NAAFI Fund Dives Deep to Support Injured Veterans and Service Personnel

The underwater world just got a whole lot more accessible and therapeutic, thanks to a generous £5,000 award from the NAAFI Fund to the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (RCDM)! This fantastic funding is already making waves, allowing RCDM to replace and procure essential sub-aqua diving equipment. This means their vital Diving courses can continue to benefit not only Tri-Service personnel but also provide ongoing assistance to incredible Diving with the Injured expeditions.

The recent trip to the Maldives was an undeniable success: injured veterans, finding much-needed therapy in the serene embrace of the ocean, experiencing the wonders of marine life. This unique form of rehabilitation offers a sense of weightlessness, freedom, and an incredible connection to nature that can be profoundly healing.

But it wasn’t just the veterans who benefited, Diving with the Injured are also supporting service personnel who had the invaluable opportunity to reflect and unwind after what has undoubtedly been a very challenging year. The calming influence of the underwater environment, coupled with the camaraderie of the expedition, provided a much-needed break and a chance to recharge.

To read NAAFI Fund’s Blog post in full, please go to: https://naafi.co.uk/project/making-a-splash/

To find out more about NAAFI Fund, please visit: https://naafi.co.uk/

New surveys for Service children aged 8-18 – share your experience of growing up in a military family

Links for Survey:

• Age 8 - 11
• Age 12 - 15
• Age 16 - 18

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust: Over 2.5 million awarded to address the needs of service pupils

“Service pupils are more likely to experience family separation, as their serving parent(s) can be deployed to remote or dangerous locations. This can affect pupils’ emotional wellbeing, and they may require additional support at school during these periods.” -Service Pupils in Schools: Non-statutory guidance

Delivered on behalf of the MOD, the Service Pupil Support programme ensures the needs of service pupils are met through effective interventions to support them along their educational pathway.

In this latest funding round, The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) awarded just over £2.5 million to 34 projects across the UK, dedicated to helping service pupils thrive. These initiatives are transforming the way schools support children from armed forces families by breaking down barriers to identifying additional needs, improving access to vital services, and empowering professionals through targeted development to ensure every service child has the chance to reach their full potential.

Russell Collier, Education Policy Team, MOD adds:

"We are delighted that so many education settings and local authorities, from across the UK, chose to apply to the Service Pupil Support Programme this year. It’s incredibly positive to see a large number of exciting projects being funded, all with the same ambition in mind, that is to support children from armed forces families to thrive in education."

Empowering service children

RFS July Newsletter - Celebrating women, progress, and possibility

To view the newsletter online, please go to: 

recruit4spouses.cmail20.com/t/r-e-thurxjd-nhlmhutrr-m/

Wiltshire: Need some ideas how to support your child to cope with change - 11+ years

Information provided by South West HIVE Hub

St Donat's Bay: Volunteer to be a National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) Watchkeeper based at UWC Atlantic College

 

VOLUNTEER TO BE A NATIONAL COASTWATCH INSTITUTION (NCI) WATCHKEEPER AT ST DONAT’S BAY

NCI St Donat’s Bay is keeping a special lookout this summer – searching for the next intake of volunteer watchkeepers.

The station, based at UWC Atlantic near Llantwit Major, is the eyes and ears along the coast to help keep people safe. Working with search and rescue teams including the RNLI and HM Coastguard, NCI St Donat’s is crewed by a team of volunteers from the local community, staff and students from the College.

Open during daylight hours, it’s aiming to expand to 7 days a week with the help of more volunteer crew. New recruits will receive full training in nautical knowledge, search and rescue protocols and a range of skills required to meet the high standards of HM Coastguard and the RYA.

Wiltshire: Family Hub - Need some ideas on how to support your child cope with change?

 

Information provided by South West HIVE Hub

Bovington: Garrison medical centre & local NHS Doctors

Service Personnel only

The centre is open 

Mon, Tues & Thurs 0800 - 1630
Wed & Fri 0800-1230 

Closed weekends

Contact reception on 01929 403474

E-consult services 

Spouses/Partners & children

Register with NHS medical services in Wool village or Bere Regis (nr Bovington)

Wellbridge Practice. 

Meadow Lane, Wool BH20 6DR - 01929 462376
Website link: The Wellbridge Practice for opening times, contact details, booking appointments, joining the practice, prescriptions etc.  

Bere Regis Surgery.  

Manor Farm Road BH20 7HB - 01929 471268

Website link: Bere Regis Surgery for opening times, contact details, booking appointments, joining the practice, prescriptions etc.  

To find a dentist in the local area click HERE If you do not have a SFA address yet, use BH20 6JA  postcode to help refine your search area.  

Information provided by Bovington HIVE

Fleetwood: Affinity Lancashire Big 30th Birthday Bash - Sat12th & Sun13th July

Information provided by Preston & Weeton HIVE

St Annes: Carnival 2025 - 11th-13th July

St Annes Carnival 2025

Friday 11 to Sunday 13 July 2025 at Ashton Gardens. This year’s carnival is going to be a blockbuster, and we hope you’re as excited as we are! Get ready for a reel good time!

This traditional weekend begins with a parade through the town at 10.30am on the Saturday morning and then into Ashton Gardens for family fun during the weekend. The Crowning of the Carnival Queen takes place in the Gardens at 1.15pm.

Over the whole weekend there are many stalls, games, children’s rides and bouncy castles. Entertainment is provided by local schools, youth groups, musicians and singers. Traditional races for all the family create a lot of fun and rivalry. There are many competitions to get involved with including tug-of-war, Dog Agility and Best Dressed dogs!

• Friday – Live music from 6.30pm.
• Saturday – Parade, Crowning Ceremony and live entertainment all day
• Sunday – Competitions, family races and games, tug of war and the raffle draw.

Information provided by Preston & Weeton HIVE

(Visit Fylde Coast)