Serve and Protect Credit Union - July update

Free financial webinars this July from Serve and Protect - don't miss out!

This July, Serve and Protect Credit Union are delivering a range of free educational webinars on the following financial topics:

• Thu 3rd - Eco-Friendly Ways to Save Money
• Thu 3rd - People Over Profit: The Credit Union Movement
• Tue 8th - Responsible Lending: How We Can Stop Loan Sharks Together
• Thu 10th - Budgeting 101: Take Control of Your Money
• Tue 15th - Harmful Effects of Gambling: Presented in collaboration with GamCare
• Thu 17th - Credit Score 101: Tips to Boost Your Score
• Tue 22nd - The Road to Financial Resilience: Preparing for the Unexpected
• Thu 24th - Before You Borrow: Things to Know

With actionable tips to prepare for financial emergencies, improve your credit score, and budget your money, don't miss out on these free webinars from Serve and Protect!

🔗 Register here: https://sandpcu.co.uk/hs-webinars

Queen Victoria School, Dunblane, Scotland – Open Morning 2025 on Sat 13 Sep

Please contact the school to register for the open event, and for further info go to: Queen Victoria School - Boarding School, Dunblane, Scotland

 

It’s here: Global Mobility Allowance trial begins

 

From 1 July, eligible Service personnel are now invited to register for a new overseas allowance that offers an easier claims process and greater flexibility on spending.

 

Global Mobility Allowance (GMA) is being trialled as a new way to receive a financial contribution towards expenses that arise when you move to or from an overseas permanent assignment in:

• Brunei – 2 Royal Gurkha Rifles (2RGR) and Brunei Garrison Staff (incl. 667 Sqn, 5AAC) only
• USA – British Defence Staff US (BDSUS) administered locations only
• Kenya – British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) Garrison Staff only
• Europe/ Rest of World (RoW) – Global Support Organisation (GSO) administered locations only

The new Global Mobility Allowance Calculator (accessible via defnet or Defence Connect) gives a real-time, tailored estimate of the GMA allowance you will receive, and a comparison of GMA trial versus non-trial allowances.

The tool simplifies what would be a complex and time-consuming calculation process and enables you to make informed decisions about your assignment – including considerations on family support, cost of living and financial planning.

The low-down on GMA

• Non-taxable lump sum payment.

• Made up of the maximum rates of existing Disturbance Expense (DE) Overseas, Respite Provision (RP) and Overseas Private Vehicle Provision (OPVP) allowances – dependent on your accommodation status, accompanied status and your assigned location.
• No requirement to provide receipts as evidence to receive it.
• Use it to pay towards what you see as necessary for your overseas assignment.
• JSP 752 provides guidance on the three allowances included in GMA and the types of costs it can contribute towards.

Assigned overseas? Have your say on Service family life

If you and your partner are assigned overseas, Defence wants to hear from you on what Service family life is like. Share anonymous feedback in the Overseas Families Survey.

 

Tell Defence what information and support has helped you and your family while serving overseas, and what could be better. Here are some areas you’ll be asked about in the survey: 

• spousal / partner employment
• education and childcare
• communications
• safeguarding

 

Your feedback will help to inform Defence’s policies and initiatives to better meet the needs of you and your family.

How to complete the survey

You can complete the survey online. You and your partner can share your views individually using same survey link.  The survey is open to all Regular and Reserve Service personnel and their spouses / civil partners. Please be assured that survey responses are anonymous.

You have until Saturday 30 August to make your voice heard.

DIO Families First Newsletter – Issue 28

The latest issue of the Families First newsletter is now available on the Defence Homes website and Defence Connect.

 

DIO Service Family Accommodation (SFA) Communications Update - 27 June 25

An update on communal areas

We have heard from many of you at our SFA roadshows and we know families wish to be able enjoy communal spaces and gardens to the front of their properties. In many cases, these areas provide a valuable space for garden furniture and play equipment.

We have a duty to ensure that communal areas are safe, but we also want to see a common-sense approach that balances safety and convenience for families.

The SFA Consumer Charter announced in April sets out our commitment to empower families and to enable you to take decisions about your home.

