November 4, 2025

Armed Forces Continuous Attitude Survey

Your opportunity to shape Service life – AFCAS 2026

Halfway through the Armed Forces Continuous Attitude Survey (AFCAS). This is an opportunity for Service personnel to have their say on shaping Service life.

AFCAS gives a random sample of Regular Service personnel the chance to tell Defence what they like and dislike about daily aspects of Service life. This includes where they live, their pay and allowances, and career.

If you are a Regular Service person, check if you’re eligible to take part in the survey. All responses are confidential.

The more people that take part in AFCAS, the better. Every voice in this survey ensures that the needs and experiences of Service personnel are at the heart of driving new and improved Defence initiatives and policies to improve Service life.

Here are recent examples of ongoing work to help improve Service life:

· Families Hub – Check out Defence’s information portal, with useful signposting to information, support and organisations, to help you navigate Service family life. Visit the Families Hub.

· Simplifying overseas service finances – Defence’s new digital tools and updated allowances help you and your family navigate the financial aspects of overseas assignments – with greater confidence and less paperwork. Read more on the BFBS website.

Who can complete AFCAS, and how?


If you are a Regular Service person, check the eligibility tool to see if you have been randomly invited to take part in this year’s survey. You will need to enter your Service number, which is case sensitive.

If you are in this year’s sample, the tool will direct you to complete AFCAS.

If you are not in this year’s sample, the tool will direct you to a shorter survey to still give your views.

Share your thoughts by 11.59 pm, Monday 2 February 2026.

Hampshire: The 5C's



Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Aldershot: Home Start wellbeing group Mondays 1000hrs - 1130hrs

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Aldershot: The Vine Centre Weekly Timetable

 


Click HERE for more information

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

New Defence Housing Strategy published

 
Defence Housing Strategy

Following an announcement by Secretary of State for Defence, John Healey MP this afternoon, we are delighted to share the new Defence Housing Strategy.

Independently led by a team of experts and driven by the input of more than 6,000 service families, the strategy sets out the most significant change for Armed Forces housing in over 50 years. It marks the start of a fully costed ten-year programme to reshape, redevelop and modernise the Defence housing estate to best meet the realities of modern service family life.

We have summarised some of the key changes set out in the strategy for you and your family below:

Redevelopment and modernisation of UK SFA
  • Every service family deserves a home they can be proud of. This transformation will create thousands of high-quality homes, supporting our Armed Forces and their families for decades to come.  
  • We will be giving over 40,000 military homes a makeover – new kitchens, bathrooms and heating systems to ensure you have what you need for comfortable modern living.  14,000 of these homes will be substantially refurbished or replaced.
  • Rapid improvements are already underway through a Consumer Charter for Forces Families introduced earlier this year. New and upgraded military homes will meet modern property standards comparable to the best professional housing organisations, ensuring they are warm, spacious and of high quality.

£4.5 million awarded to support veterans with a housing need


· 19 organisations to receive a share of £4.5 million under the Veterans’ Capital Housing Fund.

· These projects will provide new builds and significant refurbishment of rental accommodation offering high quality support for veterans with a housing need.

19 organisations will share £4.5 million thanks to funding from the Office for Veterans’ Affairs’ Veterans’ Capital Housing Fund. The awards cover England, Scotland and Wales and contribute to the Government’s ambition to reduce veteran homelessness and end rough sleeping.

Nine grants are awarded under the Major Capital Grants programme, which supports new build accommodation and significant refurbishment and extension of accommodation for veterans. A further 10 supplementary grants are awarded to existing projects. These latest awards bring the total awarded through this programme to over £12.5 million.

Find out more

You can find a full list of all awardees from this round and previous rounds of the Major Capital Grants programme on the Trust’s website www.covenantfund.org.uk

Keep up to date with funding opportunities

For the latest updates and announcements on Covenant Fund programmes, and any other funding opportunities the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust has available throughout the year, sign up to their e-newsletter via their website www.covenantfund.org.uk

Staffordshire: Whittington Christmas Market 13 December - Whittington Village Hall


Information provided: Central HIVE Hub
 

November 3, 2025

Bovington: Garrison Memorial Hall weekly activities for adults and children


Click on posters below to enlarge


Information provided by Bovington HIVE

Victory Services Club, London – October 2025 Newsletter

Read the latest Club Life newsletter from the Victory Services Club

Serve and Protect Credit Union - Free Webinars in Nov and Dec

 
This week is ‘Talk Money Week’, so why not sign up for a free webinar from Serve + Protect. ‘First come, first served’… and you can register through your personal devices / email addresses:

Eco-friendly ways to save money 

Eco-friendly savings webinar | November and December 2025 Dates Released | Limited Availability | Learn more and register for FREE 
https://app.livestorm.co/serveandprotect/eco-friendly-ways-to-save-money?s=474742b0-68b0-40c6-bbe5-…

Budgeting 101 

Budgeting explained webinar | November and December 2025 Dates Released | Limited Availability | Learn more and register for FREE 
https://app.livestorm.co/serveandprotect/budgeting

Saving Made Simple 

Tips to boost savings webinar | November and December 2025 Dates Released | Limited Availability | Learn more and register for FREE 
https://app.livestorm.co/serveandprotect/saving-made-simple-practical-habits-to-boost-your-savings

Credit Score 101 

Tips to boost your score webinar | November and December 2025 Dates Released | Limited Availability | Learn more and register for FREE 
https://app.livestorm.co/serveandprotect/credit-scores

Boost Financial Resilience 

Preparing for the unexpected webinar | November and December 2025 Dates Released | Limited Availability | Learn more and register for FREE 
https://app.livestorm.co/serveandprotect/the-road-to-financial-resilience-preparing-for-the-unexpec…

Before You Borrow 

Key things to know webinar | November and December 2025 Dates Released | Limited Availability | Learn more and register for FREE 
https://app.livestorm.co/serveandprotect/before-you-borrow