Long Term Relationships to benefit from Widening Accommodation Entitlement

On 19 September 2023, Minister for Defence People, Veterans, and Service Families, Dr Andrew Murrison, announced the Widening Accommodation Entitlement Limited Locations (WAE(LL)) at eight selected sites across the UK and Northern Ireland. (Add Poster here)

* RMB Norton Manor
* RNAS Yeovilton
* Leuchars Station
* JHC FS Aldergrove
* Palace Barracks Holywood
* Thiepval Barracks Lisburn
* RAF Cosford
* RAF Shawbury

This is a first step in meeting the commitment made in the Defence Accommodation Strategy (2022) to allocate accommodation to personnel in Established Long Term Relationships LTR(E) on the same basis as those who are cohabiting or married.

International HIVE (iHIVE): Now Included in the Overseas Location Compatibility Checklist

Did you know that contacting iHIVE is now listed in the 'key actions to be taken' on the Overseas Location Compatibility Checklist?

For Service personnel and families moving overseas, the Overseas Location Compatibility Checklist provides an initial list of personal and domestic factors to be considered pre-application for an overseas assignment, to determine the suitability of the overseas location, for the Service person and their immediate/close family.​​

For more information on this, or for any questions you may have on any location worldwide, contact iHIVE via RC-Pers-HIVE-iHIVE-0Mailbox@mod.gov.uk or +44 (0)7976 69 8527. You can also find ​the iHIVE Blog at: https://internationalhive.blogspot.com/

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust: Thirty-one new awards made for targeted work supporting Armed Forces communities

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (The Trust) is delighted to announce that they have awarded £2.9 million to targeted projects to deliver real change within Armed Forces communities under the Reaching and Supporting Armed Forces Communities programme.

The latest round of grants under this popular programme has supported 31 projects across the UK. Each project can last up to three years delivering significant changes and improvements in Armed Forces communities with hidden or compelling needs.

Museum of Army Flying: Free Admission Offers

For further information please go to: https://armyflying.com/

​

Historic Royal Palaces -£1 tickets for those o Universal Credit or other named benefits

From 21 October 2023, £1 tickets for a day visit to the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace and Kensington Palace will be available to anyone in receipt of the following:​​

• Universal Credit
• Working Tax Credit
• Child Tax Credit
• Pension Credit
• Employment and Support Allowance
• Income Support
• Jobseeker’s Allowance

You can claim £1 tickets for up to six people per household. Only one person per household needs to show supporting documents.

Togetherall: How to manage feelings of loneliness and isolation

Is loneliness the new normal? With our means of connection changing over the last few years, we can all find ourselves feeling lonely at times.

Check out this blog by @Togetherall's Chief Clinical Officer, Ben Locke, PHD., where he provides his tips for dealing with feelings of loneliness and isolation. Visit:
https://tinyurl.com/48m6m5pd

✅ Togetherall is FREE to anyone in the UK Military, Veterans & Family members aged 16+​

MOD Accommodation Team Furniture Research - Register interest

We want your views on the provision of furniture in Service Family Accommodation (SFA)!
The MOD Accommodation Team are reviewing what items of furniture are provided to you in SFA and how furniture provision could be improved for you and Defence.
We want to find out:

• Your experience of furnishing SFA

• What furniture provision you may want and need in the future

Your participation in our research provides a key opportunity for you to shape future furniture provision for the entire Armed Forces!

Please email people-accommodation-research@mod.gov.uk by the 31st October 2023 if you would like to take part, or if you would like further information.

You can take part if you:
• Are over the age of 18
• Currently live in SFA, or have previously lived in SFA, within the UK
• Are in any Service and hold any rank

What will I be asked to do?
• You will be asked to take part in a 45-minute 1:1 research interview with an MOD Researcher
• The discussion will take place via MS Teams or over the telephone, at a time that suits you
• Your participation is entirely voluntary

We hope that you can take part. Thank you in advance for your help!

Forces Family Support: Are You Affected by A Loved One’s Harmful Use of Alcohol, Drugs or Gambling?

 

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust: Making positive impacts to Veterans’ mental health and wellbeing

Following the successful administration of the One Is Too Many programme, the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) has commissioned the University of Chester to evaluate the findings from this innovative programme which focuses on veteran suicide prevention.

With funding from HM Treasury through the Veterans’ Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund, the One is Too Many programme awarded £2.1M to nine projects across the UK, to organisations with experience in working with individuals who are at increased risk of suicide.

The Trust commissioned the University of Chester to undertake a comprehensive, external evaluation of the programme, which has found that the programme has made a positive difference through the treatments and interventions that have improved mental health and wellbeing, with life-saving implications.

Education Advisory Team (UK) (EAT (UK)): Information on School Admissions for Service Families

The Education Advisory Team (UK) (EAT (UK)) is part of the MOD’s Defence Children Services. We are a tri-service organisation that provides information, advice and guidance on all educational matters in the UK.

We are providing advice to parents of children in Year 6 about how and when to apply for secondary school places for September 2024 in the UK.

Secondary School Places in England for September 2024
If you require a secondary school place in England for September 2024, the deadline for secondary school applications is 31st October 2023.