For the safety and enjoyment of all, please note the following advice regarding the use of outdoor communal spaces:

Families are encouraged to use and to enjoy gardens and communal areas.
Communal areas can be used for families to gather and socialise, provided this does not disturb other neighbours.
Families have the choice to use items (such as garden furniture) in external communal areas. If families wish for our teams to carry out ground maintenance, we kindly request items are removed when not in use (as they will need access to a clear area to carry out the work). However, if families find enjoyment and pride in maintaining the area themselves, they are welcome to keep their items out.
Please talk to your Housing Officer regarding larger items that are fixed and cannot be easily removed such as trampolines, swing sets, bike stores etc that you wish to place in communal areas.
Items that pose an immediate health and safety risk to others such as rope swings, and tree houses may be removed without notice to ensure the safety of all.

Safety in flats or apartments: Indoor communal areas that are thoroughfares and lead to fire escapes (e.g. stairwells and hallways) should be kept clear of personal items such as bikes, as they could pose a hazard in the event of fire. Items stored in fire escapes may be removed without notice.


For any queries related to the use of communal space or to find your local housing officer, please contact the Pinnacle helpdesk.




Changes to the ORS SFA Customer Experience Survey



Opinions Research Services (ORS) have been commissioned to conduct monthly surveys on behalf of DIO. The telephone surveys, which are answered by Service Personnel and their families, give DIO a better understanding of the views and experiences of people living in UK SFA.



Respondents are chosen randomly each month, and it can be completed by the Service Person or their partner. Anonymised results are sent to DIO on a monthly basis and offer invaluable insights that can shape decisions that seek to improve the experiences of those residing in SFA.



From 1 July 2025, the survey question set is being updated to better align with the nationally recognised Tenant Satisfaction Measures, making it easier to compare the level of service provided in SFA against sector-wide housing standards. While new themes have been incorporated, many questions remain unchanged, and the survey still includes questions that are specifically tailored to capturing the unique nature of Service life.



DIO is committed to using the insights gained from this survey to accelerate continuous improvement, and we look forward to sharing key findings and planned actions, directly informed by your feedback

New digital tool: Overseas allowance planning now easier

Check out the Overseas Allowances Reckoner (OAR), to get a fast, personalised estimate of what you’ll receive – if you’re in the Armed Forces and preparing for a posting abroad. 

 

Reckon it’s worth a look… 

A reckoner is ‘a table or device designed to help with calculations’ and that is exactly what our new Power BI OAR tool does. It puts financial clarity at your fingertips, transforming how you and our HR teams plan for postings abroad, by producing accurate values in minutes – rather than the hours it may previously have taken.  

 

Fully integrated with JSP 752 policy rates, the OAR offers real-time figures for a range of products – including Local Overseas, Disturbance Expenses, and Get You Home Overseas allowances. 

Simply input your personal details and posting information – such as assignment location, family status, and accommodation type – and you’ll receive an immediate breakdown of your overseas allowances, all in one place. There’s no need to wait for paperwork to be processed or complex policy details to be explained. 

The low-down on the OAR 

 

• Accurate estimates – taking any guess work out of your financial planning 
• Clear and transparent information – on overseas allowances available to you 
• Saves you time – by not having to manually navigate complex policy documents  
• Enables informed decision making – for those considering overseas postings 
• Check and compare different scenarios – to help make the right decisions for you 
• Share with your family – simplified complex calculations, in an easy-to-read format  
• Continuously updated – to reflect the latest policy changes 

 

Supporting warfighting readiness 

Financial stability and a clear understanding of what you will receive are essential components to support operational effectiveness.  

NHS ‘Say You Served’: Why Declaring Your Military Affiliation Matters – For You and the Forces Community

Why Declaring Your Military Affiliation Matters – For You and the Forces Community

Whether you’re serving in the Armed Forces or supporting a loved one who is, one simple action can make a big difference: declaring your military connection when registering with your GP, local council, or other public services.

It may seem like a small tick in a box, but this information is crucial—not only for you and your family, but for the wider Armed Forces community.

