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April 5, 2023

DIO - Service Family Accommodation Newsletter - Families First - Issue 5

 



DIO has published their Families First Newsletter - Issue 5. To read, please CLICK HERE

April 4, 2023

Managing Emergency Alerts on your phone to stay safe if you're experiencing domestic abuse



The government has rolled out it's new Emergency Alerts system following the test alert received in April.

These alerts will be used to let you know about emergency situations (like severe flooding) through your mobile phone. However, the alert will be accompanied by a loud sound even if your phone is on silent.

If you live with an abusive partner this could alert them to any secret or secondary phones that you may have. Here's how you can turn alerts off, both on Android phones and on iPhones: Managing Emergency Alerts on your phone to stay safe if you're experiencing domestic abuse - YouTube

If you’re afraid of your partner call the free 24 hours a day National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247, or live chat with them Monday-Friday, 3-10pm by going to nationaldahelpline.org.uk.

Op Courage - specialist care for Service Leavers, Reservists, Veterans and their families


Armed Forces Special Stakeholder Brief


 Click on image for more information

DIO: Update on FDIS performance



Update on FDIS performance

For updates on the action DIO is taking to improve the performance of the accommodation contracts, please go to https://www.gov.uk/guidance/defence-infrastructure-organisation-service-family-accommodation where you can subscribe for update notifications, or join the Service Family Accommodation on Defence Connect 

Planning for Move-ins, Move-Outs and Removals this Summer
Summer is always the busiest period of the year for housing allocations and removals activity. The last week in July and first week in August are particularly popular dates and are usually fully booked several months in advance. Whilst our suppliers will always attempt to meet families’ preferred Move-in, Move-out and removals dates, it may not always be possible to achieve this against the significant volume of requests received. This is because the removals industry is still experiencing staff shortages. To help us manage this particularly busy time and to ensure families’ needs are met: 

• We would be grateful if families only request services during this period if they are unable to move at any other time.
 • Where circumstances allow, please could accompanied personnel without children avoid planning for a move within the school summer holiday window.
 • Please ensure removals are booked via the Agility portal as soon as Assignment Orders are  received.
• Families do not need a confirmed delivery address to start this process but knowing the location will allow Agility to plan for the summer moves.
• Once families have been allocated SFA, please confirm availability for removals before booking a move in and out appointments...
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BFBS Appoints New CEO



BFBS Appoints New CEO

Ben Chapman has been appointed as the new CEO of BFBS, the military charity and media organisation which provides TV, radio and other media services to the UK armed forces and defence sector.

He is a very experienced media executive, with a long career in audio and digital at the BBC before moving to Audible as Senior Director, Original Content. Among many senior roles, he was Head of Digital and Content Commissioning for BBC Sounds (BBC Radio and Music).

As editorial lead on the project he was in charge of digital activity in the Radio and Music division, including social media, for all the BBC’s national radio stations....

April 3, 2023

New Service Pupil Support Programme - part of exciting new funding opportunity from the Armed Forces Families Fund


Exciting new funding opportunity from the Armed Forces Families Fund.

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) is delighted to announce the launch of the new Service Pupil Support Programme – an MOD funded programme, part of the Armed Forces Families Fund (AF3).

Specifically supporting Service pupils aged 4-18 years, this programme will focus on those pupils from currently serving families and will support them along their educational pathways.


 Click image for more information


Northallerton: Forces Friendly 1st Weds of every Month


NEW group for the Armed Forces Community in Northallerton!

Join us, @ageuknyd and @sportingforce on Wednesday 5th April for a chat and games with like-minded people. You can book onto the first group at: https://www.carersplus.net/.../forces-friendly...

Information provided by Catterick HIVE Hub
 

Forces families to benefit as dedicated fund returns


Forces families to benefit as dedicated fund returns

Projects supporting military families can bid for a share of funding as the latest round of the Armed Forces Families Fund opens for applications.

The Fund, which is administered on the MOD’s behalf by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, is available to organisations who want to launch projects that have a positive impact on the lives of military communities.

Applications for the 2023 fund can be made from Monday 3 April, with full details of eligibility criteria and how to apply available on the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust’s website.  The Families Fund welcomes applications for projects under three key programmes:

  • Service Pupil Support Programme; a programme that awards grants to schools to help address additional challenges that children from Armed Forces families may face  
  • Supporting Partners Innovation Fund; a programme that will fund innovative support for partners of those who are serving.   
  • Early years Fund; a programme which will fund projects that help support young children from serving Armed Forces families to have great places to learn and develop.

The Armed Forces Families Fund was created to help implement parts of the UK Armed Forces Families Strategy following its launch in January 2022.

Last year’s round of funding supported 84 projects benefiting Armed Forces families, including a Safe Space and Support scheme for the 86 Service children attending Somerset’s Stanchester Academy.

The bespoke, supervised safe space is used as a meeting place, homework room, and dining area, as well as a location for an additional Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) to provide one-to-one tutoring.

The project also allowed the Academy to train a member of staff as a ‘Bounce Forward Armed Forces Resilience Champion’, providing resilience sessions and community events to improve the lives of Service children and their families.

Teacher Rebecca Hendry, who applied for the grant, said: “We have a high number of pupils that transfer to our secondary school in later years or midway through the year.

“Many of our students experience having a parent deployed or based elsewhere and away during the week.  By funding a specialist ELSA staff member and offering them extra tuition combined with a safe space, we can ensure that they have all the support needed to help them.”

Get involved

For full details about the Armed Forces Families Fund, including eligibility criteria for each programme, deadline dates and application guidance, visit the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust’s website.


Celebrating Forces Families Awards 2023 - Sponsorship






The aim of the event will be to acknowledge and celebrate the resilience, the amazing projects families have undertaken, triumph over adversity and inspiring career paths taken whilst being part of the whole community. 


Click HERE for Sponsorship Brochure

Click HERE for Nominations Form