Army & You Magazine

 To read the latest issue of Army & You, click here

Togetherall: Self-Compassion - Time to Talk Day, 1st February

Did you know you have access to Togetherall? Join the community now and experience the benefits of opening up in a safe & anonymous compassionate community.
FREE to all serving & veteran UK Military personnel (16+).

More information and register at: Mental health support for all UK Armed Forces | Togetherall

 

Apply for an HM Armed Forces Veteran Card

An HM Armed Forces Veteran Card is a way to prove that you served in the UK armed forces. The card can make it quicker and easier to apply for support as a veteran.

It’s free to apply HERE

You can currently only apply for a Veteran Card if you have a UK address. Veterans who do not have a UK address will be able to apply later this year.​​

NHS England: Help us to ensure veterans receive the very best healthcare support in 2024

In 2019, NHS England commissioned the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) to develop and introduce the Veteran Friendly Practice Accreditation scheme, a free support programme designed to help GP practices in England to deliver the best care and treatment to patients who have served in the UK Armed Forces. Since then, over 2,760 practices have signed up.

To help encourage more practices to sign up, the Royal College of General Practitioners, NHS England and the Office for Veterans’ Affairs are working together to increase awareness of veterans’ healthcare needs and any challenges that prevent people who’ve served in the Armed Forces from seeking help from their GP.

If you have served in the Armed Forces and live in England, we would be grateful if you could spare 10 minutes to fill in this online survey. If you are a veteran support organisation, please could you share the survey with your veteran members who live in England.

By filling in this survey, you are ensuring that your thoughts and experiences are more likely to be understood and acted upon. This will help to encourage more GP practices to sign up so they can help veterans get the best healthcare support.

More Support for Service Leavers Transitioning to Civilian Life

Personnel leaving the military are to receive more support for finding jobs in civilian life thanks to a new contract between the Ministry of Defence and Reed.

More support for service leavers transitioning to civilian life - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Military Coworking Network - Hub Expansion

 

The Military Coworking Network (MCN) is thrilled to announce a huge advancement in its mission to support military partners and spouses. Following a successful evaluation of the pilot project, the MCN - through partners the Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA) - has secured substantial funding from the Armed Forces Covenant Trust Fund (AFCTF). This grant marks a turning point for the MCN, enabling us to transition from a pilot phase to a permanent and expanding fixture within the military community.

DIO: Service Family Accommodation (SFA) Communications Update

XL Bully dogs in SFA
XL Bully dogs have been added to the list of dogs banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

From 1 February 2024 it will be a criminal offence for anyone, including SFA residents, to own an XL Bully dog in England and Wales unless your dog has a Certificate of Exemption. Further details on preparing for the ban can be found here. 

Families living in SFA who own an XL Bully dog must re-submit a pet request form alongside a copy of their Certificate of Exemption to Pinnacle no later than 31 January 2024.

New Accommodation Offer explained by the 'Savvy Squaddie'

The 'Savvy Squaddie' has released a YouTube video explaining the New Accommodation Offer in a comprehensive, informative and informal way. To watch the video on YouTube, please go to this link: Military Housing Revolution – The New Accommodation Offer - YouTube

DWP Update: Third Cost of Living Payment – Help for Households

Millions of people on means-tested benefits will receive the third of 3 Cost of Living Payments, which taken together, could total up to £900 over this financial year 2023-2024.

The first 2023 payment of £301 was paid between 25 April and 17 May, the second payment of £300 was paid between 31 October and 19 November and the third payment of £299 will be paid between 6 and 22 February.

The payment is for people on a qualifying means-tested benefit, who were entitled to payment during the qualifying period 13 November to 12 December 2023, or a payment for an assessment period ending within the qualifying period. The qualifying benefits include: Universal Credit, Pension Credit, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Income Support, and tax credits: Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit.

The Cost of Living Payment will be paid automatically, meaning those eligible do not need to apply or contact DWP or HMRC. It will be paid separately to benefit payments and the reference will appear in accounts with the account holder’s National Insurance number and 'DWP COL'.

For tax credit-only customers, the reference will appear in accounts as 'HMRC COLS', referencing Cost of Living Support.

