December 15, 2025
Catterick: RESET - Helping Military Personnel address problematic behaviours and addictions every Tues
North East England: Mental Health Charity for Veterans
Their counselling centres in Wallsend, North Tyneside and Blyth, Northumberland offer free counselling to veterans and family members for an agreed period.
Services are accessed through referral to the Anxious Minds Veteran Recovery College.
Programmes include tailored therapeutic courses, one-to-one counselling, peer-led groups and outdoor therapy such a woodland walks.
Their Hope Recovery Centre runs drop-in events open to all, with events including mindfulness and Tai Chi, along with a veterans and community kitchen offering nutritious, low-cost meals and a weekly breakfast club
Information provided by North HIVE Hub
Bath, Swindon & Wiltshire: Free Wellbeing Workshops with BSW Recovery College
The course list for January '26 to March '26 has now been published on the BSW Recovery College website.
Upcoming online courses include:
- ADHD - Minds Of All Kinds
- Managing Anxiety
- Building Resilience
- Managing Intense Emotions
- Self Kindness
Other sessions are also available face-to-face in Swindon, Bath and Trowbridge.
Information provided by Colerne & Lyneham HIVE
Advance into Justice: Careers in Prisons and Probation for the Service Community
What is Advance into Justice?
Advance into Justice is a campaign exclusively for the Armed Forces family, which provides second career opportunities within our frontline roles within prisons and probation.
You can apply for a role via the Advance into Justice scheme if you are:
- an Armed Forces service leaver within your resettlement period and due to leave the services within 18 months
- a veteran of the Armed Forces
- a spouse or civil partner of an Armed Forces service leaver or veteran (your current partner must either be still serving or have been discharged within the last 12 months)
- an Armed Forces Reservist
December 10, 2025
North Wiltshire & Gloucestershire: Bin collection calendars
Please choose your area from the following list to find your local rubbish and recycling collection calendars (noting that Bank Holidays may affect the regular date):
Details for all other areas can be found at https://www.gov.uk/rubbish-collection-day
Information provided by Colerne & Lyneham HIVE
December 9, 2025
December 8, 2025
Ripon: Come and join us for Chess Club every Friday for ages 5-17
Children’s Chess Club at Ripon Library!
Looking for a fun, brain-boosting activity for your children?
Join us at the library every Friday for our Chess Club!
Information provided by North HIVE Hub
December 5, 2025
New Travel Credit Scheme
New Travel Credit Scheme – helping you reunite with loved ones this Christmas
A new one-off Travel Credit Scheme will help Service personnel get home to family and friends during the festive season and months that follow.
From 8 December, eligible personnel can claim for support with the cost of either road or rail travel for a return journey home. The new scheme extends the existing Get You Home (Early Years) provision.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:
“When I came into office, I promised to renew our nation’s contract with those who serve us. That is why this government is improving homes for heroes, delivering the biggest military pay rise in a generation and enshrining the new Armed Forces Covenant in law to properly represent our forces community.
“Our Armed Forces make extraordinary sacrifices, and I know how important being with family is, and that is why today we’re announcing extra travel support for service personnel to be with their loved ones this Christmas.”
Defence Secretary, John Healey MP said:
“Our Armed Forces make extraordinary sacrifices to keep our country safe. Helping them get home to their families for Christmas is the least we can do to support them.
“In this new era of threat, the strength of our defence lies in the serving men and women of our forces. Having already awarded the biggest military pay rise in 20 years and launched a big new strategy to renew military housing, this Government is proudly putting our Forces First.”
Who’s eligible to receive payment
Service Family Accommodation (SFA) Communications Update - 04 December 25
Tackling Damp and Mould
Over the last few years we have made substantial progress in tackling damp and mould that has been reported to us. Condensation is usually the biggest cause of damp within homes, and we know this often increases in colder months of the year. There are 4 key steps that you can take to prevent condensation, damp and mould in your home.
Please read our helpful guide to preventing condensation, damp and mould in your homes here.
Report it
If you discover damp and mould, including any recurring issues, please report it straight away so that we can resolve the issue promptly. You can do this in the following ways:
- Complete the dedicated Damp and Mould report form on the Pinnacle website.
- Call Pinnacle on 0800 0318628, selecting option 1, then option 4.
- Chat to Pinnacle online, you can do this by selecting the chat option on Pinnacle website.
Our commitment
Awaab’s Law, which took effect in October 2025, requires social landlords to address all damp and mould hazards within fixed timeframes. While we are not bound by this legislation, DIO has voluntarily committed to upholding the standards expected of a responsible landlord and our response times to damp and mould reports in UK SFA have been adjusted.
When you contact Pinnacle, our teams will assess the severity of the problem, on a scale from level 1 to 5, with 5 considered the most severe. Pinnacle will then coordinate with Amey/VIVO to begin their investigation to address the issue.
- Levels 1-3: Amey/VIVO will respond within 10 working days.
- Levels 4-5 (highest priority): Amey/VIVO will respond within 48 hours, and families will be offered temporary accommodation during the investigation.
If we cannot fully complete the required work after investigation, we will provide the family with a written summary within three days, outlining completed tasks and any remaining work.
If you have any queries related to damp and mould, please contact Pinnacle on 0800 031 8628. You can find further information about seasonal safety advice on Defence Homes.
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