SHAPE: NEW Bike Entrance at Ottawa Gate to open Monday 7th April 2025

Great News! Monday 7th April 2025 sees the opening of the new Bike entrance at Ottawa Gate.

You will need a special access code to make use of the gate; complete a Form SF550 Annexe A and submit this to Building 102. Once you have the code, you’re good to go!

SHAPE: City of Mons Fleurie 2025, order your spring flowers now

This event will be a gardeners delight! Set your house a-bloom this Spring!

Simply order your flowers by Thursday 10th April 2025 for home delivery or take your planters along on Saturday 26th April 2025 and they will fill them for you.

The price of flowers starts at 1Euro each.

Order forms can be downloaded at www.mons.be and emailed to invitations@ville.mons.be

Another April ‘General Strike’ Date Announced

Please be aware that Belgian major Trade Unions have announced a new general strike on Tuesday 29th April 2025.

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

 

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

GFIE 428 - Work Coach – Dept for Work & Pensions (DWP)

London – 18 vacancies across multiple inner/outer London locations

Closing Date: 28 April 2025

Job Description 

​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)

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) bulk recruitment - Southern England (multiple locations)

 

The Department of Work and Pensions has 100 new Executive Officer work coach opportunities across Southern England. These are now open for applications until 17 Apr 2025.

 

Civil Service Jobs link:  Universal Credit Job Centre - Work Coach - Southern England (Ref: 729) - Civil Service Jobs - GOV.UK

 

There are jobs available at the following locations: Abingdon, Aldershot, Andover, Aylesbury, Banbury, Basingstoke, Bedford, Biggleswade, Borehamwood, Bracknell, Chesham, Didcot, Eastleigh, Hatfield, Hemel Hempstead, Hertford, High Wycombe, Hythe, Leighton Buzzard, Letchworth, Luton, Maidenhead, Milton Keynes, Newbury, Oxford, Reading, Salisbury, Slough, Southampton, St Albans, Stevenage, Waltham Cross, Watford, Witney

 

More information on DWP, the roles available and the application process can be found on the DWPEO Microsite.

New Guidance for Schools and Local Authorities on Supporting Service Pupils

 

On 1 April 2025, the Ministry of Defence and Department for Education published non-statutory guidance to help state-funded schools and local authorities in England to understand and address the needs of Service pupils in schools (reception to year 11).

Speaking about the new guidance, Minister for Veterans and People, Alistair Carns DSO OBE MC MP, said:
“Armed Forces families play a vital role in supporting our Service personnel to keep Britain secure at home and strong abroad. Fittingly, this announcement coincides with the Month of the Military Child, which is a time to speak up for our Service children.
“Service children face many challenges due to the unique nature of Service life, but it’s important that they are able to benefit from their exceptional experiences. 

“That’s why this joint guidance with the Department for Education, explains how we can break down barriers and help our Service children to thrive in education.”

Minister for Education, Stephen Morgan MP, said:
“Through our Plan for Change we are focused on breaking the link between young people’s background and their future success.
“Military families make a huge sacrifice for serving this country and their children face unique challenges that can impact their learning from family members being in active warzones, to frequently having to move schools.
“We provide a range of support for service families and their children to help break down the barriers they face. This includes additional funding for schools through the Service Pupil Premium, giving priority to service children in the admissions process and ensuring there is a school place for every service pupil returning to England from overseas bases. To build on this we have published new guidance for schools to help them to provide the targeted support service children need to achieve and thrive.”

What educational needs do Service pupils have?
Life as a Service child has unique challenges, which are not often recognised in wider society and is therefore not always reflected in an educational setting. Service pupils often move schools several times and experience family separation as their Service parent(s) are deployed. It is during these periods that Service children need extra support from local authorities and schools.

How will the new guidance help Service pupils?
This guidance brings together existing guidance into one, easily accessible, place. It outlines the support that schools and local authorities should provide to Service children, and signposts to useful resources. 

This includes new guidance on the Service Pupil Premium, which recently announced more funding for schools to offer pastoral and academic support to eligible Service pupils as they move schools and cope with family separation.
It also encourages local authorities to appoint a Service pupil champion to provide individual support for Service children and outlines their responsibilities and duties. 

