DIO Service Family Accommodation (SFA) Communications Update – 17 Apr

Defence Secretary commits to improving homes for Service families

Earlier today, Defence Secretary John Healey announced a new Consumer Charter to improve SFA for personnel and families. This forms part of the Defence Housing Review that is underway following the MOD’s landmark deal to bring 36,000 UK SFA homes back under our ownership.

The Charter outlines a list of commitments we will be making to improve our accommodation service offer for you, including:

• A more robust move-in standard so that you can have confidence that the home you are moving into will be ready on time and will be clean and functional.

• Providing you with improved, clearer information ahead of your move, including photographs and floor plans when you apply for SFA.  

• More reliable repairs, including a requirement to complete urgent repairs within a set timeline consistent with Awaab’s Law, and an online portal for service personnel to manage repairs. 

• Raising the minimum standard of SFA with a new programme of works targeted at the worst homes, with up to 1,000 refurbished.

• Better and clearer communication for you, including a named housing officer for every service family who you can contact for specific housing related queries. 

• A revised, streamlined complaints process that will look to shorten the process to two stages so that Service Personnel and families have a quicker resolution.

• Modernising our policies to allow more freedom for you to make improvements, giving you a greater sense of pride in your homes. 

Wiltshire: Waste vehicle fire – please recycle batteries and electricals safely

 

One of Wiltshire Council's waste collection vehicles caught fire while out on its rounds in Trowbridge recently. Thanks to the prompt actions of the crew, fire service, the police there was thankfully no injuries or significant damage to the vehicle. Colleagues from the Street Scene service also assisted in the immediate clean up.

Incidents like this provides a good opportunity to remind everyone to never put batteries or electricals in any of your household bins. Batteries and electricals contaminating bins can cause fires, so it is important to recycle them properly.

In Wiltshire we provide a kerbside collection service to help you recycle these types of items safely and conveniently.

You can easily recycle batteries by leaving them in a clear sealed bag on top of your blue-lidded bin or next to your blue sack on collection day. Small electricals can be presented for collection in a supermarket carrier bag by the side of the blue-lidded recycling bin, or blue recycling sack.

More information about battery and small electricals collections

Information provided by Colerne and Lyneham HIVE

Midlands Air Festival - 30 May - 1 June

 

Full details can be found HERE

Scotland: Forces Children Scotland child friendly emotional cycle of deployment

Work started earlier this year with children and young people to co-create a child-friendly emotional cycle of deployment resource to explain the emotional cycle of deployment.

The children and young people have developed the visual of a rollercoaster to help explain their experiences of the different stages of the cycle.

The Deployment Rollercoaster can be accessed here:
https://forceschildrenscotland.org.uk/the-deployment-rollercoaster/

The Deployment Rollercoaster allows children, young people and adults to see that all emotions are valid and it ok to feel different emotions throughout the deployment cycle. The rollercoaster is supported by accessible resources for children, young people and parents to help support their child’s mental health and wellbeing at each stage of the ride.

We invite you to explore this online resource and let us know your thoughts and would welcome an opportunity to meet with you to talk or discuss opportunities to promote the use of this resource in your setting.

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Wiltshire: Families Out Loud - supporting families of drug and alcohol users in Wiltshire

 

Families Out Loud is a Wiltshire charity working with families challenged by someone else’s drug and alcohol dependency.

Their purpose is to support families to bravely build a better life. Their vision is to reach every family impacted by drug and alcohol use, so they can speak out, free from stigma, and receive the support care and help they need. Their values are to listen, care, be practical and show determination.

Please click here to visit the website

Information provided by Colerne and Lyneham HIVEs

Gillingham: Gillingham Town Soccer School Saturday Mornings 9am -10am from Ages 4-7 Free for the first 4 Weeks

 

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Hereford: Do you know about the new video library of resources for families?

 

Healthwatch is conducting a survey for NHS Herefordshire & Worcestershire to understand if local families are aware of the new video library of resources for children. These videos provide helpful information to support children and families in the community. Check them out here: Video Library

Your input will help improve how these resources are promoted and guide the creation of future videos.

Information provided by Wales HIVE Hub

Lyneham: Expanded 'Wiltshire Connect' bus service to include Royal Wootton Bassett and Malmesbury areas

The Public Transport team at Wiltshire Council is pleased to advise that we will be extending our popular Wiltshire Connect on-demand bus service in the Royal Wootton Bassett and Malmesbury areas from Wednesday 23rd April.

The service can be used for journeys to Royal Wootton Bassett, Malmesbury and to any location in the operating area (see image above) which includes the Great Western Hospital, Orbital Retail Park and Kemble Railway Station.

Anyone can use Wiltshire Connect and our wheelchair accessible vehicles operate between 6am-8pm Mon-Fri and 8am-7.30pm on Saturdays.

Rides can be booked by using the Wiltshire Connect app or by phone on 01225 712900 (Please note: The app can be used to book rides from Tuesday 22nd April).

Aurora New Dawn - Armed Forces Domestic Abuse, Sexual Violence and Stalking Helpline is now live

 

The new Aurora New Dawn Armed Forces Helpline for survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence and stalking is now live.

This Helpline is for any members of the Royal Navy British Army and Royal Air Force and their family members, including those deployed abroad, who are victims and survivors of Domestic Abuse, Sexual Violence or Stalking. 

The Helpline operates 6 days a week. It is independent, confidential, and free.

 

Launched on the 31st March 2025, and funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, and the Army Benevolent Fund the Helpline has already exceeded the number of contacts anticipated.

At Aurora, we understand that the Armed Forces Community is unique, and we know that service life brings with it a number of challenges which can make it harder to talk about these issues.

The Helpline has been designed with an understanding of these specific needs in mind. Many of our specialist team are from Forces families or are ex service personnel. They understand service life, and how difficult it can be to talk about what is happening.  We want to make sure that victim/survivors with links to the armed forces get specialist support that has been designed with them and for them.

Need help?

Get support from the Armed Forces Helpline via phone +44 (0)333 0912 527 (GMT): 0900-1500 Monday to Friday

Get support from the Armed Forces Helpline via WhatsApp on +44 (0)333 0912 527: Monday 0900-1500 / Wednesday & Thursday 1700-2000 / Sunday 1000-140

Wiltshire: Discover Wiltshire's Wonders with the new 2025 visitor map and guide

 

Visit Wiltshire has launched its new Visitor Map and Visitor Guide for 2025, offering a fresh perspective on exploring this captivating region.

Both the map and the guide are part of Visit Wiltshire's ongoing commitment to promote local tourism and support the region's economy. By providing up-to-date and accessible information, Visit Wiltshire aims to enhance the visitor experience and encourage more people to discover the unique charm of Wiltshire.

Click the images above to access each map, or follow the links below:

• Visitor guide

• Visitor map

Information provided by Colerne & Lyneham HIVEs