Why It Matters for You

Declaring your military status ensures that you and your family can access the right services, at the right time. The NHS and local authorities recognise that the needs of serving personnel, reservists, veterans, and their families can differ from those of the general population—particularly around mobility, deployment, mental health, and continuity of care.

By identifying your military connection, healthcare professionals and service providers can take these unique circumstances into account. This could mean faster access to treatment (Dependent on personal circumstances), for a better understanding of your housing and educational needs during a posting or resettlement.

Gibraltar: Sports Train: a massive programme of Sport, Leisure and Learning opportunities for children, young people and teenagers of all abilities

The GSLA is pleased to confirm that registrations are now welcomed for this year’s Sports Train: a massive programme of Sport, Leisure and Learning opportunities for children, young people and teenagers of all abilities starting Thursday 10th July and running Monday to Friday throughout the summer to Friday 22nd August.

Sports Train also has a partnership with Possabilities to access specially trained leaders who will be available offer additional support for children and young people who access LSF in schools that may need extra help to enjoy and benefit from Sports Train activities.

Sports Train registration - https://forms.office.com/e/FZigKm8Mts

This link is now available for pre-registrations from until 7th July. After this time all registrations will be welcomed in person on the first visit to the Sports Train summer programme that starts on 10th July.

Learning Support and Sports Train - If your child accesses learning support in their education and may need additional help to join in and enjoy Sports Train, then please register via https://form.jotform.com/251604532925354 Registration via this link will be available throughout the whole summer.

Support with in person face-to face-registrations and further information will be available at the Bayside Sports Complex between 9.30am and 3pm and by email to sportsdevelopment@gsla.gi .


Full programme details are available on the GSLA website www.gsla.gi

DIO Service Family Accommodation (SFA) Communications Update - 20 June 25

Prolonged dry weather and water conservation

Those living overseas will be well-accustomed to warmer weather, but for those living in the UK please note several areas across England and Wales have experienced the driest spring for over 60 years, and in some cases since records began. This has led to the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales declaring a combination of drought status and prolonged dry weather status for many regions.

To help conserve water follow the recommended actions:

Consider taking a quick shower instead of a bath. Be mindful not to keep taps running for longer than needed to avoid water wastage. Try to run dishwashers and washing machines with a full load. Check and report any leaks in toilets, faucets or pipes to Pinnacle by calling 0800 031 8628.

Collectively, these small actions can make a big difference to available water resources. Thank you for your support and co-operation.

Summer safety tips

Summer is upon us, and we want to share some Summer Safety Tips to keep you and your family safe during warmer weather.

For advice on summer safety including window restrictors, BBQs, and what to do if you find a wasp or bees nest inside your property, visit: https://www.pinnacleservicefamilies.co.uk/in-my-home/summer-tips/

Overseas Childcare: Increase to Early Years childcare funded hours for eligible working families assigned overseas

 

To reflect the offer available in England, all families assigned overseas with children aged 3 to 4 years old, and 2-year-old children in receipt of additional government support, are entitled to 15 hours of funded childcare per week during term time (38 weeks per year).

Defence is expanding the childcare offer for working families assigned overseas with children aged 9 months to school starting age, to match the entitlement in England. From September 2025 eligible working families can claim funding for up to 30 hours per week, per child aged 9 months old to school starting age, during term time (38 weeks per year).

This is an increase to the additional funded hours that became available in September 2024,in which 15 hours of Early Years childcare funding, per week, per child, during term time, became available for eligible working families with children aged 9 months to 3 years old.

Gibraltar: Calentita Food Festival 20th June

Gibraltar’s much-loved food festival returns tonight, Friday 20 June 2025 – and we can’t wait to welcome you back to the Piazza and the Boulevard!

Celebrate our rich melting pot of cultures with fine food, delicious drinks, music, dancing, art, and plenty of surprises. 

The event starts at 7pm and will be located in John Mackintosh Square (aka The Piazza), Line Wall Boulevard and Campion Park

Going Forward into Employment (GFiE): Latest Vacancies in Scotland - available exclusively to Service Leavers, Veterans and Military Spouses/Partners

The following vacancies are now open for applications under the GFiE Scheme:

GFIE – 438 - DWP Fraud Officer, Leith & Glasgow

10 positions available

Closing Date: 23 Jun 2025

Open Job Description - click here    

​GFiE roles are available specifically to people who served in the Armed Forces, or be in your resettlement period and due to leave the Armed Forces within a reasonable time frame or a Military Spouse/Partner (your current partner must still be serving or was discharged within the last 12 months).

