Wiltshire: Are you caring for somebody else's child?

 

To mark last weeks Private Fostering Awareness Day on Wed 5 Nov, Wiltshire Council is encouraging residents to consider whether they may be involved in a private fostering arrangement and to come forward for support if they are.

Please click here to read more online

Information provided by Colerne & Lyneham HIVEs

Gloucestershire: November Libraries update

Please click here to access these links online

Information provided by Lyneham HIVE

Blackpool: Christmas By the Sea - 21 Nov 2025 until 04 Jan 2026

Blackpool’s spectacular Christmas By The Sea village is returning for 2025. VisitBlackpool has confirmed that the hugely popular outdoor village will open on Friday 21 November with an exciting range of festive family attractions - plus a free skating rink which will open every day until January 4, 2026 (barring Christmas Day).

In addition to the free-to-use skating rink, this year’s village will include festive light installations, themed log cabins with food, drink and gifts and artificial snowfalls.

It will also see a variety of themed children’s attractions, exciting thrill rides including a 100ft-long snow slide, and an aerial swing ride, the Star Flyer. This year will also see the return of a German Swing Grill, Snow Dome Waltzers, a Helter-Skelter slide and Ice Breaker thrill ride. New to the site this year will be a Christmas themed Fun House, set over three floors this new attraction will feature spinning barrels and discs, shuffle boards and special lighting effects.

Christmas By The Sea will be complemented by a full Illuminations display along the seafront after VisitBlackpool announced earlier this year that the Illuminations would once again be extended by two months to run until January 4 2026.

Throughout the Christmas By The Sea season, people will be able to park for four hours at many Blackpool Council car parks for just £2, this year the offer includes both Talbot and Central Multi-Storey Car Parks.

The event will be opened at a special celebration that will take place early evening on Friday 21 November. 

To find out more, click on the link below.

 Christmas By The Sea

Information provided by Preston & Weeton HIVE

Gloucestershire: Latest 'Families in Partnership' e-newsletter for families with SEND

Topics this month include:

• Brighter minds in darker months: Mental health support for SEND families

• Relaxed pantomimes and grottos to know about this December

• 'Listen to Me' peer support coffee mornings with Gloucestershire Parent Carer Forum and activities

• Getting ready for Winter Holiday Activity and Food Programme

• New project by Healthwatch Gloucestershire: Exploring the experiences of young people who are autistic or ADHD

Please click here to read this issue online

Information provided by Lyneham HIVE

Corsham: Charity Christmas coffee morning - Sat 6 Dec

 

Please click here to follow the 'Corsham Friends of Dorothy House' Facebook page

Information provided by Colerne HIVE

Inverness: Army Welfare Service and 3 SCOTS Poppy Project at Fort George Kirk

Remembrance Day is always a poignant time of year, especially for 3rd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 SCOTS) personnel and their families. The period of quiet reflection this year will culminate in a service held at Fort George Kirk on Remembrance Sunday, led by Padre Paul van Sittert. The service is open to everyone with a 1030 hrs start. The Fijian soldiers have kindly offered to sing as part of the service. All retiring offerings / donations will go to Poppy Scotland.

3 SCOTS, historically known as The Black Watch has a staunch and proud heritage steeped in tradition. Fort George is currently home to the 3 SCOTS Battalion which most of the Craft Club members are affiliated to through their husbands and partners.

The Craft Club have sought to honour and reflect upon that in their display, which incorporates the use of military camouflage netting and Black Watch Tartan ribbon. The spouses and partners are understandably proud of their service personnel and that shows in the way that the display has been handcrafted and produced – with love being an important ingredient.

The poppy focal piece at the Battalion Kirk is the Craft Club’s way of reflecting on a sombre time of dedication and also a time to consider the role of the Battalion and wider Armed Forces Community in what are clearly difficult and challenging times.

Motorfinity - On Freedom's Wings – The Last Mission Home

A Full-Sized Lancaster Bomber Rises as an Enduring Tribute to Bomber Command

On the border between Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire, a remarkable silhouette now commands the skyline. Standing 29 metres high with a wingspan of 31 metres, a full-sized steel sculpture of an Avro Lancaster bomber appears frozen in flight, heading home across the fields that once echoed with the roar of wartime engines.

This is 'On Freedom's Wings' – an extraordinary tribute to the 55,573 men of RAF Bomber Command who never returned from their missions over occupied Europe.

To read the full article, click HERE

Fife: Have your say on Fife's open spaces

Fife Council is asking residents to share their views on the parks, civic spaces, and green spaces that help define our communities.

Whether it’s a well-loved local park or a quiet riverside walk, your feedback will help us:
• protect special places from development
• improve accessibility and enjoyment of open spaces
• identify opportunities for trees, paths, play areas and more.

A version for children and young people is also available. The response will help us understand which spaces are thriving and which need extra care. It will ensure no important area is missed as we plan for the future needs of Fife’s communities and will also help to inform the next Local Development Plan.

More on the open spaces survey and to take part: https://www.fife.gov.uk/.../have-your-say-on-fifes-open..

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Preston & Weeton: Are you posted to the North/West?

Are you moving to the North/West?

If you are about to relocate to Preston or Weeton, please contact the HIVE office to request a pre-arrival information pack.

If you have just arrived in the area, HIVE will help you to find out more about your new location, where to register for doctors/dentists, find a nursery place, schools, employment, local area etc.

The HIVE also has information on all Army, RAF and Navy locations within the UK and overseas should you require information regarding a future posting.

Preston HIVE

Fulwood Barracks    - Tel. 01772 260025  (Mon)

Weeton Barracks     - Tel. 01772 260762  (Tues - Fri) 

e-mail:  RC-Pers-HIVE-Preston-0Mailbox@mod.gov.uk 

Vale of Glamorgan: Launch of the Vale Family Compass in the Vale of Glamorgan

Click poster to enlarge.

Introducing the Vale Family Compass

We are delighted to update you regarding our exciting new development in how families in the Vale of Glamorgan can access information, advice, support and protection.

From Monday 3 November, we launched the Vale Family Compass – a new single front door to access services including:

• Family Information Service (which includes The Index)
• Families First Advice Line
• Team Around the Family
• Vale Parenting Service
• Intake Team

The Vale Family Compass is designed to provide the right support at the right time, helping families get the help they need earlier and more effectively. It brings together resources and services in one place, improving coordination and outcomes for children, young people, parents, carers, their families, and professionals.

What’s changing?

We now have a single point of contact for accessing our Family Information, Early Help and Intake services:

Website: valefamilycompass.co.uk
Phone: 0808 281 6727
Email: familycompass@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk

You can also follow us on Facebook @ValeFamilyCompass (previously @VOGFIS)

Information provided by Wales HIVE Hub.