Grantham: healthwatch Lincolnshire - Hearing from people in the Military

Hearing from people in the military, survey closes 31st Oct.

In association with the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, this survey will identify barriers and gaps in healthcare and recommend improvements to make sure everyone gets the care they need.
The survey wants to hear from all serving personnel but is especially keen to hear from the military’s hidden voices, such as:

People with disabilities

LGBTQ+ communities

People from ethnic minorities

Carers

Information provided by Grantham HIVE

BFBS to Launch First-Ever AI Skills Programme Exclusively for Military Partners

BFBS (British Forces Broadcasting Service) has been awarded a significant grant of £66,884 from The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust to deliver a groundbreaking AI skills programme exclusively for military partners helping them develop digital skills, grow career opportunities and strengthen employability in an increasingly tech-driven world.

The programme, which will be the first of its kind and part of the BFBS Academy, launches in January 2026. It will combine flexible online learning that participants can complete in their own time, in addition to monthly live evening webinars and four one-off in-person workshops across Cyprus, Catterick, Blandford, and Edinburgh. The entire programme will be fully funded by the grant.

Jackie Collins, Head of Social Media at BFBS (Academy & Creative) who is leading this initiative and will oversee the programme’s delivery said: “The grant is a game-changer for military partners. With so much hype and confusion around AI, this innovative course will focus on delivering practical skills that cut through the noise, giving participants the confidence and knowledge to explore new job opportunities, develop careers or take businesses to the next level.”

BFBS Academy will guide participants throughout the programme, providing one-on-one coaching, to ensure training is meaningful and accessible to all military partners.

The programme will help participants:

Build foundational AI skills relevant to real-world projects
Explore how AI tools can support work or business growth
Access training in a format that fits around military life and day-to-day jobs
Understand and navigate AI responsibly

The funding marks a major milestone for BFBS Academy’s mission to provide innovative, accessible training for the armed forces community, empowering military partners with the tools they need to thrive in a digital future.

For general updates, follow BFBS Academy on Facebook, Instagram and X.

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust: Almost £1 Million awarded to support more partners of serving personnel

When someone joins the armed forces, it’s a career and a lifestyle that extends to their entire family.

Behind every serving member, whether regular or reserve, is a network of loved ones who quietly support from the sidelines. But for the partners, life in the armed forces can set unique challenges such as relocations, career disruptions, isolation, and the emotional toll from long separations.

Delivered on behalf of the MOD and designed specifically with service partners in mind, the Armed Forces Families Fund: Supporting Partners programme provides tailored solutions and dedicated support to help navigate the demands of service life. It recognises that while service members wear the uniform, their partners also serve in their own way – often by juggling family life, careers, and personal wellbeing.

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) has supported a further 17 projects in the latest funding round, worth almost £1 million to projects that aim to improve the overall provision of support available to partners of serving personnel. Whether it’s promoting skills and experience in the workplace, enhancing access to vital services, or improving wellbeing – these projects are committed to empowering partners to thrive.

Supporting partners across Wales

Adferiad has been awarded a grant to deliver an 18-month, Wales-wide programme aimed at supporting partners into volunteering and employment.

Bath, Swindon & Wiltshire: Free wellbeing courses with BSW Recovery College

 

The BSW Recovery College launched on 1st October 2025, and bookings are now open!

The BSW Recovery College offers free, in-person and online wellbeing courses and workshops for adults aged 18+ living in Bath & North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire (BSW).

These courses help people look after their mental health, develop new skills and connect with others. They are designed with people with their own experiences of mental health difficulties. The college is also open to carers, friends and family.

Please click here to find out more

Information provided by Colerne & Lyneham HIVE

Brompton: Military Wives Choir Remembrance Concert Friday 7th November 6pm - 7pm

 

Information provided by South East HIVE

MOD Update: Credit union service for Defence people celebrates 10-year anniversary

Credit union service for Defence people celebrates 10-year anniversary

This month marks 10 years since the launch of Joining Forces – the collaboration of three credit unions, established to help Service Personnel and Defence civil servants save regularly and borrow responsibly.

The Joining Forces Credit Union (JFCU) service – which now supports over 27,000 members – provides a range of simple savings accounts and affordable loans, to help Service Personnel (Regulars and Reservists), veterans, and their families access financial products. Repayments can be made straight from military pay or pension.

Defence Civil Servants can also use the service, with saving and loan repayments made via Direct Debit – rather than payroll deduction.

What is a credit union?

Dorset: Bovington & Blandford Coworking hubs - Weekly online events

 

📌 Weekly Virtual Coworking
Every Tuesday: 9:30am–12pm

📌 Content Planning Club
First Thursday of the month

📌 Craft & Chat
First and Third Tuesday of the month: 7:30pm–9pm

📌 Book Club
Second Tuesday of the month: 7:30pm–9pm

📌 Games Night
Fourth Tuesday of the month: 7:30pm–9pm

You are very welcome to all our events and they are totally free to attend. Whether you can join us from the start, pop in partway or need to dip out early, you’re always welcome and please don’t worry if you furry friends or children need your attention, we totally get it.

If you’d like to connect in person too, your local Bovington or Blandford coworking hub is always open. If you haven’t visited yet, why not try a free trial? Links for all are below:

We’d love to see you online or in your hub soon 💛

👉 Book your free spot here for events:

https://www.militarycoworking.uk/events

👉 Book a free trial at our Bovington coworking hub:

Bovington | Military Coworking Network

👉 Book a free trial at our Blandford coworking hub:

Blandford | Military Coworking Network

Kelly, Rachel and Linzi

Your Bovington and Blandford Hub and online support team

Information provided by Bovington HIVE 

Stafford Falcons U13 Girls - New Players Wanted

 Information provided by: Central HIVE Hub

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust: Latest funding helps change the narrative for servicewomen

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust has awarded eight projects a share of over £650,000 under its Service Women: Seen & Heard programme, focusing on the specific needs of women in our armed forces.

As of April 2025, women represented 11.9% of the UK regular armed forces; however, many still describe it as a ‘man’s world’.

From ill-fitting uniform to availability of sanitary products; a lack of recognition of the role many servicewomen play as main caregiver to their family, to a lack of understanding of the symptoms of menopause. Applications to the Trust’s servicewomen-focused programme made it clear that change is needed.

Body talk

Working across the UK, the Defence General Practice Women’s Health Special Interest Group: Academic Department of Military General Practice, will create a series of short, animated educational clips on servicewomen’s health.

The clips will be designed for use in facilitated discussions across recruitment, training, service and leadership, covering topics such as menstruation, vulval health, urination, menopause, reproductive health and more. This work will support awareness and wellbeing, as well as contribute towards gender-informed leadership in military settings – a key theme of the Atherton inquiry.

Surg Lt Cdr Ruth Guest explains: “Servicewomen tell us about struggling to manage periods on deployment, facing stigma around menopause, or not knowing where to seek support for female specific conditions. With this funding, we can turn lived experience into lasting educational tools that will improve confidence and wellbeing for serving women but also create meaningful discussions and culture change across Defence as a whole.”

Menopause support

Leuchars: Deployment support for RAF personnel at Leuchars

click on image to enlarge

RAF Personnel stationed at Leuchars are part of the military community, they and their families are welcomed to Station events, coffee mornings and activities provided by the Leuchars Welfare Teams. 

HIVE is also here for the RAF Families and has contact with the RAF HIVE Information Support Officer and SSAFA at RAF Lossiemouth. 

RAF Lossiemouth HIVE have produce the Deployment Support document above for RAF personnel at Leuchars.

If you require further help then please contact HIVE at Leuchars.

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE