Wiltshire: Stop smoking in 2025 to improve your health, wealth and wellbeing

 

Wiltshire Council have launched a new Smokefree app to help people across Wiltshire quit smoking.

Quitting smoking not only improves health, but it can lead to significantly more money in your pocket, since the average person who smokes spends around £2500 every year on smoking.

Smokefree Wiltshire has a team of dedicated Health Coaches who understand that smoking is an addiction and will be there to help you stop.

Their support is free, personalised and they offer a range of quitting aids - so you can quit your way and make your smoke free journey less stressful.

Click here for further information or to download the free app

Information provided by Colerne and Lyneham HIVEs

Gloucestershire: Council launches support to help keep young people safe online

Gloucestershire County Council has launched a new online resource to help keep children and young people safe online.

The webpage gives parents and guardians information about different aspects of online harms, with details of further information and where support is available.

The webpage also brings together links to trusted sources of information and local support relating to wider health and wellbeing recognising the broad range of impacts that using digital devices and online spaces can have for children and young people.

Young Gloucestershire are one of the partners the council consulted with to develop the webpage and help provide expert insight into the needs of children and young people.

Young Gloucestershire provides young people with support and seeks to help them to develop the skills they need to thrive.

As part of the county council’s commitment to stopping the risk of harm to children and young people, the council is also working with Young Gloucestershire to develop and deliver additional youth worker support to those experiencing harm online.

Please click here to visit the website

Information provided by Lyneham HIVE

Dorset: Reporting missed bin collections

If you are having problems regarding missed collections, please contact Dorset Council via the on-line portal to report these problems. Click HERE 

You can also request an extra bin or bulky waste collection. 

Please do not report your collection as missed until after 4pm on your collection day. The crew do not follow the same collection order each week and may still be out collecting.

Information provided by Bovington HIVE

Government partners with young people to help develop new national youth strategy

The Government has launched its national listening exercise to let young people have their say on support services, facilities and opportunities they need outside the school gates.

Through youth engagement charity My Life My Say and the #iwill Movement, young people will be able to engage with Government both in-person and online. The Deliver You online survey is now open and will close on Wednesday 16 April, it is for young people aged 10 – 21 years old (aged 25 with SEND).

See Gov.uk article here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-partners-with-young-people-to-help-develop-new-national-youth-strategy

Click here to access the survey

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust - Service Women: Seen & Heard programme

 

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust recently announced over £700K to support projects that provide targeted support for serving women through their Service Women: Seen & Heard programme.

Find out how these projects will work to empower both regular and reserve service women, helping them to make informed decisions and access vital resources to improve health and wellbeing.

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust - watch recording of recent Lunch and Learn webinar about the Empowering Bereaved Military Families programme

 

Want to find out more about the Empowering Bereaved Military Families programme? Watch a recording of our recent Lunch & Learn webinar on our website now at https://covenantfund.org.uk/programme/empowering-bereaved-military-families-programme/#webinar-for-applicants

This programme offers a single portfolio grant of up to £1.8 million, to achieve long term, transformational change in the non-statutory support provided to bereaved military families.

Expressions of interest must be submitted by 12 noon, 2 April 2025.

Service Family Accommodation (SFA) communications update - 12 March 25

 

HCDC Update

Last month, the House of Commons Defence Committee (HCDC) published its report following an inquiry into Service accommodation that took place last year.  This outlined a number of recommendations made by the Committee that we have considered carefully.

HCDC has now published our response to the report which outlines the steps we are taking to improve our service to you.

DIO remains committed to improving the quality of housing for you and your families and we will continue to work closely with our suppliers to deliver against the actions outlined.


Radio Teleswitch (RTS) electricity meters

The technology that supports RTS electricity meters will switch off nationally from 30 June 2025.

If you have one of these meters, you will receive a letter from your electricity supplier informing you that they are required to switch you to a smart meter. Not switching meters before this time could result in disruption to your electricity supply. You can read more about this here.

Whether you pay for your own electricity or your fuel is supplied by the MOD, if you have an RTS meter, you should expect a letter to arrange an appointment.

If you have any questions or would like to confirm if you have an RTS meter, you can contact your electricity supplier directly.

Aldershot: Hampshire County Council/Rushmoor Wellbeing Walks

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

From sailing to Service dogs - over £850,000 awarded to improve the quality of life for Veterans negatively impacted by their Service

From sailing to service dogs: over £850,000 awarded to improve the quality of life for veterans negatively impacted by their service

Breaking down barriers; building bridges; addressing trauma. The Armed Forces Covenant Trust’s (the Trust) Fulfilling Futures programme has supported six outstanding projects totalling more than £850,000 to improve the lives of veterans negatively impacted by their service.

Support to lead fulfilling lives

Each project represents new, tailored work to support groups of veterans including those with physical injuries, those who have experienced military sexual trauma, those living with PTSD and other complex mental health issues, LGBT+ veterans and women veterans. Though each tackles a different cohort, each aims to mitigate the effects of the barriers preventing them from having a fulfilling life after service.

Reducing isolation and building connections

Working UK-wide, British Limbless Ex-Service Men's Association (BLESMA) will use their award of £300,000 to deliver a new, three-year therapeutic wellness programme supporting limbless and injured veterans. They’ll offer activities and coaching/mentoring opportunities aimed at breaking down barriers and helping individuals progress positively through their recovery.

With a focus LGBT+ veterans, families and carers, and other minority groups in the East of England, The Bridge for Heroes will use their award of £73,129 to improve awareness, provide targeted services, and build connections with existing veteran organisations. They will address specific needs to reduce isolation and ensure long-term integration of support within veteran services.

Helen Taylor MBE, CEO at The Bridge for Heroes, said: “We are delighted to receive this grant from the Fulfilling Futures programme. It will enable us to build upon our valued partnership with Fighting with Pride, providing enhanced support to LGBT+ veterans and other minority groups across the East of England over the next 18 months.”

Supporting women Veterans

Hampshire: Mind wellbeing partnership

In Hampshire, 50% of people experience psychological, emotional or mental health difficulties that significantly affect their day-to-day functioning. Rates of hospital admissions for self-harm in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are more than 1.5 times the national average. 

In response, Andover Mind, Havant and East Hants Mind and Solent Mind are pleased to announce that they have been awarded the contract by Hampshire County Council and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board to provide mental health and wellbeing services across Hampshire. By working in partnership together and with the local GP surgeries, more people will be able to access specialist services, and local wellbeing centres will continue to support their communities. 

For more information click HERE

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub