Introducing the Continuity of Education Allowance advisory helpdesk

Introducing the Continuity of Education Allowance advisory helpdesk

A new team is ready to help you with questions about Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA).

Moving around for your work in the Armed Forces can make it hard to keep your children's education on track. This is where CEA comes in – helping your children stay settled in education, even when Service life means your family must move.

Here to help

Sometimes, working out if you’re eligible to claim CEA – or how to claim it – can feel complicated and confusing, as every situation is different. That’s why we've set up a new team in the Pay and Allowances Casework and Complaints Cell (PACCC) to assist.

From 1 April 2026, the CEA advisory helpdesk will provide a group of experts to help you, your family, or your Unit HR team with any tricky questions about the allowance.

Whether you're trying to understand the rules or need help with a complex case, the team will point you to the right people and make sure you get clear guidance.

The new helpdesk works alongside the Education Advisory Team (EAT) (UK) service within Defence Children Services (DCS). This remains available to provide professional, independent advice, guidance, and support to Service families on children’s education – covering school admissions, Special Educational Needs Allowance (SENA), and boarding school applications (including schools not currently on the Boarding School Database).

London: Victory Services Club

Experience the inclusive camaraderie of the Victory Services Club. It is the only military members' club in London open to all ranks and all services of the UK Armed Forces, NATO and the Commonwealth and their families. 

Membership to the Victory Services Club is entirely free for serving personnel. For former service personnel and their immediate family, the Club offers membership at affordable and highly competitive rates.

Click HERE for more information.

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Gloucestershire: New countywide bus map launched

 

Gloucestershire County Council has published a new bus map showing all the main bus routes across the county, operated by all the major operators.

It allows residents and visitors to see, at a glance, where the main bus routes go, where rail stations are located, and how services connect — making it easier to plan journeys.

Please click here to access the new map online

Information provided by Lyneham HIVE

Catterick: Veterans Coffee Morning every Monday

 Information provided by North HIVE Hub

Bath: 2026 festival line-up

Whether you're after a colourful carnival-style party in the city, a chance to taste the finest food the region has to offer, or seeing iconic music acts and comedians perform live, you're sure to find a Bath festival you'll love this year.

Take a look through Visit Bath's highlights of this year's festival calendar, including events dedicated to books, music, food, comedy and more at Bath 2026 festival line-up

Information provided by Colerne & Lyneham HIVE

Swindon: Explore nature with these walking trails, maps and more

British Summer Time started this weekend, meaning the evenings get lighter which is a perfect excuse to get outside. Check out some of these fantastic walking routes in the Swindon area, including:

• Stanton Park (one-mile walk). A family-friendly stroll around the wonderful Stanton Park. It’s only a short walk but it packs in some lovely lakeside, woodland and countryside walking

• Barbury Castle (two walks of 1.25 miles and 8.5 miles). Plenty of history and lovely views on offer

• Lydiard Park (1.5-mile walk). It has a beautiful house, woodland, open grassy areas and a lake to enjoy. There is even a spot for a coffee afterwards at Lydiard Park Hotel and Conference Centre

• Coate Water (1.75-mile walk). Take a nice casual, circular walk around the lake at Coate Water Country Park

Swindon Travel Choices will also be launching three walking trails on 1 April, with a brand-new Pony Trail around Wroughton.

Information provided by Lyneham HIVE

DIO Families First Newsletter - Issue 36 Published

Click image to enlarge.

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

DIO Service Family Accommodation (SFA) Communications Update - 27 March 2026

Let’s get building: MOD set to start construction on first military homes in a decade

Good homes will be placed at the heart of UK military family life as the MOD is set to begin the construction of 265 new military family houses at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, the first such development in almost a decade. Families living in the area will see a range of new, modern apartments, houses and bungalows begin to be built at Carterton near the air base in the coming weeks, once formal approval is received.

In addition to the building of the houses at Brize Norton, DIO will also be refurbishing another 2,000 homes across the UK in the next 12 months alone, building on the 1,250 worst-condition properties already brought up to standard. This work is a step towards widening access for families who have previously not been able to benefit from a military home, with 1,000 of the refurbished houses being brought back into use for military families. This is almost double the number of previously empty homes that were brought online for families over the previous 12 months.

To read more on this, see the Defence Homes article here.

Message for Service families

We know many of you, especially those in long term relationships or with childcare responsibilities for more than 80 nights a year have been waiting a long time for clearer information about widening access to Defence housing. Thank you for your patience.

We understand how important it is for families to have clarity about their housing options, especially when it comes to making decisions about work, schooling, and other aspects of family life. This remains a priority for Defence, and we are continuing to develop the detail. The final approach will be shaped by the wider Defence Investment Plan, which will set out how Defence will spend its money over the coming years to deliver the priorities of the Strategic Defence Review, including equipment, housing, infrastructure and people. We will share further information as soon as we are able to provide clear and dependable guidance on what widening access will mean for you and your family and how it will work.

To read the full message, click here.

Updated security advice for families living in SFA

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust: New funding opens to help young service children get the best start in life

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

Northern Ireland: Causeway Coast & Glens Events for 2026

 

For more details please visit Events | Whats On | Visit Causeway Coast & Glens

Information provided by HIVE NI