December 4, 2025

St Athan: New ways to contact your St Athan Community Councillors

  
New ways to contact your St Athan Community Councillors!
They now have official email addresses — making it easier than ever to get in touch!

www.stathancommunitycouncil.co.uk

New website launching in the New Year!

Information provided by Wales HIVE Hub.

Wales: Careers Wales - Buzz Quiz to explore career ideas for students making education subject choices

Careers Wales:

Parents! Is your child thinking about what subjects to take?

We can help them explore career ideas that could help them make their subject choices
They can take our Buzz Quiz today and find out their personality type and what jobs might suit them

https://bit.ly/32sRqBb

Information provided by Wales HIVE Hub.

December 3, 2025

Recruit for Spouses: Op SPOUSE and how RFS supports you

What is Op SPOUSE?

RFS gives the following overview:

“A nationwide initiative to strengthen Defence retention, readiness and resilience.

“Family dissatisfaction is the leading driver in the Armed Forces retention challenge – and supporting spouses more effectively is critical to improving outcomes across Defence.

“Op SPOUSE is the solution – it equips military spouses with the tools, opportunities, and support they need to thrive, helping to sustain family stability and long-term commitment to Service life.

“Delivered by RFS – the UK’s leading military families charity – this scalable initiative enhances existing MOD commitments to support Service families, and strengthens Defence outcomes by improving retention, readiness and cost-efficiency.”

Find out more at: https://www.recruitforspouses.co.uk/op-spouse

To find out more about the support available from Recruit for Spouses, please view/download the 'How RFS Supports You' brochure.

MHLO West Midlands and Staffordshire: JSP 464 Confirmation: Process for Leaving/Moving Out of SFA:




3.6.1.1 Pre-move out advisory visit. It is a mandatory requirement that a pre-move out advisory visit takes place up to 2 months before the expected date of vacation.

In order to provide sufficient time for families to prepare for the Move Out appointment, and to allow the Industry Partner the opportunity to schedule enhanced works that may be required, it is essential recommended that the visit is at least 30 working days before a booked or potential Move Out. It is the Service Licensee’s responsibility to arrange the date of the visit with the IPHD. The IPHD is to seek assistance from the Local Service Commander in cases where it proves difficult for Service reasons to arrange a visit.

Please find guidance for best practice :SP/Families are to Communicate early with Pinnacle (Visa/Versa) to secure Pre-Move Out bookings. (As soon as your SP receives new assignment order / Pinnacle receive an application to move – prompt to book PMO)
Please see JSP464 policy for more information.

SP/Pinnacle attempt resolution by adjusting move-in or securing an earlier PMO.
If unresolved, book the earliest appointment outside 30 working days.

Concerns about dual charges: you can challenge charges once received or submit a complaint via Customer Solutions (CS). 

Information provided: Central HIVE Hub

Bovington: Employment support drop in session Wed 1st April


Appointments not necessary, just turn up.

Information provided by Bovington HIVE

December 2, 2025

MOD Stafford: University of Staffordshire visits 2026 - Make your military career work for your future


Scan QR code or visit HERE

Information provided: Central HIVE Hub 

Blandford: Garrison job vacancies

 



Search for full & part time vacancies HERE for Blandford, Bovington & Lulworth
Use the search filter to refine role, contract hours etc or type Blandford Camp in Where, box for specific jobs on the Garrison.

Customer/food service assistants
Cleaners
Supervisors
Department managers
Facilities operatives
Chefs/catering roles
Mess (Accommodation) Stewards

Information provided by Bovington HIVE

DIO Families First Newsletter for SFA Occupants – Issue 32 Out Now

Issue 32 of DIO’s Families First newsletter, dated 28 Nov, is now available to view online or download on the Defence Homes website. Previous issues can also be accessed via the same link.

Service Family Accommodation (SFA) Communications Update - 01 December 25

Rapid Refurbishments to Service Family Accommodation

Service families’ homes across the UK are being upgraded as part of improvement works to rapidly raise the standards of military accommodation. DIO is on track to deliver on our commitment to carry out targeted renovations to 1,000 homes before the end of 2025.

Refurbishment and upgrade works are already well underway at many locations across the UK including over 100 homes in Wales, over 50 in Scotland and over 150 in Northern Ireland, with immediate priority being given to the homes most in need.

Refurbishment works will vary from site-to-site but will focus on fixing unreliable boilers and heating systems, repairing leaky roofs, eliminating damp and mould, and upgrading electrics and plumbing.

These upgrades form part of the delivery of commitments made in the SFA Consumer Charter earlier this year. This is only the beginning of a decade- long improvement in military accommodation that has been set out in the recently published Defence Housing Strategy. With over £9bn worth of investment in the next ten years, more than 40,000 service family homes will be modernised, refurbished or rebuilt.

View the heatmap of some of the locations where upgrades are taking place across the UK and hear more about the impact of works already underway here.

Shropshire: A free, confidential 24/7 mental health text support service - NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin


A free, confidential 24/7 mental health text support service. This is available for all ages in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and is delivered by qualified mental health professionals.

Information: Central HIVE Hub