Open University - opening access to higher education for the Armed Forces and Open Learn FREE courses for all

The Open University (OU) are proud of their relationship with the Armed Forces and more than 1,500 Service Personnel and their dependents are currently taking advantage of OU career and personal development opportunities available for the defence community.​

To find out more about this and the FREE learning ​(Open Learn) ​courses that are available for everyone, please CLICK HERE​

Wiltshire: Wiltshire Parent Carer Council

 

Founded in 2008, the WPCC is an independent organisation which is managed and run by parent carers, for parent carers. We strongly believe that our children and young people should have:

• The same opportunities as their brothers, sisters and peers
• Fair access to the support they need to live their lives
• Families who feel supported in their caring roles

We have a membership in excess of 3000 parent carers across Wiltshire whose children range in age (0-25yrs) and in the type of special educational needs and/or disabilities they have. These include mental health, physical, sensory, learning,communication, challenging behaviour, autistic spectrum disorders and health conditions that require complex care.

Highlights on their website include:

Interactive signposting chart (as seen above)

Summer 2023 activities in Bradford On Avon for children with SEN

Information about the new Special Educational Needs Disability Information Advice & Support Service in Wiltshire

Regular events for parents & carers as well as children & young people

Information provided by Colerne and Lyneham HIVE

Swindon: The Big Adventure Club - nursery, morning, after school and holiday care

The Big Adventure Club has been established for over thirty years and has a strong team of experienced, qualified childcare professionals that aim to provide a comprehensive and personalised provision for each and every child.

Click HERE for further information

Information provided by Lyneham & Colerne HIVE

North Yorkshire: Summer Reading Challenge 2023

Will you be taking part this year? Just visit one of our libraries from the 15th July to get signed up! 

As well as the reading challenge, we have a really exciting calendar of events running over the summer too! Keep your eyes peeled on our socials for more information, or head to our website for the full schedule of events. 

Information provided by Catterick HIVE Hub

Chester: SPACE Wellbeing Support App for SPACE Families - for Parents/Carers of Children with Additional Needs

SPACE have teamed up with REST EASY to bring you an App designed for parents and carers of children with additional needs, to support the whole families mental health. 

Sign up today using the QR Code below or by following this link: https://airtable.com/shroUmrPcFsCOXBzz.

Information provided by Chester HIVE

Chester: Cheshire West & Chester Council - Weekly Wellbeing Walks - FREE - All Welcome

Join a wellbeing walk taking place near you. 

To find out more visit  http://cwac.co/OiSFS

Information provided by Chester HIVE

Defence Children's Services - Education Advisory Team (EAT) (UK)

 

Please click the image above to view this useful leaflet online

Alternatively please click here to visit the Defence Children's Services website

Blind Veterans UK July update

 

Please click the image above to read this month's update

Office For Veterans' Affairs have launched Op FORTITUDE for homeless Veterans

 

From today, vulnerable Veterans across the country will have access to Op FORTITUDE, a new dedicated referral pathway for homeless Veterans, including those sleeping on the streets.​

Veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and the organisations working with them are encouraged to contact the Op FORTITUDE hotline on 0800 952 0774 or through a secure web portal at riv.org.uk/opfortitude.​

Find out more HERE

People given even more time to pay National Insurance contributions towards their State Pension

 

The Government has extended the voluntary National Insurance (NI) contributions deadline to 5 April 2025, to give people even more time to fill gaps in their NI record and help increase the amount they receive in State Pension when they retire. The deadline was previously July 2023.

Extending the voluntary NI contributions deadline for another two years also means people have more time to properly consider whether paying voluntary contributions is right for them.

As part of the transition to the new State Pension, people have been able to pay these contributions to make up any incomplete years between April 2006 and April 2016. Some of the people likely to be affected include those who may have been unemployed during this period, off work because of caring responsibilities or living abroad*.

Further information and guidance are available on GOV.UK.

*This includes those posted overseas; Service spouses can apply for NI credits for periods 1975 onwards where they accompanied their serving partner overseas. For full details and the application forms please see National Insurance credits for partners of armed forces personnel overseas - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)