Headspace Support your loved ones

Christmas is a period of family, friends and high stress! Details below for some brilliant meditations, guided workouts and mindful music to help you relaaaaax this Festive Season.

And Breeeaaaaaathe!

 Please click the images to enlarge.

Kooth - Online mental health and wellbeing support if you're aged 11-18

Kooth is an online Mental Health & Wellbeing Support Service available for children (aged 11 until their 19th birthday) with a parent serving in the British Armed Forces or working for the MOD or the British Government in the UK or overseas.

The free, safe and anonymous mental wellbeing platform allows you to chat with a friendly mental health practitioner, find support from a helpful community or use a range of self-help tools.

Find out more at www.kooth.com/mod

Historic Letter from Queen Elizabeth I of England set to return to the City of Ghent in official ceremony

Whilst the signed historic document will need to be safely stored in archives, there will be a replica on display for local citizens to view, until 25th April 2025.

To read more, click Here

Money & Pensions Advice Service guidance: Making the Most of your Money

 

Taking the time to manage your money can make a real difference.

Whatever stage of life you’re at – whether you’re saving into a pension for the first time, buying or renting a home, starting a family or planning to retire – there are always ways of making your money go further.

Find out more on the Money and Pensions Advice Service's Money Helper website at: https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en​ 

and you can download the leaflet at https://moneyhelper.apsmos.com/ViewProduct.html?sp=Sengmakingthemostofyourmoney-400​​

Also there is a library of advice booklets that are free to download at: https://moneyhelper.apsmos.com/ArticleOverview.html?sp=Sguide​

GamCare: Spotting the signs of gambling harm at Christmas

 

GamCare hears from people who have become isolated and lonely as a result of their gambling, and who haven’t spoken to anyone else about what they are going through. These feelings can worsen over the Christmas period, when people might encounter loneliness or pressure to seem as if everything is alright.

We recognise that gambling is known as the ‘hidden addiction’, and often the signs are not clear. From experience, we understand that these are the most common ways to identify if your own or someone else’s gambling has become harmful.

Some signs to consider about your own or someone else’s gambling:

· Preoccupation – Do you spend much of your day thinking about betting? Are you finding that your gambling is taking you out of the moment when you spend time with friends and family this Christmas? Often thinking about or planning to gamble can be one of the early warning signs that gambling could be harmful.

· Withdrawal – Removing yourself from social situations so that you can place a bet is another warning signal that your gambling might be going too far, and that the urges to gamble are potentially harming other areas of your life and the people around you. Withdrawal may be one of the early warning signs that someone’s gambling could be harmful this Christmas; such as wanting to stay at home more frequently or needing to check their phone constantly to check the latest results.

· Escape – Life – and the Christmas season in particular - can be overwhelming at times, and you might feel like you want to escape it for a while. Using gambling as a coping mechanism is a sign of harmful gambling and can lead to losing significant amounts of money.

· Chasing losses – Chasing losses is where your motive for gambling changes from winning money to getting back the money you have already lost. This can be dangerous and lead to significant losses. There might be more financial signs that a loved one is struggling with gambling, such as a need to borrow money or money missing from bank accounts.

· Changing mood – There could be noticeable changes to your mood and behaviour, including looking worried, agitated or upset for no apparent reason in the lead up Christmas.

· Lying – You may find yourself hiding how much you are spending or lying about the amount of time you are spending gambling, or perhaps asking for money to cover bills that you are spending. These are just some signs that gambling is harming your life and possibly risking your relationships with family and friends.

The National Gambling Helpline is available 24/7 for free during the Christmas period. Contact our Advisers on Freephone 0808 80 20 133, via WhatsApp on 020 3031 8881, or via online chat at gamcare.org.uk.

ONLINE: FREE Antenatal Course - in your own time

If you are a new parent/carer-to-be, this course has all the practical information and advice you could expect from a traditional Antenatal Class with the additional benefit of support around emotional and mental wellbeing for parent and baby.

To undertake this online course in your own time, go to HTTPS://inourplace.heiapply.com/online-learning/course/4 and register using your BFPO Postcode.

