Lyneham: Upcoming Carol Service at St Michaels Church - Sun 14 Dec

 

Information provided by Lyneham HIVE

Hounds for Heroes: Christmas Appeal 2025 – 12 Days of Christmas

Hounds for Heroes launched their Christmas 2025 appeal on 1 Dec, and they say: “This year’s appeal celebrates the incredible journeys of our dogs in training — from playful puppies Minnie and Fletcher, to confident adolescents Cranwell and Blaze, and our advanced dogs Comet, Titan and Astra — all progressing toward becoming life-changing assistance dogs for injured and disabled members of the Armed Forces and Emergency Services.”

Further information and resources for the Christmas appeal are at:

12 Days of Christmas | Hounds for Heroes

Blandford: Garrison request for volunteers

If you are interested please email BLANDFORDGAR-BGSUWELFARE@mod.gov.uk

Information provided by Bovington HIVE

Dorset: Free festive fun at dolphin shopping centre (Poole) until Tues 23rd Dec

 

FREE festive fun for all the family! Join Santa at the Penguin's Playground, meet the elves and penguins, take part in snow challenges, games and enjoy exciting performances.

Dolphin Shopping Centre, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1SZ

Information provided by Bovington HIVE 

Staffordshire Police - Look out for each other and trust your instincts

With the winter season full of events such as festive markets and Christmas shopping, we want to ensure that you enjoy the fun safely.You can play a vital role in helping to keep everyone safe. When you’re out and about, make sure you stay alert for:

Anyone filming exits, entrances or CCTV.
Any unattended bags.
Anything you hear or see, which doesn’t feel right.

Tell a member of staff, security or police. You won’t be wasting our time.

In an emergency call 999.

Information provided by: Central HIVE Hub

Your Offer - Armed Forces Survey - Survey deadline extended to 15 Dec

Survey deadline now extended to 15 December 2025

Our people deserve a reward package that meets their needs & reflects their dedicated Service.

Regular personnel – what parts of the #ArmedForces Offer are you most satisfied with? And where do you need extra support?

Tell us so we can build an Offer that works for you 👇

https://ow.ly/2RET50XmmUg

DIO Families First Newsletter for SFA Occupants – Issue 32 Out Now

Issue 32 of DIO’s Families First newsletter, dated 28 Nov, is now available to view online or download on the Defence Homes website. Previous issues can also be accessed via the same link.

Service Family Accommodation (SFA) Communications Update - 01 December 25

Rapid Refurbishments to Service Family Accommodation

Service families’ homes across the UK are being upgraded as part of improvement works to rapidly raise the standards of military accommodation. DIO is on track to deliver on our commitment to carry out targeted renovations to 1,000 homes before the end of 2025.

Refurbishment and upgrade works are already well underway at many locations across the UK including over 100 homes in Wales, over 50 in Scotland and over 150 in Northern Ireland, with immediate priority being given to the homes most in need.

Refurbishment works will vary from site-to-site but will focus on fixing unreliable boilers and heating systems, repairing leaky roofs, eliminating damp and mould, and upgrading electrics and plumbing.

These upgrades form part of the delivery of commitments made in the SFA Consumer Charter earlier this year. This is only the beginning of a decade- long improvement in military accommodation that has been set out in the recently published Defence Housing Strategy. With over £9bn worth of investment in the next ten years, more than 40,000 service family homes will be modernised, refurbished or rebuilt.

View the heatmap of some of the locations where upgrades are taking place across the UK and hear more about the impact of works already underway here.

Staffordshire: Illuminated Arboretum at the National Memorial Arboretum from 5 December

 On Friday 5 December, the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire will launch the latest edition of its annual winter lights trail, Illuminated Arboretum.

Full details can be found HERE

Information provided: Central HIVE Hub

Shropshire: A free, confidential 24/7 mental health text support service - NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin

A free, confidential 24/7 mental health text support service. This is available for all ages in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and is delivered by qualified mental health professionals.

Information: Central HIVE Hub