Bath Spa University - Upcoming Free Courses in Wiltshire and Online

Bath Spa University have two upcoming courses for military partners, both of which are fully funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust:

Marketing and Entrepreneurship

Tuesday 14 April for 12 weeks, Tuesdays 10am -2pm, Wiltshire

During this 12-week practical course, you’ll explore the fundamentals of digital marketing and entrepreneurship in innovative ways. Starting with your own ideas and goals, you’ll embark on a collaborative journey that covers key entrepreneurial concepts such as getting started, building a brand, and creating a business plan.

You’ll also dive into digital marketing essentials, including social media and audience engagement including developing creative assets. Our workshops combine essential knowledge with hands on activities, giving you the chance to apply what you learn and create a portfolio of work.

This course includes space for you to relax, build confidence, and connect with others. It’s designed to foster a supportive environment where you can recharge, share experiences, and grow your network in an informal setting.

Chepstow: Benthyg Chepstow (Chepstow Library of Things)

Benthyg Monmouthshire:

Your local library of things!

The aim of a library of things is to allow you to:

• borrow things you need but don't own, at low cost, saving money and space in your home
• donate things you own but don't need, contributing to national waste reduction targets
• meet to share knowledge and skills with others, increasing community resilience

What does Benthyg mean?

Benthyg (pronounced ben-thig) is a Welsh word meaning borrow or lend.

Benthyg Chepstow Branch contact details:

Chepstow at Chepstow Library and Hub, Manor Way, NP16 5HZ
Contact us: benthygchepstow@gmail.com
Open - Saturdays 10.30 - 11.30 am

For more information please visit the website here

Information provided by Wales HIVE Hub.

Army Families Federation Survey - Should routes to settlement be shortened for Armed Forces? Respond by 6 Feb

From the AFF website Settlement routes for military personnel - Army Families Federation:

AFF is gathering evidence to put to the government as part of a consultation on whether the settlement routes for military personnel and their families should be shortened.

The 2025 Immigration White Paper introduces new policies that will lengthen the route to settlement for most migrants to the UK. The government consultation on this paper closes on 12 February.

However there are no plans to increase the time for the Armed Forces. In fact the consultation is looking at whether it should be cut.

At the moment personnel from Foreign and Commonwealth countries have to serve four years before they are eligible for settlement on discharge.

If they are medically discharged before then, they are not eligible. And it they want to apply for citizenship they need to have lived in the UK for five years.

Families are required to have spent five years with continuous leave in the UK before they are eligible. But they must also wait until the serving person has served for five years.

AFF wants to hear the views of serving personnel and their immediate family members on whether they think the current time periods should remain or be reduced. Our survey on settlement routes for military personnel is open until 12 noon on Friday 6 February.

February Quest Magazine is Out Now

 

To read this edition online, or indeed any back copies, please go to: Quest Magazine - Armed Forces Resettlement since 1999

Wales: SSAFA Volunteer Caseworker Vacancies, Location - available across Wales

 

Click image to enlarge.
SSAFA are recruiting for SSAFA Caseworkers across the whole of Wales. Please see the link below for the full volunteer role description:

SSAFA Caseworker - Wales

Information provided by Wales HIVE Hub.

Dorset: Adult learning courses

For information about courses, learning opportunities, learning at home and more please visit
https://www.webenrol.com/skillsandlearningace/

For details of local courses and information see links below.

Link to our online courses (courses are held online via Teams at specific times with a “live” tutor)

Link to distance learning courses (These are online modules that can be accessed whenever convenient)

Link to courses in Blandford

Link to courses in Poole, Wareham or Dorchester

Information about our employability and careers courses (also known as work skills)

Information about our English for Speakers of Other Languages courses

Information provided by Bovington HIVE

Forces Employment Charity: Unlock your potential - Join our Women into Employment webinars!

Have you signed up for Women into Employment 2026 yet?

Women into Employment (WIE) is back for 2026, and this year it’s designed to work with your life, whatever your schedule, wherever you live. We know your time is precious, so we’ve created an impactful programme that fits around your schedule while giving you the tools to shape the next chapter of your career.

We’re kicking off with three powerful lunchtime webinars, each one crafted to spark momentum, build confidence and help you take meaningful steps toward your goals. These inclusive and friendly sessions are the perfect lead-in to WIE's grand finale, an in-person networking event hosted by Bank of America.

Join our Lunchtime Webinars:

Join all three sessions or simply choose the ones that speak to you. Every hour is packed with practical insights, expert guidance and the encouragement you need to move forward with purpose

Service Family Accommodation (SFA) Communications Update - 30 January 2026

New Armed Forces Bill to drive the biggest renewal of Service Family housing in a generation

Service families will benefit from the newly introduced Armed Forces Bill which promises better housing, better services and better protections for our forces and their families.

The Bill will create a new Defence Housing Service, which will have a simple ethos – to put the needs of forces and their families first and drive the biggest improvement in forces accommodation for a generation.

Read the full article on Defence Homes here.

Families First Newsletter

The latest issue of the Families First newsletter, featuring the latest Defence housing news and updates, is now available on the Defence Homes website.

1,000 homes upgraded for military families

Urgent works on 1000 military homes, most in need of refurbishment, have finished ahead of schedule, with a further 250 to be completed by April, 2026. This means that 12 months on from the Consumer Charter launch, we will have increased our initial target by 25%.

Read the full article on Defence Homes here.

Scotland: Moving to Scotland? Need to know about Special Educational Needs and the support available?

Moving to a new country and education system can be a worrying and busy time for families with a child with additional support needs.

Enquire is the Scottish advice service for additional support for learning. 

Providing easy to understand advice and information about additional support for learning legislation and guidance for families and professionals.

Enquire

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Surrey: Empowering Surrey's young people - voting for the next member of Youth Parliament

Young people in Surrey have an exciting opportunity to help shape the county's future. They can now vote for their next Member of Youth Parliament. Voting is open to anyone aged 11 to 18 and closes 22nd February. 

Sixteen young people are standing for election, and each one wants to help make Surrey better for children and teens. They bring their own ideas, experiences and a commitment to improving life for young people in Surrey. 

Click HERE for more information.

Information provided by SE HIVE Hub