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Army HIVE Christmas and New Year Closures

The majority of Army HIVEs will be closed after duties on Fri 19 Dec 25 and will reopen on Mon 5 Jan 26. There may be localised variations to these dates for individual HIVEs.

Army HIVE HQ is also closed during the festive fortnight, so any enquiries submitted via the ‘If you need further information’ MS Forms function on our UK, Cyprus or Overseas blogs will be answered when we return in the New Year.

We will periodically cover private messages on our Army HIVE Facebook platform (and X/Instagram where possible) whilst we are closed. However, this will not be 24/7 and should not be relied upon for anything that requires an urgent response.

To support our customers with more immediate requirements however, the Army HIVE HQ email will provide a comprehensive out of office autoreply, detailing points of contact that are either 24/7, emergency providers, or open over the festive leave fortnight. To receive this autoreply, please email:
RC-Pers-HIVEComms-0Mailbox@mod.gov.uk

Individual HIVEs will also provide localised contact details for Christmas and New Year cover wherever possible in their automated replies. Therefore, if you email your closest HIVE, which you can find on HIVE’s page on the Army website, their autoreply may be of additional assistance.

Army HIVE wishes all of its Service community customers, and our internal and external stakeholders, a very happy Christmas and New Year. We look forward to continuing our support and engagement in 2026.


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November 25, 2025

Wiltshire & Swindon: Free Childminding Skills Bootcamp training programme starting Mon 8 Dec

 

Childminding Skills Bootcamp is a nationally recognised training programme designed to help learners start a rewarding, flexible career in childcare.

This opportunity, delivered in partnership with Swindon and Wiltshire Councils, is particularly well-suited to partners of military personnel due to the following:

  • Portable career – qualifications can be used wherever families are posted in the UK
  • Work from home – ideal for those needing stability and flexibility around family and military life
  • Online training – fully remote learning with fantastic, supportive staff
  • Community connection – learners join others from similar backgrounds and communities, creating a supportive network

There should also be another programme starting in early January.

Find out more at Childminding Skills Bootcamp – Wiltshire and Swindon – The International Education Group

Information provided by Colerne & Lyneham HIVEs

November 24, 2025

Lyneham: Santa comes to Lyneham - Thu 11 Dec


This year’s Rotary Santa visits are going to be different to recent years.

Instead of door knocking on houses in RWB and Lyneham, Santa will be visiting predefined “Santa Stops” where he and his elves are hoping to be greeted by a crowd of excited fans!

As usual, Santa's Elves will have buckets for collection for those wishing to donate and support charity fundraising. To aid this, buckets will display a QR code to scan and enable direct donations.

All funds collected are distributed to local charities/causes early in the New Year.


Information provided by Lyneham HIVE

Lyneham: Primary School bingo night - Thu 27 Nov

 

Please click here to visit the Lyneham Primary School Facebook page for updates

Information provided by Lyneham HIVE

Blandford: Garrison youth club sessions - CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE


Sessions are held in the Jubilee Hall, Blandford Camp (by Garrison Church) 

For those children that aren’t yet registered, there will be a QR code provided on entry for parents to complete prior to the session:

New items available in the tuck shop!

Juniors Youth Club session - 24 November 25

1630 – 1730 hrs

Reception – Year 3.

Session: Free play and craft & Lego

Cost - £1.50 – Entry +Tuck

Juice and water provided

Inters Youth Club session - 24 November 25

1800 – 1930 hrs

Year 4 – Year 6

Session: Free Play – Lego, PS5, Ping pong and crafts.

£1 entry, plus money for tuck shop

Juice and water provided 

Seniors Youth Club session - Wed 26 Nov 25 (TBC if going ahead NLT 25 Nov)

1800 – 1930 hrs

Year 7 and above

Session: Free play – Crafts, loom band making, air hockey, table tennis, games consoles etc

£1 entry, plus money for tuck shop

Juice and water provided

 Please keep a look out for future notices regarding youth club sessions.


Information provided by Bovington HIVE
 


Colerne: Annual beetle drive and cake auction - Thu 4 Dec

 

Join the Colerne Community Page on Facebook for further updates

Information provided by Colerne HIVE

First Defence Finance: Resources from Safer Gambling Week

Last week marked Safer Gambling Week, and our colleagues at First Defence Finance (one of the three MOD-endorsed Credit Unions) have produced a booklet on this topic that can be viewed online at: 

👉 https://heyzine.com/flip-book/FDFGamblingSupport

Read on for further information:

Ripon: Upcoming events at Ripon Library for adults & Children

 




Information provided by North HIVE Hub

Northern Ireland: The Wessex Cinema Aldergrove, December Showings


Please keep an eye on the BFBS Cinemas website for the latest listings and updates to all missing BBFC ratings and running times.

Information provided by HIVE NI

Northern Ireland: Latest Edition of NI4 Kids is out now


To read the latest edition on line, please click here

Information provided by HIVE NI

Weeton: Stay & Play session - UPDATE

The former HomeStart Play and stay sessions are now being held by AWS within the Children Centre every Thursday from 9am - 11am until further notice. 

Information provided by Preston & Weeton HIVE