Give Us Time: new donor in the NE of England

Give Us Time have a new donor I the North East of England – please see the poster for more details and for how to book.

Blandford: Garrison welfare support

The Welfare support teams and chaplaincy services offer support and advice to all Soldiers, Officers and families living or working on the Garrison

Should you require help and support or have a welfare issue please contact a member of your Welfare Team during normal working hours on:

Blandford Garrison Support Unit (BGSU)

Garrison Welfare Clerk - BlandfordGar-BGSU-WCSO Tel: 01258 481938

Garrison Welfare Warrant Officer - BLANDFORDGAR-BGSU-GWWO Tel: 01258 482694

Garrison Welfare Officer - BLANDFORDGAR-BGSU-GWO Tel: 01258 481936

11 (RSS) Sig Regt Welfare Team

Unit Welfare Senior NCO - DSCIS-11SR-RHQ-Welfare NCO Tel: 01258 482619

Asst Unit Welfare Officer - DSCIS-11SR-RHQ-AUWO Tel: 01258 482902

Unit Welfare Officer - DSCIS-11SR-RHQ-UWO Tel: 01258 482901

Out of hours emergency contact the Guardroom on - 01258 482402.

Information provided by Bovington HIVE

Bovington: Citizens Advice sessions at Bovington HIVE every Thursday - Free advice & support

The mobile advice bus will be parked adjacent to the HIVE building. Speak to advisors face to face.

Available to all Garrison personnel, spouses, partners, reserves, veterans, civil servants, MOD contractors and local civilian community. Confidentiality guaranteed.

Appointments are not necessary, just turn up. First come, first serve basis.

Information provided by Bovington HIVE

SafeLives: Service community domestic abuse - Welfare staff interviews request

SafeLives are also keen to speak with Army Welfare Officers and Unit Welfare Officers who have experience of supporting victim/survivors of domestic abuse. They want to understand your experiences of providing welfare support, and hear your views on the barriers victim/survivors from military families and relationships may face when trying to access help.

If you are interested in taking part in an interview, please scan the QR code on the poster to find out more.

Alternatively click on this link: Army Personnel ABF

SafeLives: Service community domestic abuse victims/survivors interviews request

Survivor Interviews

SafeLives, with support from the Army Benevolent Fund, is looking to improve the domestic abuse response for victim/survivors from serving and veteran families.

SafeLives want to hear directly from victim/survivors who have lived experience of domestic abuse in military families or relationships. Their voices are central to this work.

Victim/survivors who take part will also receive a £25 voucher as a thank you for their time.

If you are interested in taking part in an interview, please scan the QR code on the poster to find out more.

Alternatively click on this link: Survivor ABF

Give Us Time: Welfare Summer Update

Click poster to enlarge.

www.giveustime.org.uk

Alternatively follow on social media at https://www.facebook.com/GiveUsTime and https://www.instagram.com/give_us_time/

Gov.uk: Emergency Alerts Sunday 7 September at 3pm

The UK government is testing the Emergency Alerts system on Sunday 7 September 2025 at 3pm.

Your mobile phone or tablet will vibrate and make a loud siren-like sound, even if it’s set on silent. The alert message will confirm this is a test and that you do not need to take any further action.

Regular testing ensures the system is functioning correctly, should it need to be used in a life-threatening emergency. Find out more at gov.uk/alerts.

You can opt out of the Emergency Alerts, including the national test, but you should keep them switched on for your own safety.

Emergency Alerts will warn you via your mobile or tablet if there's a life-threatening emergency nearby. Only the government and the emergency services are able to send them.

There are simple and effective steps we can all take to be more prepared for an emergency. Visit gov.uk/prepare for advice on how you can prepare.

Forces Additional Needs & Disability Forum (FANDF): Carers and Careers Survey

"Are you juggling life in the Armed Forces while caring for someone with additional needs or a disability? Whether you're serving yourself or you're the partner of someone who is, if you're a carer, the Forces Additional Needs & Disability Forum (FANDF) wants to hear from you!"