To apply, please submit a completed EOI Form (also see Guidance notes) and an up to date CV to GFIE@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

For more information on the GFiE scheme please go to: A complete gu

ide to GFiE – Veterans, Military Partners/Spouses and Service Leavers – Life Chances – Going Forward into Employment (GFiE) (blog.gov.uk)

 

Little Troopers New Forest Reconnection Weekend – next events are Dorset, 25 to 27 July, and 26 to 28 Sept

 

Group of children photographed with Little Troopers Founder, Louise

Military families were brought together this week when Little Troopers, the children’s military charity, hosted a New Forest family reconnection weekend.

In January, the organisation revealed they were launching a series of four fully-funded family reconnection weekends for forces families to spend quality time together outdoors, funded by Team Forces.

The weekend was the second one to take place, with eight families taking part in action-packed activities at the New Forest Outdoor Centre in Lyndhurst, Dorset.

Office for Veterans’ Affairs: Analysis of responses to the Veterans’ Survey 2022 relating to family support for UK armed forces veterans

The Veterans’ Survey 2022 was the first survey of its kind in the UK and was a collaboration between the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the Office for Veterans’ Affairs and the devolved administrations.

Alongside the Veterans’ Survey, a smaller Veterans’ Family Survey was made available for immediate family members of UK veterans who resided in the UK and were aged 18 years or over. Family members could complete the survey if their veteran family member was living or deceased, and the survey was open to any immediate family member including stepparents and adult stepchildren. The survey was conducted through a voluntary self-select sample which relied on advertising and promotion primarily by veterans’ charities and organisations.

In total, 2,390 people responded to the Family Survey and response rates varied by question asked. This represents a small proportion of family members that would have been eligible to respond to the survey. These data are presented as unweighted data only.

To view the full survey analysis, please go to: Family support analysis of UK armed forces veterans

 

Assigned overseas? Have your say on Service family life

If you and your partner are assigned overseas, Defence wants to hear from you on what Service family life is like. Share anonymous feedback in the Overseas Families Survey.

 

Tell Defence what information and support has helped you and your family while serving overseas, and what could be better. Here are some areas you’ll be asked about in the survey: 

• spousal / partner employment
• education and childcare
• communications
• safeguarding

 

Your feedback will help to inform Defence’s policies and initiatives to better meet the needs of you and your family.

How to complete the survey

You can complete the survey online. You and your partner can share your views individually using same survey link.  The survey is open to all Regular and Reserve Service personnel and their spouses / civil partners. Please be assured that survey responses are anonymous.

You have until Saturday 30 August to make your voice heard.

Invitation to attend Financial Literacy Focus Groups

Introduction

Financial literacy is a key life skill and is critical to the development of our personal and collective resilience.  The Financial Times charity FLIC is has funding to expand financial literacy into the Armed Forces and they are running 2 online focus groups in June and one face to face focus group in July (details below).  20-30 Service personnel and family members across a mix of ranks, ethnicity and gender are being sought for each focus group, to help FLIC understand the financial challenges that the Armed Forces face, and the information that would be useful.  

 

The three focus groups will take place on the following dates/times:

 

19 Jun 25 (1130-1230 tbc) – Online focus group delivered by via MS TEAMS  (25 pers)

 

24 Jun 25 (0900-1000 tbc) – Online focus group delivered via MS TEAMS (25 pers)

 

17 Jul 25 0900-1200 – Face to face focus group delivered by FLIC, Buller Conference Centre, St Omer, Aldershot. (35 pers). Civilian attire, lunch at PAYD facility.

 

Register interest here: https://forms.office.com/e/at8DSE3evc

 

Volunteers will be asked to take part in a discussion to help shape a package that informs our Service community in a way that is relevant, engaging and accessible.  The discussion will explore their topics of interest, financial challenges and how they want to receive the information.  The session will also include the opportunity to test video and e-learning platform capabilities. 

