September 22, 2026
West Midlands: Dudley Sea Cadets
If you want to learn more about our cadet programme, volunteering opportunities or the organisation, please get in touch with us to arrange an informal discussion and a unit visit.
Dudley Sea Cadets:
T: 07981 934469
Information provided by: Central HIVE Hub
Lichfield: BFBS Cinemas - DMS Whittington - 22 Sept to 4 Oct
Information provided by: Central HIVE Hub
The Armed Forces Pension Schemes Quick Reference Guide
To view the quick reference guide to the Armed Forces Pension scheme click on the link below.
Defence Update: Local Overseas Allowance rate changes 2026
From 1 October 2026, some Local Overseas Allowance (LOA) rates will go up, and some will go down, depending on the cost of living in your location.
Check the new rates for where you're based before the change takes effect.
LOA explained
LOA is money paid to Service personnel who are working overseas.
It helps cover the extra cost of everyday living overseas, when prices abroad are higher than in the UK.
What's changing and why
Every year, experts check the cost of living in each country. They use information from the Employment Conditions Abroad (ECA) survey and the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This tells us if prices have gone up or down compared to the UK.
Two things to know about this year's changes:
1. Child rate is staying the same: The way LOA works out payments for children is being looked at again. Until this review finishes, child LOA rates will not change.
2. Second car payments are going down: New ONS data shows that running a car in the UK now costs less than before. As LOA compares costs to the UK, this means the second car payment is going down everywhere.
What you need to do
Look up the full details on the new rates for your location. These can be found in the Directed Letter 'Revised Local Overseas Allowance Rates effective from 1 October 2026' (on defnet and Defence Connect).
Your Offer, recognising your service
There are other allowances available to help with essential needs and family wellbeing while you're overseas.
Find out more in JSP 752 or visit Discover My Benefits to explore the range of savings, allowances and opportunities available.
Point of Contact
The Allowances Team: People-AFRem-AllcesGroup@mod.gov.uk
North Wiltshire & Gloucestershire: AWS Community Support community noticeboard
Want to know what AWS activities are on in your area?
Click here to visit the AWS Sway noticeboard!
Who are Army Welfare Service?
The Army Welfare Service (AWS) is the Army’s professional welfare provider; it delivers a comprehensive and confidential welfare service responsive to the needs of individuals, families and the Chain of Command in order to maximise the operational effectiveness of Service Personnel.
Who are Community Support?
Community Support secures or directly provides learning and personal development opportunities for military personnel and their families wherever they are living. Non- formal education opportunities are provided within Community, Youth and Play Centres and Projects to children, young people and their families throughout the year and across the UK and overseas.
Community Support delivers additional activities during school holidays, including Easter and Summer programmes and offsite residential experiences. Community Support staff adopt best practices, are compliant with government legislation and guidelines, and in doing so promote a stronger sense of community and well-being.
Information provided by Colerne & Lyneham HIVE's
Recruit for Spouses: Upcoming events, programmes and upskilling opportunities for military families
- The RFS Coaching and Mentoring Programme - participant feedback
- RFS on BFBS radio!
- Op SPOUSE: have your say
- Upcoming events and webinars
The Warrior Programme: 3 day ONLINE foundation course - 9-11 November
Click image to enlarge
Are you interested in maximising your potential and overcoming the feelings of low self-confidence, imposter syndrome, fear of failure, stress and anxiety, that keep tripping you up?The Warrior Programme are running a 3 day ONLINE foundation course on Monday 9th - Wednesday 11th November - the same Warrior Programme that enables you to better manage emotions, feel more balanced and in control of life and work, just delivered online in the same format as our residential courses to maximise your time.
For more information about this and our other foundation courses please get in touch at:
enquiries@warriorprogramme.org.uk
stating whether you are serving personnel or a family member and which service you are with.
We are really looking forward to working with you and others in the same position, who are motivated to address challenges and maximise personal performance.
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