AFCAS 2025 is open – make your voice count!

The Armed Forces Continuous Attitude Survey (AFCAS) is open!

The annual Armed Forces Continuous Attitude Survey (AFCAS) gives Service personnel the chance to share your views on working conditions, living conditions, and day-to-day Service and family life. Take part in AFCAS and tell us how to better understand your needs in the areas below:

• Service life
• Accommodation
• Catering and retail
• Deployments
• Allowances and pensions
• Service complaints/Service Complaints Ombudsman
• Armed Forces Covenant
• Factors influencing intentions to stay/leave the Armed Forces
• Defence Estate, e.g., training facilities, opportunities for sport and much more

Who can complete AFCAS, and how?

If you are a Service person who has been invited to take part in this year’s survey, you will receive an email with information on how to complete the survey. Your Service number – which is case sensitive – is the token you need to enter. Please be assured that your responses will be confidential.

Every response counts…

The more people we hear from, the better able we are to improve your Service and family life. Your voice matters. To view previous AFCAS results, visit GOV.UK.

Norther Ireland: Smalls & Talls at Straidhavern Primary returns from Wednesday 2nd October

 

For more details please click here

Information provided by HIVE NI

Northern Ireland - Health and Social Care NI - Phone First Before Going to Accident & Emergency - Antrim or Causeway Hospital

 

For more details please click here

Information provided by HIVE NI

South Cerney: AWS Play & Youth Clubs have re-started!

 

Please note the new timings and change in age groups

Information provided by Lyneham HIVE

West Midlands: Donnington Community Hub - Veterans' Lunch Offer

Information provided by: Central HIVE Hub

 

West Midlands: Visiting Shrewsbury or Ludlow Town Centres Park & Ride £1 return until 31 March

Visiting Shrewsbury or Ludlow town centres?

Park and ride costs just £1 return until 31 March - and in Shrewsbury is FREE for accompanied under-16s.

In Shrewsbury the fare applies to passengers boarding at Harlescott, Meole Brace and Oxon park and ride sites.

 In Ludlow the fare applies to passengers boarding at the ECO park site.

https://next.shropshire.gov.uk/public.../park-and-ride/

Information provided by: Central HIVE Hub

Non-UK Nationals: Settlement fees waived for bereaved partners facing destitution

 
A news article was published recently on Gov.uk, highlighting that people dealing with the death of their partner and facing financial hardship will soon be able to apply to have the application fee for settlement waived.​ The implementation date in the article is 9 Oct 24.

This update applies equally to the Armed Forces community including veterans: "Bereaved partners of members of HM Armed Forces, Gurkhas or Hong Kong military unit veterans (discharged before 1 July 1997) may also benefit from this fee waiver.​"

To read the article in full, please go to: Settlement fees waived for bereaved partners facing destitution - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Army HIVE's Non-UK National team can be contacted for further information via this email address: rc-pers-hive-nonuknat-0mailbox@mod.gov.uk

West Midlands: Are your a Key Worker? - Barratt or David Wilson Homes - Key Worker Deposit Contribution Scheme

www.dwh.co.uk/new-homes/west-midlands/shropshire/shawbury/

www.barratthomes.co.uk/new-homes/west-midlands-homes/shropshire/

Information provided by: Central HIVE Hub
 

Chepstow: Free Swim for Under 16's at a MonLife Leisure Centre

Under-16’s can enjoy a free swim at your local MonLife Active Leisure centre during the following times:

Chepstow Leisure Centre: Saturdays from 3:30pm – 4:30pm
Abergavenny Leisure Centre: Sundays between 10.30am – 11.30am
Monmouth Leisure Centre: Saturdays between 2:45pm – 3:45pm
Caldicot Leisure Centre: Saturdays between 11.30am – 12.45pm

Find out more by clicking here.

Information provided by Wales HIVE Hub.

Service families - help us to better understand the needs, wants, and wishes of children, young people, families, and individuals overseas

Service families, have your say!

Defence Children Services (DCS) has responsibility for the functions, in support of service families related to education and care, previously undertaken by Defence Children and Young People (DCYP). DCS provides a single focus for all issues related to Service children and young people, providing high-quality education at 22 schools and settings in locations around the world. DCS also directly supports Service families, providing advice on a wide range of educational, safeguarding and social care matters both overseas and in the UK.

On behalf of the Defence Safeguarding Partnership Board (DSPB), DCS are undertaking a Local Needs Analysis to inform the future delivery of social work, family support and personal support for all children, young people, families and individuals whilst both assigned and accompanying on overseas postings.

The existing social work and personal family support is provided through a contracted provision by British Forces Social Work Services (BFSWS) who seek to replicate UK (English) “statutory type social care support”. The DSPB wish to consider alternative delivery models to focus on early intervention, prevention and family/individual support, still ensuring the safety and protection of our most vulnerable individuals.

To help DCS consider what the support service needs to look like, we need the help of those who we seek to support. By completing the Local Needs Analysis Feedback Form, which should take no longer than 7 minutes, you can help to shape the future of social care, family support and personal support for you, your family and any entitled individuals overseas.

Please submit your forms by Friday 4th October 2024.