New funding opens to help young service children get the best start in life
Young children in serving armed forces families often experience change in their early years before they even start school.
Frequent moves, long periods of separation, and the pressures of service life can all affect a child’s sense of stability at a critical stage of development.
A new round of funding has now opened to help early years providers and local authorities respond to these challenges and give service children the strong, nurturing start they deserve.
Early Years Programme
The Early Years programme delivered by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, is part of the Armed Forces Families Fund. It supports projects that improve childcare provision for children aged birth to five from serving armed forces families. Focus is on helping early years settings develop practical projects that reflect the realities of military life, ensuring young service children can access safe, consistent environments that support their learning, wellbeing and sense of security before they begin primary school.
What funding can support
Generic and local information for the UK Military community including Serving Personnel, Families, Veterans, and MOD Civilians.
This is best viewed through a personal device because the MODnet firewall may prevent access to some links.
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March 27, 2026
Northern Ireland: Causeway Coast & Glens Events for 2026
Information provided by HIVE NI
March 26, 2026
South West: National Garden Scheme across Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Oxfordshire
The National Garden Scheme gives visitors unique access to over 3,300 exceptional private gardens in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands, and raises impressive amounts of money for nursing and health charities through admissions, teas and cake.
Thanks to the generosity of garden owners, volunteers and visitors we have donated over £77.8 million to nursing and health charities and in 2025 made an annual donation of over £3.8 million. Our core beneficiaries include Carer’s Trust, Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Hospice UK, Parkinson’s UK and The Queen’s Nursing Institute.
The National Garden Scheme doesn’t just open beautiful gardens for charity – we are passionate about the physical and mental health benefits of gardens too. We also support charities doing amazing work in gardens and health and grant bursaries to help community gardening projects.
Please click the links below for further information:
Oxfordshire gardens
Information provided by Colerne & Lyneham HIVE
Catterick: Foxglove Covert reopens 30th March
Foxglove Covert is reopening with a new entrance on 30th March. Accessible from Waitwith Road
Usual opening hours will resume form this date. Come along for Easter festivities including a Fun trail, Craft activities and a pond trail
Information provided by North HIVE Hub
Army Welfare Service – Contact Number Changes for Intake & Assessment Team (IAT) and Services Cotswold Centre
Please be advised that the Army Welfare Service has introduced updated contact numbers for two key services. These new numbers are now active and replace the previous lines, which have been permanently disconnected.
Intake & Assessment Team (IAT)07813 019 490
The IAT remains available for queries, phone referrals, support, and contact from units, partners, and Service Users via:
- Telephone: 07813 019 490
- Email: RC-AWS-IAT-0Mailbox@mod.gov.uk
- Referral Form: via the standard AWS referral process - Army Welfare Service (AWS) Specialist Welfare (SW) Referral Form – Fill in form
0331 1432730
This number replaces the previous SCC contact line.
Northern Ireland: Armed Forces Covenant Passes in Belfast City Council
I was delighted to receive a call from the Veterans Champion for Belfast City Council, Cllr James Lawlor to inform me that the council had formally adapted the Armed Forces Covenant.
Coming so soon after the positive vote in Stormont last November, this news will be very welcome.
The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise by the nation to ensure that that those who serve or who have served in the Armed Forces and their families are treated fairly. It is not, as some claim, about preferential treatment, but rather making sure there is no disadvantage as a result of service.
The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise by the nation to ensure that that those who serve or who have served in the Armed Forces and their families are treated fairly. It is not, as some claim, about preferential treatment, but rather making sure there is no disadvantage as a result of service.
Any political party, who believes in equality, and who wants to see an end to discrimination, could not object to the principles of the covenant. It is important for society in Northern Ireland that members of the Armed Forces and veterans receive the recognition that they deserve.
I want to pay tribute to Cllr James Lawlor, as the Armed Forces and Veterans Champion in Belfast City Council, for his tireless work to achieve this positive vote.
David Johnstone
NI Veterans Commissioner
Information provided by HIVE NI
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