The Armed Forces Continuous Attitude Survey 2027 is open!

Image credit: MOD Crown copyright

The Armed Forces Continuous Attitude Survey 2027 is open! This is an opportunity for serving personnel to share their views about Service life and shape improvements.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to making Service life better for personnel. The Armed Forces Continuous Attitude Survey (AFCAS) takes place each year and invites a random sample of Regular serving personnel to share their views and experiences about Service life. Feedback helps shape policies and initiatives across the Armed Forces.

Check if you have been invited to complete the survey.

• If invited, you'll be taken directly to the survey. Please complete the survey by 1 February 2027.
• If you haven't been invited, you can still share your views through a shorter survey.

Your answers are completely confidential. This means your personal responses will not be shared with your Chain of Command.

This year’s survey is much shorter and easier to complete. It takes around 20 minutes and focuses on the areas that matter most to you.
Help Defence to better meet your needs

By taking part in AFCAS, you are not only helping Defence to understand what life is really like for you, but are also helping to represent the experiences of those who serve beside you.

This helps Defence to understand what’s working well and make improvements for you and the wider Armed Forces community.

Your feedback improves things like:

Bovington: A night at the Tank Museum sleepover - Sat 10th Oct. Book now!

Credit: Tankmuseum.org

What's included: 

Trenches After Dark Tour – Brave the eerie night-time trenches on a guided tour packed with atmosphere and history.

WWII Themed Meals – Enjoy a WWII themed dinner and breakfast, with hot and cold drinks included.

Tank Movie Screening – Settle in and enjoy a wartime film in a WWII themed Briefing room.

Midnight Snack Care Package – Refuel late at night with a themed snack tin to keep you going.

Interactive character-led history trails, a board game corner, and a morning military drill to start the next day

For more information, frequently asked questions and to book a ticket click HERE

Advance registration is required as tickets are limited

Information provided by Bovington HIVE

Northern Ireland: Forces Wives Challenge Poppy Hike Northern Ireland 7th Nov 2026

Join us in Northern Ireland for the FWC Poppy Hike!

on Saturday 7th November 2026

We are thrilled that one of our 10 regional Poppy Hikes will be in Northern Ireland this year!

Get together with like-minded women in your area for a relaxed one day walk, which will have a focus on Remembrance.

Each walk will visit a war memorial or similar location and allow a pause for reflection

With tea and cake likely to be involved as well!
Check out the information below 👇 and hit the 'Apply Now' button at the bottom to bag your place!

Event details:

Date: Saturday 7th November, 2026

Timings: Meet at 10am at Crawfordsburn Country Park car park, near the public toilets. We aim to be finished around 2pm.

Route: We will explore one of the most beautiful sections of the Columban Way along the North Down coastline - a 14km circular route taking in a historic landscape that spans from the time of St Columbanus, through WW2, right up to the present day. We’ll finish the day with optional refreshments at the Woodlands Cafe, Crawfordsburn Country Park.

Cost: £10 - this is to be paid within 5 days of being offered a place (this cost is non-refundable). By emailing to say you would like a place, you are agreeing to the Booking Conditions which can be viewed here.

Food: This is not provided. Participants should bring their own packed lunch/snacks & drinks for the walk.

Dogs: Unfortunately dogs are not allowed on our challenges.

Insurance: All participants are strongly encouraged to take out their own personal accident insurance. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure security, safety and reduce risk, it is impossible to eliminate all risk. An electronic copy of the Accident Waiver will need to be signed prior to the event, this will be sent out via email.

Social Networking Sites (SNS): You are not permitted to share any of the event details outside of your immediate family and friend's network. Event pictures should not be shared onto SNS without authorisation from those within the picture. Individuals who do share their own picture onto SNS are reminded to ensure that your security settings are updated for family & friends only to view. Be mindful if sharing on SNS the contents of the picture, background or other personnel within the picture.