 

 

DIO Service Family Accommodation (SFA) Communications Update

Revised move-in and move-out specification

We are pleased to update Service Personnel and families that the specification to which homes are prepared for move-in has now been revised. This follows changes to the specification that we had to make last year.  

One of the commitments of the Consumer Charter to improve SFA announced in April 2025, is to provide a more robust move-in standard so that families can have confidence that the home they are moving into will be ready on time and will be clean and functional. These commitments support the new Defence Housing Strategy, that will be published later this year. 

The revised move-in and move-out specification, effective immediately, returns to the previous standard with additional specifications including: 

Forces Pension Society Online Armed Forces Pension Update

 25 JUNE 12:30-13:30 - SAVE THE DATE!

 

The FPS will deliver an online Armed Forces Pensions update for Serving Personnel, Veterans and Dependants at 12:30 on Wednesday 25 June via MS Teams.

It will cover:

• The latest on the 2015 Remedy (McCloud) implementation
• A reminder of how pension benefits are/were earned during service and the ages that deferred pensions are paid
• When and how the pension benefits increase
• How to obtain a pension forecasts whilst serving or as a Veteran
• Dependants Benefits
• When and how to claim a deferred pension
• The benefits of membership of the Forces Pension Society

 

For more information, click here.

Gibraltar Cultural Services Summer Workshops and Activities

Gibraltar Cultural Services on behalf of the Ministry of Culture is offering a cultural programme for young people to enjoy this summer, as part of the GSLA’s summer sports and leisure programme. 

The summer cultural programme is a vibrant line-up of events to include creative workshops and storytelling sessions designed to inspire and entertain children throughout July and early August.

UK-EU Gibraltar Trade and Mobility Agreement

Press release by HM Government of Gibraltar 11/06/2025:

The announcement in Brussels today of an Agreement to proceed with a UK-EU treaty to govern the future relationship of Gibraltar with the European Union can only be good news for citizens and businesses in Gibraltar who now have certainty and clarity in their lives after the disruption caused by Brexit.

The negotiations, which commenced in October 2021, have been extremely complex given the technical, legal and political issues involved and the fact that there were four parties around the table. The successful outcome will reflect the transformation of the 2020 New Year’s Eve Agreement into a UK-EU treaty about Gibraltar’s future relationship with the European Union.

The Chief Minister Fabian Picardo, the Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia, the Attorney General Michael LLamas, the Chief Secretary Glendon Martinez and the Director of Gibraltar House (Brussels) Daniel D’Amato were in the European Commission building in Brussels today for the final stretch.

It is important to note that Gibraltar will retain FULL control over its own border checks at its external borders as happens today. The practical details involve the elimination of controls at the land border thereby permitting fluid movement between Gibraltar and Spain. This is how it works all across the 29 countries in Schengen, and people in Gibraltar who have travelled seamlessly between Portugal and Spain will have taken note.

Defence Vegan and Vegetarian Network

 

To apply for membership: Open this link

Civvy Street Magazine – Jun/Jul 25 Issue out now

To view online: https://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=6b09d14d-165d-4488-891f-7f1b5eb6edda

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust: Improved support for serving families facing separation challenges

 

The idea of not seeing your partner or parent for months at a time, often with limited contact, can be stressful and unsettling. But it’s a common experience for many armed forces families. 

Deployment, training and exercises make separation a fundamental part of service for many, but this can have a significant impact on family life. Being apart can cause loneliness and a sense of isolation – whether you’re ‘weekending’ and adjusting to a constantly changing family dynamic or dealing with long separations.

Re-opening today, The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (The Trust) devised their Apart, not Alone programme to tackle this issue head on, offering support for armed forces families facing time apart.

Building on the success of last year’s programme, this year the Trust are delivering support where and when it’s needed most - reflecting the changing nature of deployment, recognising the different types of separation and the sometimes very different challenges these can present.

Female Veterans' Transformation Programme

Question: What have Plymouth, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Cannock and Winchester got in common?

Answer: We will be in those locations next month with Agora Photography taking photographs of female veterans!

