Kooth: a free online mental wellbeing community for young people

Children and young people with a parent Serving in the Armed Forces often face moving from place to place with their family, living overseas, attending several schools, leaving friends behind and making new ones. Being part of an Armed Forces family can also mean long periods of separation from the Serving parent when they are deployed or away training.

Kooth and the British Army Regional Command, on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, are working together to provide easy access to mental health and well-being support for children and young people aged from 11 to their 19th birthday.

Here is a link to a video explaining more about Kooth: CYP in a Serving Family kooth.com/MOD Awareness Video

Kooth.com/mod is available for all children and young people with a Serving parent and children and young people who are living overseas with parents working for the MOD or British Government.

Tri-Border 4th July Celebration

Click here to view details

Visit the Donkey Sanctuary L'Oasis des Ânes in Belgium - 6th July

Donkey Refuge, L'Oasis des Ânes is in Belgium, roughly a 40 minute drive from JFC Brunssum. The shelter is open on the first Sunday of the month from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

There are lots of donkeys at the sanctuary for you to meet, and if you want to know more about each individual donkey, the L'Oasis des Ânes website has a page dedicated to each donkey and how they arrived to live at the refuge. 

Playground Fort Willem, Maastricht

Looking for something fun to do with the kids for €2 per person? Fort Willem playground in Maastricht is suitable for children up to the age of 12. There are playgrounds, mini golf, a splash pool with slides, sandpits and shaded areas to sit.

Regular children's entertainment (see Facebook for updates)

Every first Wednesday of the month, from 14.00 - 15.00 read aloud in the playground, with a free book for each child.

Opening Times
Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoon from 12.00 - 18.00
All public holidays, and (NL) children's holidays from 12.00 - 18.00

Kastanjelaan 50
6217 SB Maastricht
info@speeltuinfortwillem.nl
Telephone: +31(0) 43 321 13 97

For more information please click here

JFC Library activities update

 

From JFC Library:

Lego set building as well as other regular programs (Sewing, Dutch Conversations) will be paused during Summer Reading while we focus on our time travelling adventures. Worry not though! Once we've travelled from the ancient era all the way back to modern times, the Legos (and other programs) will return!
That said, for our storytime parents, we will continue storytimes on Monday mornings.


We hope to see you all next week for our time travelling adventures!

You’re invited to our SSAFA fundraiser!

You’re invited to our SSAFA fundraiser!

Please come along for food, drinks and games, all to raise money for SSAFA.

Please bring cash for donations, however the Brit Bar drinks can be paid for with card. Sign-up isn't necessary but helps to ensure we have enough food. Please let us know if you can make it, via this link or you can use the QR code in the poster.

SSAFA is the UK Armed forces charity, that provide welfare, health and support services for the UK military’s serving personnel, veterans and their families. You can find out more about them here.

Alliance Theatre July showings

Location: Alliance Theatre on JFC Brunssum - Located between the Fitness Center and JFC Chapel. Doors open 30 minutes before movie begins.

New release Ticket prices: Adults: € 7.50 Child: € 4.25

Regular release Ticket prices: Adults: € 7 Child: € 4

Payment: PIN only (bringing cash as a backup is advised though)

Click here for more details and to book your seats
Didn't RSVP? No worries, you can come out to any of our showtimes and enjoy the movie! Grab some popcorn and we’ll see you at the theater.

NATO and Military Discounts

Read on for all the discounts and deals available.

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

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

From September 2025 eligible working families assigned overseas will have access to up to 30 hours of funded Early Years childcare for their children aged from 9 months old.

Early Years funded childcare 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).