Update for Tax Free Childcare for Non-UK National Personnel and Families.

For more information, visit the Defence Childcare portal ​(on MODnet), Discover My Benefits or dial in to one of the Wrap Around Childcare Webinars. To view/listen to the update, please

CLICK HERE

One month left to renew for more than 300,000 tax credits customers

Tax credits customers have a month to renew their claim or risk having their payments stopped, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has warned.

The annual deadline is 31 July and more than 300,000 customers who received a renewal pack with a red line across the first page and the words 'reply now' still need to confirm their circumstances for the current tax year to continue receiving payments.​

Please visit this LINK for further information.

Op RESTORE - The New Name for the Veterans Trauma Network

Op RESTORE is the new name for the Veterans Trauma Network.

CLICK HERE​ for full details

 

The Ripple Pond - May Newsletter

DIO's Service Family Accommodation Newsletter : Families First - Issue 8

​To read DIO's Service Family Accommodation Newsletter: Families First - Issue 8, please CLICK HERE​

Afghanistan: Voices of Service

The Imperial War Museums (IWM) and King’s Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR) at King’s College London are seeking 100 participants to take part in a new oral history project on deploying to Afghanistan between 2001-2021. This project is also looking to hear from members of the Armed Forces community if their family member deployed to Afghanistan in the same period.

If you served in Afghanistan with the UK Armed Forces or experienced having a family member deploy, we want to hear from you.

This is an opportunity for you to share your experiences and your thoughts on the subsequent withdrawal of troops in August 2021.

Please click here for the full information sheet.

‘Serving Personnel should follow local Unit/Bde Media Ops guidance before agreeing to participate’

The Poppy Factory - New Families Employment Programme

The Poppy Factory are launching a brand new Families Employment Programme! The programme is designed to support adult family members or carers of veterans with health conditions get back into work, change careers, begin volunteering or improve their current employment situation. The one to one support is offered fully remotely via video call, email and telephone.​

DIO Fault Reporting Process Change

All occupants in Single Living and Service Families Accommodation are requested to make note of the following changes to the Fault Reporting process:

The DIO fault reporting tool on EJSU.net been disbanded with immediate effect.
To this end, all fault reports are to be emailed directly to the DIO Brunssum Helpdesk Multiuser, using the following email address: DIO-BRUNSSUM-HELPDESK@mod.gov.uk
When emailing in your fault report, please include the following information:

• Address
• Full description of the fault
• Location of the fault
• Contact telephone number
• Availability for an appointment
• Photograph(s) of the fault, if you are able to do so safely

Your email will be actioned within normal working hours by the DIO Brunssum Helpdesk.
For all emergency requests (outside of working hours) – for example total loss of heating and/or hot water - occupants are to contact the HQ JFC UK Duty NCO on:

0031(0) 651 520 896.
If for some reason the duty person cannot be contacted, please call the SHAPE duty number on:

0032(0) 475 753 850.

Serve & Protect Credit Union: Play and Give Challenge

Exercise throughout July to help win up to £2,000 for your chosen charity.
For more information: https://linktr.ee/playandgive​

National Cyber Security Centre - Phishing: Spot and Report Scam Emails, Texts, Websites and Calls

'Phishing' is when criminals use scam emails, text messages or phone calls to trick their victims. The aim is often to make you visit a website, which may download a virus onto your computer, or steal bank details or other personal information.

This link explains how to report phishing attempts, and protect yourself from scammers - CLICK HERE​

Review of offer for serving personnel and their families published

The Haythornthwaite Review of Armed Forces Incentivisation (HRAFI) is an independent review of terms and conditions - "the offer" for Service personnel. It also seeks to determine ways to attract and retain new and next generations out to 2035 and beyond.​​

Agency and Agility: Incentivising people in a new era - a review of UK Armed Forces incentivisation - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Armed Forces Covenant Trust Fund Consultation

Covenant Fund consultation 2023: How can we deliver the biggest impact for our Armed Forces communities?

Throughout June and July, that’s what we’ll be exploring through our Covenant Fund consultation; and we want you to get involved!

For more information, scan the QR code or visit: www.covenantfund.org.uk

'QR codes should be scanned from non-MOD personal devices only'

Are you planning on using Wraparound Childcare from autumn term 2023? Have you applied for a TFC account?

The Wraparound Childcare (WAC) scheme provides funding to eligible Service parent(s) for up to 20 hours per week of before and after school childcare during term time only.

Funding for WAC is designed to assist working Service families with the cost of before and after school childcare and to allow partners to get back into work (or for both partners to potentially work more hours).

Envoy magazine Summer 2023 edition

Summer edition out - Click here to read this issue online

NHS England Armed Forces Healthcare Update

The Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance’s (VCHA) website has been refreshed to support an easier user journey. New content includes an introductory video on the VCHA, which is a group of NHS ‘Veteran Aware’ accredited provider organisations in England committed to providing the best standards of care for the Armed Forces community. Also available is information on the team behind the work, useful links to resources for the Armed Forces community and information on its broadened scope to accredit independent providers and hospices (as directed by the Government’s commitments in the Veterans Strategy Action Plan 2022 – 2024).