This aligns with the Armed Forces Covenant, which is a promise by the nation that the Armed Forces Community should be treated fairly, and not be disadvantaged when accessing public and commercial services, with special provision provided, where appropriate.

Help schools and local authorities to support your child
Please read and share this new guidance with the below:

• school leaders, school staff, trust leaders, trust boards and governing bodies in all maintained schools, academies, and non-maintained special schools in England
• local authorities in England

Useful information 

Read the new non-statutory guidance on supporting Service pupils in schools. 

Find out how you can celebrate the Month of the Military Child. 

Visit Defence’s new Families Hub, which signposts the support, guidance and organisations that can help to navigate Service family life. The hub includes a section on education and childcare.

The Chateau de Beloil in bloom, Saturday 12th to Monday 21st April 2025 10:00-16:00

Take a magical journey to the heart of flowers and fairy tales!

For the 2025 edition, the Castle of Beloeil is once again joining forces with the Royal Union of Florists of Belgium to transport you into the enchanting world of fairy tales. Come along and see the 6,500 Amaryllis and Lilies on display.

WHERE: Chateau de Beloil

WHEN: Saturday 12th April to Monday 21st April 2025, between 10:00 and 16:00

WHAT: a sumptuous display of over 6000 flowers, a training workshop run by a professional florist in the castle's former kitchen; follow the demonstration and make your own floral arrangements!

MORE INFORMATION: Contact the secretariat on +32 (0)69 68 9426 or by e-mail on info@chateaudebeloeil.com

WEBSITE: https://www.chateaudebeloeil.com/en_GB

Brocantes/Flea Markets in Belgium, April - December 2025

Love a Flea Market?

Then check out these Belgique Brocantes running from April onwards.

SSAFA Forces Additional Needs & Disability Forum (FANDF) Conference - Registration Now Open

 

The Forces Additional Needs & Disability Forum (FANDF) Conference 2025 is taking place on 2 June 2025. This is an empowering and informative event designed for current service personnel and their families with additional needs or disabilities. Hosted by the FANDF committee and facilitated by SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, this conference will offer expert insights and practical advice for service families.
 
The event will be FANDF’s first hybrid FANDF event. You can join in person or virtually, making it accessible for those with caring responsibilities or living further afield.
 
The event will feature guest speakers from Defence (MOD) and support services offering valuable advice, information, and insights on available support for families. Our theme for this conference is 35 years strong: Championing Families, Shaping Change and we hope to celebrate some of the successes of support available for service families, whilst also highlighting how we can continue to shape change.

What's included:

• Food provided on the day
• Travel reimbursement available for FANDF members
• Accommodation available for FANDF members traveling over 2.5 hours 

Who should attend?

• FANDF members or those eligible for FANDF membership.
• Professionals in the sector - please note, priority will be given to FANDF members for in-person attendance. 

We invite you to attend this important event to hear from experts, ask questions, and access the support you and your family deserve. The FANDF committee look forward to welcoming you to this significant event, designed to shape change and further champion families with Additional Needs & Disabilities within the Armed Forces.
 
If you would like more information, please email: CS.ANDA@ssafa.org.uk
For details of FANDF membership, please visit: Forces Additional Needs and Disability Forum FANDF | Disability support | SSAFA”

 

Recruit for Spouses: Mental Health & Wellbeing Programme and Foreign & Commonwealth Programme, applications now open

Recruit for Spouses are hosting a number of FREE workshops on Employability, Industry Insights and Finance.

 

In addition to these workshops, they are also now accepting applications for two important programmes that offer valuable support:

Mental Health and Wellbeing Programme
This 6-week virtual programme is available to spouses of serving personnel, veterans, and reserves. It covers a range of topics, including:

• Managing isolation and anxiety
• Communication strategies
• Building support networks

Foreign & Commonwealth Programme

This programme provides support to the Foreign and Commonwealth community, helping individuals convert their home nation qualifications to their UK equivalents, alongside tailored employment support.

Both programmes are available at no cost, sign-up with the QR code.