Minimum Income Requirement - incremental approach to new threshold amount

You may have seen reference to the announcement from the Home Office that the planned increase to the MIR to £38,700 will happen incrementally, with a figure of £29,000 applicable from Spring 2024. The Home Office have released a Factsheet that explains more. Among other things, this advises that under the new provisions there will no longer be a separate child element.

Defence continues to liaise with the Home Office in order to understand how this will impact Service Personnel (Officers and Soldiers) and their families, and further information will be provided once more details are known.

Wiltshire: Domestic abuse support in Wiltshire

Further information about the signs of domestic abuse, as well as details of supportive organisations, can be found on the Wiltshire Council website here.

Information provided by Colerne & Lyneham HIVE

Dundee: Olympia, Dundee's biggest leisure and swimming centre, will re-open to the public from 18 December 2023.

To minimise wait times, visitors to the Leisure Pool can now book a space for the initial opening period. 

Find out more at https://www.leisureandculturedundee.com

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Scotland: Police Scotland - After Dark, home security advice

Although housebreaking can occur at any time of year criminals will often take advantage of darker nights and shorter daylight hours.

Housebreaking can be a traumatic experience.

Simple crime prevention measures can greatly reduce the chances of your home being targeted.

Click on image above to read Police Scotland advice on home security after dark 👆

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

A guide to preventing condensation, damp and mould in SFA

 

Please click the image above to view this helpful guide online

West Midlands: Telford & Wrekin Healthy Telford - Walks

Healthy Telford have a great selection of free outdoor walks, events and more in our beautiful parks and green spaces for you enjoy in December, click on the links below for more info;

7 Dec Lawley Men’s walking group https://orlo.uk/ZryD6
9 Dec A Stroll Around Lilleshall https://orlo.uk/jfeYz
9 Dec Conservation work Homer Lake https://orlo.uk/vbvXH
9 Dec Nordic walking Lilleshall https://orlo.uk/HBfgL
13 Dec Lawley History Trail walk https://orlo.uk/CIGQM
19 December Christmas Glow Ride https://orlo.uk/Wq6PF
21 Dec Lawley Men’s walking group https://orlo.uk/6DGYF
27 Dec Winter walk https://orlo.uk/Wuj0o
30 Dec Telford Coronation Walk, celebration event https://orlo.uk/imkYx

For all walks and activities please wear appropriate footwear and outdoor clothing.

https://healthytelford.com/green-spaces-are-go/

Information provided by: Central HIVE Hub

Scotland: Scottish Child Payment applications are now open for children aged under 16

Scottish Child Payment applications are now open for children aged under 16. 

You can apply for the payment of £100 every 4 weeks if you - get Universal Credit, tax credits or other qualifying benefits - have a child or children aged under 16.

If you already get Scottish Child Payment for your child under 6 then you do not need to reapply.

If you’ve older children you can add them to your existing Scottish Child Payment.

Find out more about Scottish Child Payment and other benefits you may be entitled to at 

How to apply - mygov.scot

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Wiltshire: New 'All Together' pages provide one stop shop of family help and advice in Wiltshire

 

Children, young people and families can have access to a wide range of information, advice and support as a new online platform goes live this week.

All Together is a new set of pages which provide a one stop shop of information from a range of key partners so that children, young people and families, as well as those working with them, can quickly and easily access information about things to do, places to go and who to talk to if they need support.

The pages are a precursor to the Family Hubs model which will be rolled out across Wiltshire in April 2024 ensuring support and advice is available from 0 – 18 years and 0 – 25 for those with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities.

The pages will enable access to information on a range of topics including:

• Support for parents and carers including parenting tips and advice and financial support

• Information for families on events and activities in their local area

• Advice for young people on emotional wellbeing

• Support for those with Special Educational Needs and or Disabilities

Information provided by Colerne & Lyneham HIVE's

Argyll and Bute: Welcoming our Armed Forces - Argyll and Bute Council Education Service

A booklet has been released by the Argyll and Bute Council Education Service, with more than 40 pages of great information for families of Serving Personnel and Veterans in the Helensburgh and Lomond Areas.

To read the booklet click on the image above 👆

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Scotland: Drive to improve awareness of veterans’ health needs goes nationwide - Scottish Government

Veterans and armed forces families are set to benefit from more tailored healthcare under a new GP scheme focused on the specific health challenges they may face following military service.

The General Practice Armed Forces and Veterans Recognition Scheme is now open to GP surgeries across Scotland following a successful pilot.

The scheme provides easy access training materials for GPs to help increase understanding of veterans’ needs and the range of healthcare support that can be provided. The specific issues faced by veterans and Armed Forces families will also set out in clinical case studies to help improve understanding among GPs.

For more information 👉 New scheme to improve healthcare for veterans - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE