Splashdown: Where to enjoy safe open-air swimming in Belgium

From outdoor pools to natural ponds and lakes, The Bulletin takes a dip in the places around the country where water babies can enjoy the joys of safe outdoor swimming whatever their age.

Brussels

Unlike other major European cities, the capital remains without a permanent outdoor swimming pool. Summer is around the corner, and the city still has only sporadic plans to rectify the situation. 

Meanwhile, Pool is Cool – a local organisation campaigning to change this sorry state of affairs, is gearing up for its fourth season of FLOW. Albeit quite small (17m x 7m), this free pool (pictured)  allows Brussels dwellers the chance to swim outside. The charming home-made pop-up piscine on the Anderlecht canal has a summer bar and also entertains with a social programme, from fitness classes and swimming lessons to films.

The nonprofit spearheaded ‘Expedition Swim’ last year. Under this project, but for only one weekend, you could take a dip at Anderlecht’s Neerpede ponds, Boitfort’s les Pêcheries and the Bois de la Cambre lake. However, some locals were critical, fearing that their natural beauty spot would become overrun, and it is not certain that a similar scheme will take place this summer. 

Meanwhile, the group’s crowdfunding campaign ‘Je Veux Nager’ wants to raise €60,000 for a permanent open-air swimming pool in the capital. The abattoirs/slaughterhouse site at Curegem is one proposal.

Until then, residents and tourists have only sports clubs such as Aspria’s Royal La Rasante; the fitness group also has plans for a new outdoor pool. Otherwise, hotels like the Jam Hotel in Saint-Gilles and Jardin Secret in Ixelles (pictured) – both sporting bijou outdoor pools – are also an option. 

Guidance on Service Pupil Premium - Updated 19 May

Updated guidance on the Service Pupil Premium is now on Gov.uk at this link: Service Pupil Premium: what you need to know - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Night train to connect Brussels and Berlin from May 23

 

The first night train connecting Brussels and Berlin is expected to start running in May 2023. The Good Night Train, operated by European Sleeper, a Belgian-Dutch company, will link the two capitals via Amsterdam.

The route was supposed to become operational in April 2022, but the date was postponed to summer and then indefinitely. Now the company has announced the final launch date for 25 May 2023, with the inaugural journey starting in Berlin at 22:56 and arriving in Brussels the next morning, at 09:27.

The service will run three times a week, departing Berlin on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays and departing Brussels on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. From 2024, the company hopes to extend the offer and run daily trains between the cities. Moreover, from December 2023, European Sleeper hopes to extend the route to Dresden and Prague, according to the original plan.

Tickets will become available on their website with prices starting at €49 for a seat, €79 for a place in a couchette compartment and €109 for a place in a sleeping car. Couchettes have 4 to 6 bunk beds, with up to 3 beds being bookable together, while the sleeping cars can be fully privately booked.

When reserving a bed, regardless of the type of the wagon, breakfast in the compartment is included, with more catering options available. Pets will also be allowed if the owner has a ticket for a private compartment, while bicycles can only be transported if a reservation is made in advance for the fee of €24.

To Book; CLICK HERE

For more Information; CLICK HERE

Tax Credits are ending and are being replaced by Universal Credit - claimants will be notified when they have to reclaim.

Migration notices will be issued to all Tax Credit claimants over the next two years. Claimants will need to take action to ensure their benefits do not stop.

For further information please click here​

 

NHS Feeling Lonely

 www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/lifes-challenges/loneliness

NHS Career Opportunities for Service Leavers & Veterans

Up-to-date publication regarding NHS Career Opportunities for Service Leavers and Veterans is now available in this booklet.

Caravan / RV Parking on SHAPE, New Policy

CARAVAN/RV PARKING ON SHAPE – NEW POLICY

Personnel wishing to park an RV, Motorhome, Caravan and or trailers (with boats/bikes etc) will now need to complete a Permission to Park Caravan form and send back to the MW Ops team with payment:

 

Current prices are as follows:

Annual abonnement – 365 euros

Monthly abonnement – 150 euros

Daily fee – 10 euros

Payment is accepted by bank transfer with the following information:

• RV parking SHAPE – slot (your slot number provided once approval has been given)
• Annual payment 2023
• Monthly payment (month paid) } choose the one applied for your situation.
• Daily payment (day paid)

The annual abonnement can be only purchased by permanent staff, but can be applied for at any time during their rotation. It can be paid annually or for the whole period (2-3 years) in advance (if paying for more than one year you should include that information on the subject of the transfer).

 

The RV parking is down on the main carpark by the QM's Dept.

Further information can be obtained from: Carmen Ciudad at carmen.ciudad@shape.nato.int or email Shape Hive for the Permission to Park Caravan for.

Armed Forces Suicide Prevention Strategy & Action Plan

 The Armed Forces Suicide Prevention Strategy and Action Plan has been published today, demonstrating Defence's commitment to reduce suicide in the Armed Forces and provide support to those affected by it.

The Strategy establishes eight focus areas: Understand high risk groups within the Armed Forces
Educate the Armed Forces about suicide and its prevention

Enable individual resilience and support personal needs
Enable safe military environments
Enhance organisational management of those at risk
Enable access to support for those at risk
Develop accessible postvention support
Improve organisational learning

To read the full Strategy and Action Plan, please click HERE​

NAAFI Fund - Round 4 Now Open for Applications

Follow the link on how to apply - Round 4 - Now Open - NAAFI
 

Armed Forces Pension Scheme: Retrospective Remedy Public Consultation.

The MOD public consultation is open until 29th May 2023 and views are encouraged from affected* Serving Personnel and Veterans. The consultation can be found here.

The consultation provides an explanation of the remedy policies and the legislation which are required to be in place by 1 October 2023 to deliver the 2015 Remedy.

A recording of the consultation member briefings that took place throughout March 23 is available on YouTube and is complimented by an additional recording on Divorce and Dissolution of Civil Partnerships & Rejoiners also available via YouTube.

​For more information on the 2015 remedy, please visit Gov.uk or the 2015 Remedy on Defence Connect Page.

*potentially Armed Forces pension scheme members who were in Service both on or before 31 March 2012 and on or ​after 1 April 2015, with any break in service of less than 5 years.