FANDF is collecting lived experiences through a short survey, and the results will be shared directly with the MOD and policymakers at our next committee meeting.

Complete the survey now—it only takes a few minutes but could help shape the future: https://forms.office.com/e/zT65EDwM9

Hounds for Heroes: Supporting the Armed Forces with Life-Changing Assistance Dogs

Hounds for Heroes – Supporting the Armed Forces with Life-Changing Assistance Dogs

Every day, members of the UK Armed Forces and Emergency Services dedicate themselves to protecting others. At Hounds for Heroes, we believe that when illness or injury makes daily life more difficult for those who’ve served, they deserve steadfast support and a highly trained partner to help them on their journey.

We provide specially trained assistance dogs to those who have served in HM Armed Forces, no matter where, when, or for how long. Whether you served for days, weeks, months or years, you may be eligible. We also support those from the Emergency Services, including the Police, Fire, Ambulance, Coastguard and RNLI.

Our dogs are far more than companions. They are working dogs trained to assist with everyday tasks like opening doors, retrieving dropped items and building confidence in public settings. Just as importantly, they offer loyal companionship and emotional reassurance.

Each dog is carefully matched to their Partner based on individual needs, ensuring a truly life-changing relationship that supports both practical challenges and emotional wellbeing.

Who We Help

We welcome applications from anyone who:
Is a current or former member of HM Armed Forces or Emergency Services (Police, Fire, Ambulance, Coastguard or RNLI)
Is living with a physical disability caused by illness or injury
(this does not need to be directly related to your time in service)

We support a wide range of conditions that affect mobility and independence, including:
Spinal injuries
Limb loss or amputation
Stroke recovery
Neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis
Serious illness or injury with lasting physical impact

We understand that the road to recovery and independence can be tough and the last thing we want is for cost to be a barrier. Where needed, Hounds for Heroes can cover the full working life of an assistance dog, including training, equipment, insurance and ongoing support. Each situation is assessed individually and we aim to remove as many barriers as possible.

If you or someone you support could benefit from an assistance dog, we’d love to hear from you. Welfare officers, medical staff and support teams are encouraged to signpost eligible individuals our way. We're here to help.

To learn more or to begin an application, visit: www.houndsforheroes.com or get in touch at: clientapplications@houndsforheroes.com.

Together, we can make a difference.

Bovington: Garrison contact houses for short term accommodation use

To book email David.Oakes747@mod.gov.uk or Adrian.Ingham629@mod.gov.uk

or call 01929 402239 during office hours

For all bookings, a £50 deposit will be required within 7 days of making the booking and the full balance is to be paid 28 days prior to stay. The rate is set at £50 per night for the first three nights, then £25 per night thereafter.

Information provided by Bovington HIVE

The Ripple Pond Summer 2025 Newsletter: Family Support together

Click poster to enlarge & link below to view The Ripple Pond Summer 2025 Newsletter online.

The Ripple Pond - Summer 2025 Newsletter

Give Us Time: Orlando holiday opportunity - Autumn 2025

Give Us Time have a new opportunity for a two week break in Orlando in the autumn, which is live on their website at https://bookings.giveustime.org.uk/login

This is for up to four people in a town house on the Encantada Resort in Kissimmee, to the southwest of Orlando. The resort is close to Disney World and Sea World, and an hour’s drive to both of Florida’s beautiful coastlines.

The dates for this break are Saturday 20 September to Saturday 4 October – they are unable to request alternative dates, although families can choose to arrive a day later or leave a day earlier, depending on flights.

As always, breaks are accommodation only, so families will be required to cover the costs of travel, transfers, food, entertainment, etc – Give Us Time are unable to support with these costs.

Due to a number of cancellations on this break, Give Us Time advise that families will need to be sure they can have the time off and that they will need to supply confirmation of flight bookings.

For more information on Give Us Time, please go to: https://giveustime.org.uk/