 10.30–12.00
Manns Garden Kitchen, Antrim Castle Gardens, Randalstown Road, Antrim, BT41 4HL

Lisburn: Thursday 11th December, 10.15–11.45
Café Vic Ryn, House of Vic-Ryn, Moira Road, Lisburn, BT28 2RF

Banbridge (New Location): Tuesday 16th December, 14.30–16.00 Tesco Café at The Boulevard, Bridgewater Retail Park, Banbridge, BT32 4LF

Tea and coffee are provided by Help for Heroes, and tables are booked under ‘Community Development’.

As winter sets in, please be mindful of others in the group and consider your attendance if you are feeling unwell.

Please confirm your attendance to support accessibility needs and table bookings.

Contact: Alex - 07580 901317 or Glenn 07484 026991

Information provided by HIVE NI

North West Ambulance - EMT Apprenticeship opening in January 2026

North West Ambulance will be opening an advert for the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Apprenticeship in January 2026.

Emergency Medical Technician - Job Description

To support candidates in applying, we will be holding two online Pre-Application Support Sessions via MS Teams with regards the role – the Support Sessions will provide further insight into the role and the entry requirements, as well as guidance on applying effectively. To join a session, a place can be booked on the preferred date at https://forms.office.com/e/YfBX9ea7Qg?origin=lprLink (or via the QR code on the attached flyer). Joining Instructions will then be sent out with the link to the session.

Information provided by Preston & Weeton HIVE

Shropshire Armed Forces Outreach Session - December 2025

For more information: SAFCC@shropshire.gov.uk

Webpage: Armed forces support | Shropshire Council

Information provided by: Central HIVE Hub

Scotland: Calling Female veterans, female personnel and their families

click on image to enlarge

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Motorfinity - On Freedom's Wings – The Last Mission Home

A Full-Sized Lancaster Bomber Rises as an Enduring Tribute to Bomber Command

On the border between Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire, a remarkable silhouette now commands the skyline. Standing 29 metres high with a wingspan of 31 metres, a full-sized steel sculpture of an Avro Lancaster bomber appears frozen in flight, heading home across the fields that once echoed with the roar of wartime engines.

This is 'On Freedom's Wings' – an extraordinary tribute to the 55,573 men of RAF Bomber Command who never returned from their missions over occupied Europe.

To read the full article, click HERE

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.

Hampshire: TalkPlus talking therapies

 

Are you feeling Stressed, Anxious, Low Mood or having Panic Attacks then you need to talk to TalkPlus which is a friendly, effective and FREE service for veterans and military family members.

This service is a friendly team made up of Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWP) \high Intensity CBT Therapists, Counsellors, Clinical Psychologists and Mindfulness practitioners.

We can offer Therapy sessions via face to face, video, telephone and instant messenger!

Your GP can refer you, or you can head over to our website or call our admin team as listed below:

Call: 01252 533 355
Text Us: 07984 385248
Email: frimleyicb.talkplus@nhs.net
Website: www.talkplus.org.uk

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

November Quest magazine is out now

The latest edition of Quest magazine (and back issues also) can be read online at the following link:
Quest Magazine | Quest Online

National Day Nurseries paid supported employment childcare programme (England and Wales, Veterans and Veteran Partners)

National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) have been granted funding by the Veterans’ Foundation to deliver a 16-week childcare programme, to support Veterans and partners of Veterans who might be interested in pursuing a career in childcare. Please find the project overview attached.

Details of the programme:Eligibility: 18+, unemployed or economically inactive, must either be a Veteran or partner of a Veteran
16-week paid programme (National Living Wage)
Participants are employed by NDNA as Trainee Nursery Assistants to work 16 hours per week
Training is delivered remotely during the first 4-weeks, followed by 12-weeks on placement in a childcare setting
Mentor support is provided by the Project Team throughout the programme
The project starts week commencing 05/01/2026
7 places available
As the project is delivered remotely, we can accept applicants from anywhere across England and Wales

You can find case studies on previous Trainee Nursery Assistants that we have supported here: https://ndna.org.uk/ndna-cymru/cymru-case-studies/#childcareworks

The project overview can be found HERE

The Trainee Nursery Assistant Job Description can be found HERE

Northern Ireland: Statement from Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner re the Passing of the Armed Forces Covenant Motion

 

Statement From the Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner, Mr David Johnstone
On the Passing of the Armed Forces Covenant Motion at Stormont this Evening.
4 November 2025

I warmly welcome the passing of today’s motion at Stormont in support of service leavers, veterans, and their families through the Armed Forces Covenant.
This is a significant step that reaffirms the principle at the heart of the Covenant, that those who serve, or have served, and their families should not face disadvantage as a result of their service. It is about fairness, understanding, and ensuring that members of the Armed Forces community are treated with the respect and consideration they deserve.
It is also important that the narrative surrounding the Armed Forces within our community in Northern Ireland is not misrepresented.
I would like to express my appreciation to all who have signed this motion. Veterans, Paul Frew - DUP, Andy Allen - UUP, alongside Paula Bradshaw - Alliance and Timothy Gaston - TUV. Also a thank you to MLA Johnny Buckley who was instrumental in starting the process that has led to today’s vote.
This is a positive and encouraging development for our Armed Forces community and a step towards ensuring that veterans, service leavers, and their families receive the support and recognition they deserve.

Information provided by HIVE NI

£4.5 million awarded to support veterans with a housing need

· 19 organisations to receive a share of £4.5 million under the Veterans’ Capital Housing Fund.

· These projects will provide new builds and significant refurbishment of rental accommodation offering high quality support for veterans with a housing need.

19 organisations will share £4.5 million thanks to funding from the Office for Veterans’ Affairs’ Veterans’ Capital Housing Fund. The awards cover England, Scotland and Wales and contribute to the Government’s ambition to reduce veteran homelessness and end rough sleeping.

Nine grants are awarded under the Major Capital Grants programme, which supports new build accommodation and significant refurbishment and extension of accommodation for veterans. A further 10 supplementary grants are awarded to existing projects. These latest awards bring the total awarded through this programme to over £12.5 million.

Find out more

You can find a full list of all awardees from this round and previous rounds of the Major Capital Grants programme on the Trust’s website www.covenantfund.org.uk

Keep up to date with funding opportunities

For the latest updates and announcements on Covenant Fund programmes, and any other funding opportunities the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust has available throughout the year, sign up to their e-newsletter via their website www.covenantfund.org.uk

Northern Ireland: Northern Irish Veterans Awards Highlights

 

Check out the links below for some of the highlights from the unforgettable night at the Crowne Plaza Belfast, where over 350 guests came together to celebrate the achievements of our veteran community.

#VeteransAwardsNI #VeteransAwards #NorthernIreland #Veterans #Inspiration #Service #Community #Thales #G4S #ConnectThroughService #WalkingWithTheWounded #ForcesEmploymentCharity #SupportOurVeterans #PrideInService #NIVeterans

Information provide by HIVE NI

Northern Ireland: Press Statement from the Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner

 

THE CONCLUSION OF THE TRIAL OF SOLDIER F

23 October 2025

The conclusion of the trial today, with the acquittal of Soldier F, has once again brought into sharp focus the deep pain and division that events from over 50 years ago continue to cause. At the outset of this trial, I made clear that we should be mindful of the families who lost loved ones on 30th January 1972. These families, just like many others, who had relatives killed because of terrorist actions that same year, and indeed throughout the period of the Northern Ireland Troubles, continue to experience pain at the loss of a loved one.

Shropshire Armed Forces Outreach Sessions - 27 Oct to 9 December

Information provided: Central HIVE Hub