If you have any questions, contact your SSAFA Health Visitor or Midwife.

Domestic Abuse - Help is at Hand

 

Click to enlarge.

HIVE also has an information sheet on Domestic Abuse support, which can be downloaded from the Information Sheets section of the Army HIVE UK Blog.

Weembi - Freefall Simulator, Lille

If you are still searching for the perfect gift for that special someone or the difficult-to-buy-for person in your life, then how about a trip to Weembi?

 

Packages available for children aged 5 and up, and adults. For a gift with a difference, how about an experience of the true sensation of flying?

For more information, click Here

Togatherall: New Year - resources and peer support

Feeling uncertain about what’s ahead? You’re not alone. @Togetherall is here with free, anonymous peer support anytime you need it—24/7, all year round. There’s also a range of other self-help resources. 

Connect with others who understand at https://account.v2.togetherall.com/register/uk-armed-forces

Tervuren is home to a new and unique wooden cycling bridge!

Great News for Pedestrians and Cyclists in the Brussels region - a new Wooden Bridge in Tervuren is revolutionising the commute.

Read more Here

Drielandenpunt: The tri-border point

If you are looking for a day out with less of a festive focus, Drielandenpunt is a great shout.

Once the only place in the world where the borders of four countries met, when Neutral Moresnet was awarded to Belgium soon after the First World War, Vierlandenpunt became Drielandenpunt.

Tickets Now on sale for low-cost rail service between Mons/Brussels and Paris

A new low-cost train line connecting Brussels with Paris in 3 hours goes into service from 19th December 2024.

OUIGO rail service - a collaboration between SNCB and SNCF - is already selling one-way tickets priced between 10 and 59 Euros, with a fixed price of 8 Euros for children.

Three daily return trips are scheduled in each direction, with the line also serving Mons as well as Aulnoye-Aymeries (North) and Creil (Oise) in France.

Read more Here

Book your ticket under this link : Straight to Paris by train | SNCB International

Do you know the Belgian Snow Day Rules?

As we get further into Winter, do you know your responsibilities under Belgian Law with regards to snow?

* Sledging or ice-skating on public roads is forbidden.

* As a tenant, you are responsible for clearing the paths and access to your home.

* When clearing snow, it should not be placed where it would block gutters or down pipes.

* When driving, all ice and snow must be removed from your windscreen as a motorist must have 100% visibility at all times.

* Whilst Winter Tyres are not mandatory, they are recommended in wintry conditions. A minimum profile depth of 1.6mm is mandatory with a profile depth of 4mm being recommended. 

Happy Winter ☃️❄️

Your Armed Forces Offer explained

 

The Defence Armed Forces Offer recognises the unique demands of Service life, and the vital work our people do to keep us safe at home and strong abroad.

​​Find out more about the range of benefits, opportunities, and support available to you:Discover My Benefits

Those with access to MODnet can also view the full article at: 

• Defnet: Your Armed Forces Offer explained (sharepoint.com)
• Defence Connect: Your Armed Forces Offer explained | Defence Connect (mod.uk)

HM Government Money & Pensions Service - Money Helper: Credit Unions and other alternatives to high-cost credit

 

This Money Helper (Money & Pensions Service) ​​guide is for you if you need access to credit but you can’t use a mainstream lender and you don’t want to use a payday loan or other forms of high-cost credit. When you read it, you’ll know:

• how credit unions work and how they can help you
  
• how to join a credit union
  
• what other sources of fair and affordable credit might be available to you.​
  

To view this guide please click HERE

More information can be found on the Money Helper website at https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/everyday-money/credit

For the Service community, there are three MOD-endorsed credit unions - see https://www.joiningforcescu.co.uk/​

Digital Veteran Card to make accessing support even easier for ex-service personnel

 

New Digital Veteran Card to make sure former service personnel can prove their Veteran status as easily as possible, enabling smoother access to often essential support.

DVC Link

SHAPE: Have you seen the new HIVE Noticeboard?

Full of the gen on all things Health, Welfare, Education, Discount and What’s On

Why not pop along the Community Corridor and have a look? If there’s anything you would like to see on the board, do let me know!

Duke of York’s Royal Military School (DOYRMS); supporting military families by providing affordable, exceptional eduction and outstanding opportunities for it’s students.

 The Duke of York’s Royal Military School has proudly supported military families since 1803 and is home to over 200 students from forces families.

Located in Dover, Kent, this unique state boarding school is distinct from independent schools as it is funded by the MOD. This means it operates outside of the scope of VAT on fees which makes it an affordable and financially stable option. They have also introduced a Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) Guarantee to offer additional support to military families.

To find out more, visit https://www.doyrms.com/

Leaflets available in the HIVE

The Beaver continues to thrive in Belgium!

Beavers have successfully repopulated Wallonia, Belgium, after being reintroduced in the 1990s following their extinction in the 19th Century.

They thrive in Wallonia’s rivers and wetlands, building dams that enhance biodiversity by creating habitats for other species. In neighbouring Flanders, it is estimated that between 150 and 400 Beavers are creating homes and one has been spotted very recently in Brussels!

While their activities benefit ecosystems, they sometimes cause conflicts with farmers due to flooding and tree damage. Conservation efforts in Wallonia focus on balancing human needs with protecting this keystone species and its significant ecological contributions.

More here

Accommodation: Online e1132 Password Process Change on Monday 9th December 2024

 

Online e1132 password process change

The password process for the online e1132 system is changing on Monday 9 December 2024.

To ensure your online details are kept as securely as possible, we are changing the way we record, store and provide users with their details (when requested).   

All users of the online e1132 system will need to reset their own passwords the next time they login to the system. Once the reset is completed, the user's new chosen password will remain unchanged until the user chooses to change it. There is no deadline for users to change their password, the change is only triggered the next time they go to login into the e1132 system.

Before the change on Monday 9 December, we encourage users to log into their e1132 accounts to check that the email address linked to their account is valid.

Domestic Abuse - Help is at hand

RBLI Lifeworks - Employment Course for Families

 

Click to enlarge.

Lifeworks Families (LWF) is an employability skills course that aims to help you find the right job for you, and having found it, to be able to get it!

We do this by firstly evaluating our situation, and then how to plan to get after our goals. This leads into what we need to do, and why we need to follow certain ‘rules,’ as well as how to make all that work to increase the chances we get what we want.

We cover so much more than how to write a CV, including a 5-course programme leading directly to nationally recognised qualifications. The 4 days are designed to work together as a whole rather than as individual sessions. Our qualifications package will provide you with a grounding in one of three career areas and provide a framework for your 12-month ‘Forward Assist’ period following the course.

Togetherall: Holiday Season Support

This season can feel lonely, but you don’t have to go through it alone. @Togetherall offers a safe, supportive, anonymous community—free and available 24/7.

There’s also a range of other helpful resources. Find connection whenever you need it, at https://account.v2.togetherall.com/register/uk-armed-forces

Army’s Guide for Care Leavers

The Directorate of Personnel in Army HQ have released a new Guide for Care Leavers, which will help both Care Leavers and their managers access the appropriate support.

You can find it on the Pers Pol Conditions Defence Connect page at https://jive.defencegateway.mod.uk/docs/DOC-1150391

SHAPE & BRUSSELS: Reminder to Check Your Oil Tanks

With the colder weather creeping up, don’t forget to check your heating oil tank levels……

If you’re running low, simply submit a request for a top up to DIO-ESGBusinessSupport@mod.gov.uk, who will then request an oil delivery on your behalf. Be sure to note any pending periods of absence in your email as it is the occupant’s responsibility to provide access to the oil tank.

Please be aware that oil deliveries can take 2-3 weeks depending on oil company scheduling and workload.

Please also be mindful that DIO Offices are closed from mid-December until the New Year and you will therefore be unable to order during that time.

Don’t be left in the cold this Winter!

Army Families Federation (AFF) Representative for SHAPE & Brussels

Did you know there is an AFF Representative covering SHAPE and Brussels?

Sue works collaboratively with the RAF and Naval Families Federations and is a point of contact within GSO who is here to help you navigate the challenges of an overseas posting. She provides a confidential service and supports both military families and service personnel.

Sue works part time Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday but outside of these hours you can email her on overseassupport@aff.org.uk.

New Armed Forces Carer’s Passports are introduced

 

Carer’s passports are well established and widely used across many organisations throughout the UK, including the Civil Service, and have proven to be an invaluable resource for employees with caregiving responsibilities. They are now available for our Armed Forces.

It can be especially hard to balance a career in the Armed Forces alongside caring responsibilities, but the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is dedicated to support those who do.

Introducing the Armed Forces Carer’s Passport
The MOD has launched the Armed Forces Carer’s Passport, a practical and effective tool to help carers in managing their responsibilities. The passport ensures that when carers move between roles or experience a change in manager, they do not have to renegotiate the necessary arrangements from scratch. By documenting required flexibilities, the passport provides continuity and support, reducing unnecessary disruptions for both the carer and the MOD.

The passport acknowledges that operational needs will always remain the priority. However, it ensures that the carer’s circumstances are formally considered, fostering an environment where personnel feel empowered to discuss their care-giving challenges, how these might impact their work responsibilities and feel supported in their dual roles by promoting openness and mutual understanding.

GamCare: Way Forward Programme - online support for women affected by harmful gambling

Way Forward is GamCare's support group for all women affected by someone else’s gambling harm.  Groups aim to provide a safe, supportive and confidential space for women to share their experiences, find comfort and empower one another.

Way Forward online sessions are semi-structured, running for 1.5 hours over six weeks. Groups are led by trained facilitators specialising in supporting women who are affected by gambling-related harms.

Each week will focus on the impact of different areas of gambling harm:

• Session 1 – Getting to know each other.
  
• Session 2 – Understanding gambling harm.
• Session 3 – Taking care of yourself.
• Session 4 – Dealing with guilt and shame / enabling behaviours.
• Session 5 – Dealing with anger and resentment.
• Session 6 – Having difficult conversations / expectations / acceptance.

If you’re interested in registering or want to know more, please email womenspathwaysupport@gamcare.org.uk

This group is for women based in England and Wales. We also have a Way Forward group in Scotland and to register your interest in future sessions, please contact scotland@gamcare.org.uk.

If you need support now, the National Gambling Helpline gives confidential advice and support to anyone affected by gambling in England, Scotland and Wales. You can speak to us for free, 24/7 on 0808 8020 133, or online.​

​

Who You Gonna Call?

Just leaving these here for anyone who may need them,

JCCC Virtual Contact Card - Download it today!

As much as we never hope to need it, the JCCC (Joint Casualty & Compassionate Centre) Card is one to have to hand in an Emergency. And it is now available in digital format.

Once you have downloaded the JCCC Virtual Contact Card in your contacts and edited it to include your Service Number, you can then save and share it with family so they have the information they need should they have to contact JCCC.

Scan the QR code above or visit JCCC to download the card.

If your family members do not have a smartphone or prefer a physical card, these can be picked up from the Community Office in SHAPE or at Welcombeek for those based in Brussels.

The Impact of VAT changes on the Continuity of Education Allowance

In the Budget speech The Chancellor of the Exchequer has confirmed that the government will remove the VAT exemption for private schools from 1 January 2025.

For families claiming the Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) this is likely to increase private school fees.

In Flanders Fields read by Harper on BFBS this week

Did you catch the beautiful reading of In Flanders Fields, by Harper one of the pupils at the British Section of SHAPE International School?

Listen again here before it expires on 18th November 2024. Harper’s reading can be found at 2:33:00

https://radio.bfbs.com/radioplayer/episode/bf641be7-2146-5535-a13e-29b3448f0e58

Stem Cell Donation: Sign up to save a life!

 

Every 20 minutes someone in the UK is diagnosed with blood cancer.

Families Need Fathers: Online Support

The Charitable Organisation ‘Families Need Fathers’ have just created a new online support group for Armed Forces Personnel including veterans.