Forces Employment Charity: Free Google Digital Marketing & E-Commerce Course

Interested in a digital career? With the Google Certificate you get trained from subject-matter experts at Google, using tools and platforms like Canva, Constant Contact, Google Ads, Google Analytics, Hootsuite, HubSpot, Mailchimp, Shopify, and Twitter!

What are you waiting for? Sign up at forcesemployment.org.uk/EM3 and learn for free!

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust want to hear from you

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (The Trust) has launched a summer consultation and they want to hear from you!

The Trust wants to ensure the funding they provide reaches those who need it most and makes a positive impact on the challenges currently affecting the Armed Forces community.

From 2024, the way the Trust distributes Covenant Fund monies will change and they want your help to plan the best use of this funding over the next three years. While the four key themes of the Covenant Fund will remain the same, how the money is distributed can be tailored to meet the needs of the community.

Advance into Justice - Prison Officer Recruitment for Service Leavers & Veterans'

‘Advance into Justice’ Prison Officer Recruitment for Service Leavers and Veterans - Register Your Interest HERE​

Quest Magazine June Edition

 June Quest Magazine is Out Now.💂 

JSP 534 - Tri-service resettlement manual - Updated June 2023

Defence resettlement policy for UK armed forces personnel.
JSP 534 - The Tri-Service Resettlement Manual has now been updated - see HERE for full details

BFPO EU Postal Update

In January 2023, BFPO informed customers of important changes when sending mail and parcels via the BFPO system to European Union member states as part of the European Union Import Control System 2 requirement. It’s important to note that these changes are not unique to BFPO mail and will be applied to all worldwide mail.

 Please see here for more information.

SSAFA: Become a Community Connection Champion

#ConnectionMatters is the theme of this year's #LonelinessAwarenessWeek, and the wonderful groups and events that SSAFA's Community Connection Champions host are a chance to connect with others.

Bowling, walking groups and art sessions - there's so much happening!

If you are interested in becoming a Community Connection Champion, you can find out more here.

Broadband boost for military staff and their families

Better broadband is on the way for military personnel and their families. Teams across Defence have already improved broadband speeds and reliability for Service Family Accommodation (SFA). Working hard with industry partners, they’re ensuring everyone has access to high quality broadband. To read the full article, click here. How can SFAs report a slow download speed issue?​
We’re still making improvements and need your help to deliver the best service. If you’re a resident in SFA and suffer from poor download speeds, we’d like to know. Please take a screenshot of your speedtest and let us know the time and day of the reading. Send this to ukstratcomdd-cis-fc-brdbnd@mod.gov.uk.

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust: Funding available for transformational work with the Armed Forces community

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) has announced the launch of their Transformational Grants programme for 2023/24.

Togetherall: Men’s Health Week 13th – 19th June

​It’s #MensHealthWeek next week and 1 in 8 men has a common #mentalhealth problem such as #depression or #anxiety. @Togetherall and their partners @Movember share some interesting statistics.
​
✅ There is no waiting list to join

Togetherall and it is accessible 24/7.

✅ FREE to anyone in the UK Military,

Veterans & Family members aged 16+​

✅ Visit www.togetherall.com to join today.

Forces Employment Charity: Help into Employment for Service Personnel, Veterans and their Families

 If you’re looking for support with your CV, returning to work after a break or need advice on transferring skills and qualifications from the military, we can help!
Our expert employment advisors offer advice and guidance and work one-to-one with you providing tailored support to help you uncover strengths and aspirations and find a career to suit you.

Sign up at forcesemployment.org.uk/EM3​

Armed Forces Continuous Attitude Survey 2023 Results

The Armed Forces Continuous Attitudes Survey (AFCAS) results for 2023 were published on 1 Jun 23.  

To view the report please click HERE​

New Policy & Guidance for Overseas Assignments: Assessment of support needs

Where Service/MOD Civilians and their families are considering an accompanied assignment/transfer overseas, the MOD needs to assess whether the services and support available/accessible in the overseas location can meet their individual needs.
The purpose of this policy is to describe the framework under which those needs are assessed, how decisions on supportability should be made and to describe the key roles and responsibilities in the assessment and decision-making process.

To view the policy booklet, please click HERE​

DWP Gov.uk Update: Massive boost to childcare payments marks first step in largest ever expansion of childcare

Universal Credit's maximum childcare payments will rise nearly 50% – up to £1,630 per month – from 28 June.Additional support worth up to £522 a month for families

Many parents will get help from DWP immediately with their first bill – instead of in arrears – to help them manage their budgets
Comes alongside plans to boost childcare workforce to deliver historic expansion of free childcare from nine months to the start of school