Freedom from violence and abuse: a cross-government strategy

 
Defence sets out commitments to tackle Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) in a new cross government strategy published on 18 Dec.

To view the Strategy documents, please go to: Freedom from violence and abuse: a cross-government strategy - GOV.UK

Celebrating the Success of SSAFA’s Togetherness Overseas Parenting Programmes

SSAFA are delighted to share the success of their Togetherness (Solihull NHS) online parenting programmes, since launching in April 2025.

Togetherness is available to the Service community living overseas, including UK-based extended family members of Service families assigned worldwide. The BF1 postcode linked to the overseas location where the serving family are based will be needed to access.

What is Togetherness?
Togetherness is designed to support parents at every stage of their journey from pregnancy through to adolescence. These courses empower parents to:

• Understand their child’s brain development and emotional health.
• Decode behaviours and respond effectively to foster positive interactions.
• Develop strong communication skills to nurture confidence, kindness, and emotional awareness in children.

Royal Navy Sailing Association: FREE sailing courses for 8-17 year olds – 2026 dates now launched

Please note that these courses are only available to serving RN, RM and RFA families. To find out more please go to: https://rnsayouthcrew.org.uk/

Wiltshire: December recycling newsletter including Christmas tree collections in January

 

Welcome to the special Christmas edition of Wiltshire Council’s waste and recycling e-newsletter!

This issue is packed with jolly tips and clever ideas to help you reduce waste, recycle right, and keep your celebrations green and bright. Let’s make this Christmas magical for you and sustainable for our planet!

This festive edition includes:

• Household waste, recycling, and garden waste collections over Christmas
• Garden waste collections pause over Christmas
• Recycling centre opening times over Christmas
• How to recycle your real Christmas tree
• Still shopping? Sustainable shopping tips for last-minute buys
• Make sure you’re on the nice list by recycling right this Christmas
• Let’s sort advent calendars
• Festive monthly myth buster

Please click here to read this edition online

Information provided by Colerne & Lyneham HIVE

New Awards Made under The Armed Forces Families Fund: The Early Years Programme

600K Early Years Funding Supports Youngest Service Children

Speaking at the SciP Alliance conference in November, Minister for Veterans and People Louise Sandher-Jones reminded attendees that “Service is rarely an individual act. It’s a collective commitment shared and shouldered by a wide network of people who themselves have to develop the same qualities of strength and resilience that we ask of those family members serving in the military.”

But how does this translate to our youngest service children aged 0-5 years?

In the latest round of the Armed Forces Families Fund: Early Years programme, The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) has awarded 11 projects a share of just over £600,000 to tackle this challenge.

From SEND support and sensory spaces that build emotional wellbeing, to creating stimulating outdoor spaces that extend the learning environment for young service children at childcare settings. The Fund has once again shown the breadth of work taking place to ensure service children get the best start, despite the challenges of being part of a military family.

Getting out and active

Supporting service families at various sites across the country including RAF Valley, RAF Honington and RAF Shawbury, RAFAKidz is the largest provider of early years childcare to the RAF. They’ve received three awards in this latest round of funding to transform the outdoor learning environment at their settings - something they have recently received a National NMT Nursery Award for their Medmenham site in High Wycombe.

Josie Mapes, Executive Director of RAFAKidz, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to the AFCFT and the MOD for awarding us these generous grants. We’re dedicated to creating environments where the children we care for can grow, play and thrive, and this funding will help us do that. We know from our other settings that having access to outdoor spaces is vital for children’s development and for teaching them about the natural world. RAFAKidz Valley and Shawbury are relatively new to the RAFAKidz family, so we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to enhance the outdoor spaces at these settings, giving our children space to enjoy outdoor play.”

Supporting military families ‘needs

Scotland: Poppy Scotland Cycle Challenge

Take our Poppy Cycle Challenge and help raise vital funds for veterans and their families in Scotland. 

Your challenge is to cycle between different War Memorials in Scotland. 

There's an incredible 4,900 to choose from! 

You set the distance, the pace and the difficulty level and decide whether you want to cycle the physical route or complete the distance on a gym bike.

For more information visit www.poppyscotland.org.uk/get-involved/poppy-cycle-challenge

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Gloucestershire: Christmas Treecycling - register now!

 

South Cerney
Gloucestershire Longfield Community Hospice

Innsworth
Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice

Please click here for further details of these and other Treecycling schemes in Gloucestershire and beyond

Information provided by Lyneham HIVE

Wiltshire: 'Story Garden' Winter Mini Challenge with Wiltshire Libraries

 

Children can take part in this year’s Winter Mini Challenge by reading three books by Friday 20th February 2026. They’ll earn a special badge, certificate, and the chance to win a bundle of amazing books.

Click here to find out more!

Want to take your Children to your local Library? Click here to find a Library close to you!

Information provided by Colerne & Lyneham HIVE

Grantham: Community Pharmacy Lincolnshire

Pharmacy

Information provided by Grantham HIVE

Armed Forces Covenant annual report 2025

The Ministry of Defence published the 14th Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report on 16 Dec.

To view the Report documents, please click this link: Armed Forces Covenant annual report 2025 - GOV.UK

For more information on the Armed Forces Covenant, how it can support you and the upcoming Legal Duty extension, visit the Covenant website.