Families Continuous Attitude Survey (FamCAS) – one month to go!

What do you think about Service family life? Take part in FamCAS and help Defence to better meet your needs.

The Families Continuous Attitude Survey (FamCAS) closes on Monday 22 April 2024 – have you checked if you can take part?

FamCAS is an anonymous, tri-Service survey which invites a sample of spouses/civil partners of regular serving personnel to share their attitudes and experiences of Service family life. Hearing from you will help Defence to better understand your challenges and meet your needs.

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust: New grants to support Early Years Service children

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (The Trust) is delighted to announce 21 new, targeted projects worth £870,000, that will deliver real change for young Service children in the latest round of the Armed Forces Families Fund: Early Years programme.

That’s a total of more than £2.1 million in grant awards since the programme launched in 2022!

HIVE 40th Anniversary: Request for Anecdotes and Memories

 

HIVE is collating anecdotes and memories to showcase its 40th Birthday this year; could you add your comments and contribute to our gallery?

We would like to hear from our past and present customers, service users and professional contacts, and also current and former staff members.

Please click on this MS Forms to add your input – thank you!

Open University Disabled Veterans' Scholarships Fund

Open University Disabled Veterans' Scholarships Fund applications are now open!

​Last year, The Open University supported around 28,000 disabled students. And, since the Disabled Veterans’ Scholarships Fund was established, more than 300 additional disabled students have been able to access higher education with us.

What is a Disabled Veterans' Scholarship?
If you’ve been injured or disabled in, or as a resu​​lt of, military service, you could be funded to complete a full Open University qualification.

We offer 50 scholarships annually. All undergraduate and postgraduate modules and qualifications are eligible. You’ll have your fees waived for up to 120 credits per seasonal academic year, up to a maximum of 360 credits, which is equivalent to a full honours degree.

Information and eligibility criteria can be found here

Disabled Veterans' Scholarships | How to Pay | Open University

 

Social Media Specialists - free BFBS social media training programme for military spouses plus Veterans and their spouses.

 

The BFBS Academy has announced the launch of Social Media Specialists, a free course open to the broader military community offering the opportunity to upskill in social media marketing techniques.

Click here for further details

Join the RBL at the National Memorial Arboretum to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

 

The Arboretum will be open to the public as normal on 6 June as RBL host WW2 veterans and their families, and commemorate the service and sacrifice of all those involved in the Normandy Campaign.
Members of the public can watch the D-Day 80 Service of Remembrance in the grounds, with seating available on a first come, first served basis.
Entry to the Arboretum is free, but booking your visit in advance is recommended to guarantee entry, and save on parking (£4 in advance, £6 on the day)

https://www.thenma.org.uk/.../d-day-80-remembrance-service

Defence Discount Service: Veterans Privilege Card Video

 

Defence Discount Service have introduced a new video to support veterans with signing up for a Defence Discount Service Privilege card.  To watch the video, please go to this YouTube link: ​https://youtu.be/KMIHDeVl3Jo?si=WVF-WFCVde-oZIV6

Defence Victim Witness Care Unit: We stand with victims

We stand with victims.

A year after its formation, we look at how the Defence Victim Witness Care Unit (VWCU) supports victims and witnesses of serious crime during their journey through the Service Justice System.

Here to support

Whether you’re in the Armed Forces or a civilian, the VWCU is here to support you. If you’ve been affected as a victim or witness of serious crime committed by Service personnel in the UK or abroad, we are here to help.

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust: Final round of Reaching and Supporting Armed Forces Communities programme brings total grant funding to over £11.8 million in two-years

Final round of Reaching and Supporting Armed Forces Communities programme brings total grant funding to over £11.8 million in two years

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (The Trust) is delighted to announce that they have awarded over £2.8 million to 32 targeted projects that will deliver real change within Armed Forces communities in the final round of the Reaching and Supporting Armed Forces Communities programme.

Accommodation Survey - ARMY 2024

Modernised Accommodation Offer Review – don't miss the opportunity to have your say!

The MOD is undertaking a review of the Modernised Accommodation Offer (formerly New Accommodation Offer), following the pause in rollout of elements relating to Service Families Accommodation (SFA).

As part of the review, we want to gain a clearer picture of your personal circumstances and your future accommodation choices. We will use this data to improve our understanding of the potential demand for family accommodation, including where, how and with whom Service personnel would like to live. It will help us to create an improved accommodation offer for the Armed Forces.

Visit your Pharmacy first!