The charity is dedicated to helping parents separate better, for the sake of themselves and their children. The meetings are held on the last Thursday of each month. Anyone dealing with issues of family separation, can join this new support group on the following link:
Online (Armed Forces) | Families Need Fathers | Because Both Parents Matter (fnf.org.uk).

They are also offering courses free to serving military personnel and veterans, including:
* Coping with the grief of separation from your child.
* Learning key behavioural and communication skills with your ex-partner.
* Learning what your child may be thinking and feeling during periods of conflict.

For further information, please see the following link:
New courses and support | Families Need Fathers | Because Both Parents Matter (fnf.org.uk)

Travel to Refuge Scheme: Free travel for those fleeing domestic abuse

 

Travel to Refuge is an umbrella scheme in which travel companies cover the cost of train or coach tickets for women, men and children escaping domestic abuse travelling to refuge accommodation. It’s made up of two schemes:

• Rail to Refuge, a joint initiative between Women’s Aid and the Rail Delivery Group, set up in April 2020, providing free rail travel for survivors of abuse.
• Road to Refuge, a joint initiative between Women’s Aid and National Express, set up in 2023, providing free coach travel for survivors of abuse.  

For more infomation please visit: Travel to Refuge

Flooding: DIO and Pinnacle have provided some handy information around flood proofing

It pays to be prepared!

https://www.pinnacleservicefamilies.co.uk/flood-preparedness/

A reminder about electric heater safety in the home from DIO/Pinnacle

 

SHAPE: Who You Gonna Call?

Do you know who to call in an Emergency on SHAPE?

Natural instinct, especially if you are coming from the UK or a non-military environment, might be to call the international emergency services number (112). Whilst this is perfect if you are out and about in Belgium, should you need ANY of the emergency services whilst on SHAPE, you should call the International Military Police on 3333. They will call the Ambulance and escort them onto camp, meanwhile dispatching a first responder to your aide.

‼️ Remember, if on camp it’s 3333 for any fire, medical, accident or police emergency ‼️ 

Are you eligible for Pension Credit?

It is estimated that up to 880,000 households are missing out on Pension Credit, and it is worth, on average, £3,900 per year, providing additional benefits such as help with Council Tax and Housing Benefit and a free TV licence for those over 75.

In addition to Pension Credit, those who qualify could also receive Winter Fuel Payment and other support like help with housing costs, help with Council Tax and a free TV licence for those aged 75 and over.

Thanks to the Pension Credit backdating rules, it is possible to apply for Pension Credit and have the claim backdated by up to 3 months, (ticking the backdating box on the claim form). This means that the latest date to apply and still qualify for Winter Fuel Payment is 21st December 2024.

To note, Pension Credit can also provide extra support for heating costs such as The Warm Home Discount Scheme and Cold Weather Payments​.

Checking entitlement is easy with this on-line calculator: Pension Credit calculator - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)​

SHAPE Federal Police Watch Scheme

 Did you know that SHAPE Federal Police offer a Watch Scheme? 

If you are going to be away for an extended duration and would like them to drive by your home to ensure all is OK, please pop along to the Community Corridor to complete a ‘Police Watch Scheme Form’.

This is a brilliant service with Halloween coming up!

Defence Children Services: New information on school admissions and education to Service families

 

Defence Children Services and Education Advisory Team (UK) have released some new information for Service families. This includes guidance about key dates related to school admissions which are coming up; the first of these is October 31st for families who have a child due to start secondary school in September 2025. There are also leaflets explaining the support available from EAT (UK) and the Overseas Education and Supportability Team (OEST):​

Letter for families

Top Tips Information sheet with some FAQ

EAT(UK) leaflet

OEST leaflet

​DCS also has a new website with comprehensive information for Service families: www.dcs.school

Army Health Promotion: New Leaflet - An Individual's Guide to Mental Fitness

See An Individual’s Guide to Mental Fitness for stress management tips, ways to build good mental fitness, support and more.

HEADSPACE APP: Free Enrolment for Army Personnel & MOD Civilian Staff

Click to enlarge.

Please use your mod.gov.uk email address to sign up before downloading the App. 

Link to enrol: Headspace for Work