Kit List:

• Walking boots/walking trainers with adequate ankle support
• Rucksack (ensure contents waterproofed)
• Comfortable clothing for walking, including a warm layer. We recommend keeping legs covered to help prevent tick bites.
• Waterproof jacket & trousers
• Warm hat & gloves
• Sun hat/ sun screen/ sun glasses (if required)
• Small first aid kit (including any personal medication and blister kit)
• Mobile phone
• Water bottle (min 1 litre of water)
• Flask with hot drink (optional)
• Something to sit on (plastic bag or small insulated mat)
• Snacks/packed lunch for the walk
• Walking poles (optional)
  
  Please note: Only FWC beanies/buffs/caps are allowed to be worn on the challenge not FWC t-shirts and hoodies where the words ‘Forces Wives Challenge’ are visible.

APPLY NOW

Information provided by Weeton HIVE

Armed Forces Children’s transitions between education systems – An Educators’ Toolkit

A new resource has been created for educators to support with planning transition for Service children: https://dcs.school/transition/ Families may also find the information helpful.

This toolkit has been developed specifically to help educators support armed forces children’s transitions between different education systems. Using this resource, educators can help children and young people from UK Armed Forces families experience positive transitions and thrive academically, socially and emotionally, wherever they move in the UK or overseas.

It was developed collaboratively by education practitioners and education policy professionals from across Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England. This involved officials from Government Departments, local authority officers, schools and Service charities from across the UK.

Give Us Time – family breaks: Sept special…last few remaining

The final few September breaks are live on the website. Don’t miss out the chance for a last minute getaway! https://giveustime.org.uk/

Update: Please note the property at Hengar Manor sleeps up to 8 people (1 double/2 twin/1 pull out sofa)

All Together ONLINE – Science Workshop - Saturday 19th September 2026, 1100hrs

Saturday 19th September 2026, 1100hrs

DEVON SCIENCE - All Together Online - fun virtual sessions bringing together military children

Kids love to learn and how better than with hands-on and interesting activities using easily accessible items. Delivered by the resident scientist, you will know that your child will get the correct scientific information during the sessions.

👉Book your family space here

All Together sessions run frequently until April 2027.

Sessions are free, but places are limited. Please only book if you are confident you can attend so that as many families as possible can take part.

About All Together Online

All Together is a club that brings military children together. As part of this, All Together Online offers a series of exciting, live, online events especially for military children under 11 years old.

Everyone from the serving military community is warmly welcome to join us.

Blandford: Garrison multi - cultural day event Wed 23rd Sep

 

Information provided by Bovington HIVE

Wales: Open Doors - Free entry to various historic sites & landmarks across Wales during September

 

Open Doors - Join the national celebration of Wales’ built heritage!

This September, more than 200 of Wales’ historic sites, landmarks and hidden gems will offer visitors free entry, events or guided tours.

It’s all part of Open Doors — Wales’ annual contribution to the European Heritage Days initiative, which invites heritage organisations, private owners, local authorities and others to open their doors or offer activities to the public free of charge during September.

Funded and organised by Cadw, the ever-popular festival of Wales’ built heritage will this year, encourage Welsh residents and visitors alike to explore some of the country’s lesser-known and smaller-scale sites ― several of which are usually closed to the public.

For more information, visit the Cadw website here

To view all Open Door events, click here

Information provided by Wales HIVE Hub.

Barry: Free Event - Barry Youth Takeover on Sat 26th Sep at Barry Leisure Centre

 

Vale of Glamorgan Council:

Free event from Vale of Glamorgan Council for young people aged 11+ in Barry!

Barry Youth Takeover is taking place at Barry Leisure Centre on Friday 26th September, 6:30–8:30pm — and it's completely FREE!

Information provided by Wales HIVE Hub

St Athan: Youth Club at The Gathering Place, St Athan every Thursday

The Gathering Place: 

Youth Club at The Gathering Place – Every Thursday! 

We're delighted that the Vale Youth Service is running a Youth Pilot Project at The Gathering Place, St Athan.

Every Thursday (term time only) 6:00pm – 8:00pm

We often hear that there isn't enough for teenagers to do locally. This is a fantastic opportunity to change that—but for services like this to continue, they need to be used and supported.

If you have a young person who would benefit from attending, please encourage them to come along, get involved, make new friends, and help show that youth services are valued in our community.

Information provided by Wales HIVE Hub