Civvy Street - March 2024 Edition

The latest edition of Civvy Street is available here​

 

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust: Service Pupil support with new round of funding

Great news for schools supporting Service children in the UK! The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) has announced a new round of the Service Pupil Support Programme.

Part of the MOD’s Armed Forces Families Fund (AF3), the Service Pupil Support Programme will award grants of £5,000 to £80,000 to projects supporting Service children along their educational pathway.

Contact House Directory

Did you know that Army HIVE holds and maintains a directory of all Contact Housing available across the UK and Overseas?
For a copy, or for contact details for a location, do g​et in touch with any HIVE or drop us a message at rc-pers-hivecomms-0mailbox@mod.gov.uk

Tri-Service Accommodation Regulations (TSARs) JSP 464 updated to reflect Modernised Accommodation Offer

The following changes have been made to incorporate the elements of the Modernised Accommodation Offer (MAO) that are being implemented from 11th March:

JSP 464 Vol 1 Part 1 V 30Ch 12: Forces Help to Buy Scheme – Section XII Para 1251. Refund of Legal Expenses (New Buyers) policy

JSP 464 Vol 3 Pt 1 V24Ch 3: Single Living Accommodation and the Substitute Equivalents - ChargesSLA Waivers 0303c. Amendment to Over 37 Provision.
SLA Waivers 0303 y. Inclusion of the Dual Accommodation Waiver.

Details of the amendments are at this link [see attached document for Google drive please] and the full policy document can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/jsp-464-tri-service-accommodation-regulations-tsars

Army Welfare Service: A Message to Domestic Abuse Victims/Survivors

 

Serve & Protect Credit Union: Credit & Borrowing Videos & Financial Blog

Credit and Borrowing Videos
​Accessing affordable credit should not be complicated. The team at Serve and Protect Credit Union are here to explain all things credit and borrowing 🙌
🔗 Watch Serve and Protect Credit Union's credit and borrowing videos here - https://sandpcu.co.uk/videos-credit-borrowing
Financial Blog
Does your credit score need some help? 🤔
Serve and Protect Credit Union are here with 10 simple tips to improve your credit score, giving you better options should you need financial support.
🔗 10 Tips to Improve your Credit Score
https://serveandprotectcu.co.uk/news/10-tips-to-improve-credit-score/

Quest Magazine March 2024

 

Armed Forces Pension Schemes: Pension Savings Tax Changes and the 2015 Pension remedy

A newsletter has today been published on the Armed Forces Pension Schemes Gov.uk website, providing guidance on:

​1. Pensions Savings tax and the latest changes

2. Pensions Savings tax and the 2015 Pension Remedy

Links to supporting guidance and sources of further advice can be found on pages 13-15 of the publication.

Please go to this LINK to view the newsletter, or to Armed forces pensions - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)​ for all AFPS-related information and guidance.​

Victory Services Club: February Newsletter

 

Home - Victory Services Club (vsc.co.uk)

New Defence Domestic Abuse Action Plan

The MOD Domestic Abuse Action Plan 2024-29 is a five-year plan detailing the key actions defence is taking to tackle domestic abuse. The plan sets out how defence will prevent, intervene, and partner, to support those affected by domestic abuse and ensure those who perpetrate abuse are held accountable. The defence approach includes the implementation of a coordinated community response model, data and research working groups and the development of a military domestic abuse practice network.

As an employer, defence has a moral and legal duty of care for our personnel. But we also recognise a responsibility that extends beyond that, as articulated in the Armed Forces Covenant, that those who serve or have served, and their families, should be treated fairly. This plan reiterates defence’s commitment to create and maintain an environment that does not tolerate domestic abuse and raises awareness of the work taking place to tackle domestic abuse within the defence community.

Access via the link:

No defence for abuse: Domestic Abuse Action Plan 2024-2029 (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Breastfeeding Support Groups - a short survey for Serving Personnel & spouses

 

Please click here for a short survey on potential Breastfeeding Support Groups across the UK.

​This survey was created by FAB (Families And Babies) and is tailored to the military community including spouses, either those who may wish to volunteer/undertake training to run the groups, or those who may be interested in attending​.

Defence Infrastructure Organisation: Service Family Accommodation Communications Update

A message from DIO Chief Executive, Mike Green:

“On Tuesday, I gave evidence to the House of Commons Defence Committee inquiry into service accommodation.

I welcome the scrutiny of our past performance and the opportunity it provides for us to share the improvements we are making.

I care deeply about the homes that DIO provides for you and your families, and during the evidence session, I was again able to offer my sincere apologies for the unacceptable living conditions that many of you have had to experience.