 

We are creating a toolkit to aid services who support female veterans. Additional funding has been sought from the Office for Veterans' Affairs & Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust to raise the profile of Female Veterans. Part of this funding will be spent on a photoshoot and we are touring the UK with Agora Photography

 

We want Female Veterans from the breadth of the UK to be involved in this photoshoot, regardless of age, rank, time served, ethnicity, religion, disability, socioeconomic background, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other characteristic. The more diverse the better!

 

To sign up for a photoshoot click this link: https://forms.office.com/e/SmuxuxW6EQ

 

To find out more here.

 

Pinnacle Virtual Outreach Day – 11 Jun

 

Going Forward into Employment (GFiE): Latest Vacancies in Scotland - available exclusively to Service Leavers, Veterans and Military Spouses/Partners

The following vacancies are now open for applications under the GFiE Scheme:

GFIE – 438 - DWP Fraud Officer, Leith & Glasgow

10 positions available

Closing Date: 23 Jun 2025

Job Description:  Click to open 

​GFiE roles are available specifically to people who served in the Armed Forces, or be in your resettlement period and due to leave the Armed Forces within a reasonable time frame or a Military Spouse/Partner (your current partner must still be serving or was discharged within the last 12 months).

To apply, please submit a completed EOI Form (also see Guidance notes) and an up to date CV to GFIE@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

For more information on the GFiE scheme please go to: A complete guide to GFiE – Veterans, Military Partners/Spouses and Service Leavers – Life Chances – Going Forward into Employment (GFiE) (blog.gov.uk)

 

 

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust - Serving families: On the Move Programme now open to new applications

The Support for Relocated Service Families - reopen for new applications!

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) are pleased to let you know that the Serving families: On the Move Programme under the Armed Forces Families Covenant Fund is now open and ready to welcome new applications!

What’s the programme all about?

Moving to a completely new place, surrounded by unfamiliar faces, can feel surreal. You’re pushed out of your comfort zone, knowing that if you don’t reach out, the feeling of loneliness can quickly grow. But not everyone has the confidence to walk into a coffee morning or event on their own for the first time. 

“Having a first point of contact, a friendly face, a supportive presence makes such a difference. Someone who can help you find your way, learn about your new area and most importantly, open the door to connections and friendships. That kind of support isn’t just help, it’s essential for finding your way and keeping your momentum in this military way of life” – Jenna, Army spouse.

Supporting you, on the move 

Today, the Trust are reopening the Serving Families: On the Move programme for new applications. 

Gibraltar: Sunday Funday Cricket new for this season

We are excited to announce Sunday Funday cricket new for this season! 

Cricket offers kids a multitude of benefits, from physical and mental development to social skills and cultural appreciation. It promotes teamwork, resilience, focus, and strategic thinking, while also providing a fun and engaging way to stay active and build friendships. 

Get yourself and/ or your kids down to the Europa Point Stadium on Sunday's to have a blast and play some fun cricket games, challenges and competitions.

Open to all ages from 5 years - 15 years + Parents are welcome to stay and play. No fees apply - all are welcome.

Spaces are limited, so please register asap.

Week 1    22-Jun-25   Pairs Cricket/ Diamond Cricket/ Rapid Fire Cricket Championship

Week 2    29-Jun-25   Beach Cricket Championship

Week 3    06-Jul-25    Pairs Cricket/ Diamond Cricket/ Rapid Fire Cricket Championship

Week 4    20-Jul-25    Pairs Cricket/ Diamond Cricket/ Rapid Fire Cricket Championship

Week 5    27-Jul-25    Pairs Cricket/ Diamond Cricket/ Rapid Fire Cricket Championship

Week 6    03-Aug-25  Pairs Cricket/ Diamond Cricket/ Rapid Fire Cricket Championship

Week 7    10-Aug-25  Cricket Water fight!

Please complete a registration form for each child, plus one for any adult wishing to stay and play.

REGISTRATION FORM LINK: https://forms.gle/KTXxurzeRVSmSjBM8

We're looking forward to seeing as many of the children as possible down at Europa on Sundays throughout the summer!