We would advise that you follow your local authority’s application process: information will be available on their website. You can also contact your local authority’s admission team if you have any questions or require support. Contact details should be available on the local authority website.

GamCare: Signs of gambling harm and where to get support

Would you know how to spot the signs of gambling harm and where to get support? GamCare can help with some practical steps.

Gambling is very easy to access these days with our phones and multiple options to get involved. This can mean that we spend more of our time and money than we want to or mean to, and it is easy to experience the negative impacts of too much gambling.

GamCare is the leading provider of information, advice and support for anyone affected by gambling harms, and receives over 44,000 calls to the helpline and live chat each year to support people to change their relationship with gambling. There are a range of ways you can be supported - in person, over the phone, or virtually. If you're unsure if your own or someone else's gambling is becoming harmful, we've put together some useful signs to think about.

Reading Force - Claim your free book

 

Defence Infrastructure Organisation: Communications Update

Issue 9 of the Families First newsletter which includes: the New Accommodation Offer announcement, Improved compensation system, Investment across the SFA estate, Useful links and Key Dates to note: on Service Family Accommodation – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Winter Guide for Service Family Accommodation
A guide to help families get their homes winter ready can be found here.

Improved Compensation System
Pinnacle has now introduced a new improved compensation system making the process much easier for families to claim. Families will see the new forms on the Pinnacle website, will be required to validate their email address (to ensure this is correct and vouchers are sent to the correct place) and will receive regular emails to update them on their claim's progress. All communications from the new system will be received from no.reply@pay729.net.

Pinnacle is aware of several legacy claims still in the previous system. The team is working hard alongside Amey, VIVO and voucher providers to process these claims as quickly as possible.

If families haven't heard back on a claim that pre-dates the new system (submitted before 1 Aug 23), they are requested to contact: compensation@pinnacleservicefamilies.co.uk.

Candy Tumble Dryer Fire Risk
It has been identified that there is a potential safety hazard associated with 'Candy Smart' and 'Candy Smart Pro' tumble dryers. There have been several instances of plugs catching fire.
Please do check plugs regularly and contact the manufacturer if you have any concerns.​

Pinnacle Group: SFA Winter Tips

Autumn is here and there’s no better time to check your boiler is working correctly:
· The pressure should be between 1 and 1.5
· Amend your thermostat, check the boiler fires up properly and radiators are warming up

If your radiators are cold at the top when the heating is on, you may need to bleed them to make sure they work and heat up your home efficiently.

Help stop young people falling victims to loan sharks

(1) Credit Union Grime Video - YouTube​

Recent research has shown that a higher proportion of people in the 18 to 24 year old age bracket are at particular risk of being targeted by loan sharks in the current climate. More young people are having financial services or products refused by mainstream banks and many are being forced to borrow from friends and family to make ends meet.

With this in mind, Stop Loan Sharks want to highlight the services offered by credit unions, producing a new grime music video in conjunction with Find Your Credit Union and Nourish Social in the hope that it will appeal to young people and show them that other options that are available. Click the image above to watch the video online.

Service Personnel can also utilise the Joining Forces Credit Unions, supported by the MOD to make saving simple and loans more affordable to the Armed Forces community.

New Consultation Launched: Child Maintenance - Accelerating Enforcement

A new consultation has launched this week seeking views on proposed legislative changes to speed up enforcement of child maintenance arrears, reducing the time it takes from almost six months to six to eight weeks.

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) will be able to use an administrative liability order to recover unpaid child maintenance instead of applying to the courts and facing a lengthy wait.

The CMS helps around 930,000 children get the financial support they are entitled to and between June 2022-2023 arranged £1.2 billion on their behalf. Overall, child maintenance payments help to keep 160,000 children out of poverty each year.

The consultation is open to voluntary and community sector organisations, as well as CMS customers and members of the public. It applies to England, Wales and Scotland, although comments are welcomed from across the United Kingdom.

The consultation closes at 11:45pm on 24 November.

​Find out more and access the consultation

Little Troopers Therapy Programme

Therapy Programme in England that supports the mental health and wellbeing of children whose parents serve in the British Armed Forces.

For more information please click here 

Kooth - World Mental Health Day - 10th Oct 2023

World Mental Health Day - let’s talk about mental health

10th October is World Mental Health Day - a chance for us to talk openly about mental health with our loved ones, listen without judgement, and share how important it is.

So please join in by setting aside time to talk about mental wellbeing with your loved ones. If you are aware of a child who is struggling or has questions, you can direct them to https://www.kooth.com/ where they can talk online in a psychologically safe space.

In Kooth children can participate in our online community or talk with a professional if they need a little extra help.

The Ripple Pond - September Newsletter

To read the Newsletter please click HERE

Armed Forces Pension Scheme: 2015 Remedy Updates Published

A booklet entitled '2015 PENSION REMEDY: Consultation Response and key details you need to know' has been published today on Gov.uk, and several other guidance documents have also been uploaded recently.

To view these documents, please click HERE

Quest Magazine October Edition

 To read the latest edition of Quest magazine, click here

Domestic Abuse: MOD Guidance on Where to Find Help

                                                                  

The MOD’s Safeguarding Team have released a video providing advice for anyone in the Armed Forces community affected by domestic abuse; click here for the QR code to watch.