To be eligible for this payment, you must have been entitled to a payment (or later found to be entitled to a payment) of either:

• Universal Credit for an assessment period that ended on or within the period 13 November to 12 December 2023.

• Income based JSA, income related ESA, Income Support, or Pension Credit, for any day in the period 13 November to 12 December 2023.

• For tax credit-only customers, they must have received a payment of tax credits any day in the period 13 November to 12 December 2023. Find out more about the range of government support with the cost of living at Help for Households

Adult Beginner Sewing Class at JFCBS Library, Mondays and Wednesdays

If you would like to get to grips with using a sewing machine, sign up for some tuition and start with a small project. There are limited spaces; please call in to the library to book a slot. Think of what you would like to make and bring your own fabric.

NI Credits for Spouses and Civil Partners Accompanying SP on Overseas Assignments

The following message is sent on behalf of Chief Clerk:

Spouses and civil partners accompanying Service personnel on overseas assignments may be unable to work and pay National Insurance Contributions. As a result, they might have gaps in their National Insurance contributions record which could affect their future Sate Pension entitlement and contribution-based benefits, such as Jobseeker's Allowance.

They may be able to fill these gaps with National Insurance credits. Further details and application process are in the following DIN:

2024DIN01-004 - accessed via ModNet.

Blind Veterans UK - Volunteer with us

Blind Veterans Uk - Our volunteers are vital to the work that we do. You could make a huge difference to a blind veteran's life by volunteering with us.

For more information please visit: www.blindveterans.org.uk/volunteer

New guidance for school governors and trustees on supporting Service children

To help schools and trusts to better understand the educational related challenges that Service children may face, and to help them thrive in education, the National Governance Association (NGA) has issued new guidance for school governing boards and trustees. The NGA created this guidance in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence – who provide statutory guidance for schools on the Armed Forces Covenant Duty – and the Service Children’s Progression (SCiP) Alliance.

The guidance:  NGA Information Sheet
* Outlines the education-related disadvantages that can arise for Service children and the potential impact of parental deployment, separation and family mobility.

* Explains the role of governing boards in allocating school funding to meet the needs of Service children and has questions for boards to ask and consider. * Explores how the SCiP Alliance’s Thriving Lives Toolkit can be used as a self-assessment tool by schools to monitor and improve their practice and support for Service children.

* References the Armed Forces Covenant Duty, and which education functions of a school are in scope. If you are a Service parent who sits on a school governing board or trust, read and share this new guidance with the board.

Point of contact: Armed Forces Families & Safeguarding - Education Policy Team:
People-affs-education-mailbox@mod.gov.uk

The Armed Forces Covenant Trust: Boosting Veterans’ housing with six new awards

The Armed Forces Covenant Trust (the Trust) has awarded over £255K to six projects across the UK, under the Development Grants and Refurbishment Grants programmes, on behalf of the Office for Veterans’ Affairs Veterans' Capital Housing Fund.

The Veterans’ Capital Housing Fund supports projects that contribute to the wider aim of ending Veterans’ homelessness by providing affordable and viable homes for Veterans.

The six funded projects will help to refurbish homes to not only be warm, but energy efficient as well assisting in the early-stage development of new build projects.

Defence Medical Welfare Services

 

NHS care for the Armed Forces community, January 2024 Update

NHS care for the Armed Forces community, January 2024

The NHS is responsible for providing all hospital and most community services for serving personnel (except for mental health, general practice and rehabilitation services). The NHS also provides nearly all community, general practice and hospital services for the families of serving personnel, reservists and veterans. Included as part of this are the following dedicated services and initiatives to support the Armed Forces community.

To read more click here

Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service

Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service

After serving in the Armed Forces, some people find it hard to adjust to civvy street. If you’re struggling with your mental health and wellbeing, Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service is here to help.

Op COURAGE is an NHS service in England that’s been developed with people who’ve served in the Armed Forces and experienced mental ill-health. Every member of staff within the service is either from the Armed Forces or has experience of working with the military community. In partnership with Armed Forces charities and NHS services, the staff at Op COURAGE provide specialist care, support and treatment for those due to leave the military, reservists and those who’ve served. Since its launch in 2017, the service has helped nearly 30,000 veterans.

Building Heroes: Jan Newsletter and 10th Anniversary

 To read the January newsletter click here

Easier registration and claims process for Wraparound Childcare (WAC)

From 19 February 2024 the way that personnel register and claim WAC funding is changing. The process will be fully integrated within JPA and will be much simpler to use.

​· Personnel that are currently registered will receive an email from the WAC team explaining what this means for them.

· Personnel that haven't yet registered but may be eligible should note that registrations will freeze from 31 January 2024 until the switch over on 19 February 2024.

· Personnel that register between 19 February and 31 March 2024 will be able to backdate their registration to 1 February 2024, subject to eligibility.

Where can you find further information?

· Read the FAQs or visit the Defence Childcare Information Page on defnet or Defence Connect.

· Visit the Discover My Benefits webpage or contact the HIVE, and Army Families Federation information sites.

· Look out for more updates, on defnet and Defence Connect.

· If you have any further questions you can email the WAC team at PEOPLE-AFFS-WAC-FRO-mailbox@mod.gov.uk

Op RESTORE

The veterans physical health and wellbeing service for those who have served in the UK Armed Forces

OpRESTORE is an NHS service that supports individuals who have served in, or are leaving, the UK Armed Forces and have continuing, physical health injuries and related medical problems attributed to their time in the Armed Forces.

To find out how OpRESTORE can help you click here

Victory Services Club: December Newsletter

 To read the latest newsletter, click here

Updates to Early Years Provision

The government is expanding early years and childcare government funding to working families from April 2024 which will enable working families of two year old children to access up to 15 hours of government funded early years education a week (based on 38 weeks). This will be expanded from September 2024 for working families of children after they have turned nine months and then from September 2025 this will be expanded to 30 hours. For more information and parents to check their eligibility visit: Childcare Choices | 30 Hours Childcare, Tax-Free Childcare and More | Help with Costs | GOV.UK

There will also be an expansion of wraparound childcare ​places in settings from September for families who need it with children from Reception Year to Year 6. This plan is aimed at families who need wraparound provision from 8 am – 6pm term time only should have access to it within their local community.

There is also government start up grant funding available currently to encourage people to become registered childminders. The website where applications can be made for the start up grant can be found here: Apply for a childminder start-up grant - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Togetherall - new year goal setting

New Year: How to accept where you are and grow from here

By Togetherall

We have entered a new year, and that may come with hope, happiness, and pressure to achieve goals or feeling like we need to be perfect.

When the new year rolls around, it’s easy for us to feel like we need to accomplish everything we didn’t get the chance to tackle last year. Sometimes we can put so much pressure on ourselves to improve every aspect of our lives, we can feel anxious, depressed, or overwhelmed.

Minimum Income Requirement - incremental approach to new threshold amount

You may have seen reference to the announcement from the Home Office that the planned increase to the MIR to £38,700 will happen incrementally, with a figure of £29,000 applicable from Spring 2024. The Home Office have released a Factsheet that explains more. Among other things, this advises that under the new provisions there will no longer be a separate child element.

Defence continues to liaise with the Home Office in order to understand how this will impact Service Personnel (Officers and Soldiers) and their families, and further information will be provided once more details are known.

The Ripple Pond Newsletter

 

Togetherall: Self Care Ideas for the Winter

 

Check out @Togetherall’s simple self-care gems to help pick you up a little. Ready for more support? Togetherall is an anonymous online community to support your mental health, join today for FREE ​ HERE ​

Armed Forces Covenant and Veterans annual report 2023

Sets out major achievements of the Armed Forces Covenant and the Strategy for our Veterans, and highlights remaining challenges and new commitments.

To read the full report, click here

Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) Update

Child Benefit update and childcare support

Child Benefit customers can now view and update their bank account details quickly and easily using the HMRC app or report changes that affect their Child Benefit on GOV.UK, to make sure their payments go to the right place. 

In the app, customers can go to the Child Benefit section and select ‘Change bank details’.  

Using the new online service, customers’ bank details can be viewed and updated instantly with no need to contact HMRC. Payments that are due within 3 days will be credited to the customer’s previously listed account.