The Honorable Artillery Company Band visit Belgium

 

The Honorable Artillery Company Band will be playing at several venues around Belgium this Summer.

On Wednesday 30th July, see them playing at Sanctuary Wood Cemetery, Ypres for the commemoration of Lt GWL Talbot.

On Friday 1st August they will be marching from the Market Square in Poperinge to Talbot House.

On Saturday 2nd August the will be performing at an afternoon concert at St George’s Chapel, Ypres between 1500h and 1600h followed by the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate at 1900h.

Discounts Galore for Military and Civil Service Personnel

Did you know about all these Discount Opportunities for Military and Civilian Staff?

Blue Light Card:
If you want to make savings on everyday items, holidays, leisure, eating out, why not
sign up to the Blue Light Card which only costs £5 for two years membership? Civil
Servants are also eligible to join.

Current offers include 25% off food in Pizza Hut, Cafe Rouge, Bella Italia, 20% off food
in Las Iguanas, Prezzo, TGI Fridays, zizzi and 5% off at Nandos to name but a few.

Discounts are also available in certain retailers, holiday companies and utility
companies.

Defence Discount Service:
The Defence Discount Service Card is available to Armed Forces and Civil Servants
which offers similar savings to the Blue Light Card above and costs £4.99 for five years.

Did you know that you can visit Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle for free with
your Defence Discount Card! The offer allows the card holder plus 4 guests to visit
once a year which is a saving of £30 per person per visit!

'Discover My Benefit's portal'
The Discover My Benefits (mod.gov.uk) portal is an easy-to-use tool for those
working in Defence, their families and anyone interested in joining. You can use it to
find out what support and benefits are available to you as a service person or civil
servant.

For Civil Servants:
Offers range from lifestyle schemes that can help to improve your physical and mental
wellbeing and include savings on Private health insurance and savings on gym
membership:

https://discovermybenefits.mod.gov.uk/civilian/mental_wellbeing

https://discovermybenefits.mod.gov.uk/civilian/health_fitness

Financial discounts are also available via 'Top Up' cards for retailers such as Tesco and
preferential prices for MOD staff at certain retailers through Edenred. To find out more
and register on the Edenred (UK Group) Limited website.

For Military Personnel:
Service benefits including adventurous training, accommodation, honours and awards
and others. Check out your ‘Discover My Benefits’ page.

For other ways to save money, please visit: Financial wellbeing (sharepoint.com)

Kids “Fresher’s Fayre” for Mons, Sunday 24th August 2025, 10:00-18:30

SAVE THE DATE!

 

On Sunday, August 24, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., the City of Mons will be hosting a free daytime event for children and young people in the Jemappes municipal park.

 

Similar to a Fresher’s Fayre, 80 "extracurricular" booths will be there to present their activities for children and young people. Here is the Flyer for this event.

 

In addition, a variety of activities, introductions, and demonstrations will be offered by extracurricular organizations: dance (classical, modern jazz, hip hop, breakdance, contemporary, capoeira, etc.), martial arts (Taichi Qigong, Soo Bahk Do, Tae Kwon Do, Taijiquan, self-defense, judo), yoga, racquet sports, mini tennis lessons, rhythmic gymnastics lessons, music workshops, theatre workshops, pony rides, diving, mountain biking courses with obstacles, and for younger children, musical and dance introductions.

 

There will also be a climbing wall, trampolines, bouncy castles and Restaurants available on site.

 

If you are looking for local clubs for your children to join, you won’t want to miss this!

 

FREE admission.

For more information, click here.

Defence update: Wraparound Childcare funding updates for autumn term 2025

Are you eligible to join the 9,000 Service families claiming up to £3,400, per child, per year, for their before and after school childcare costs?

What is Wraparound Childcare (WAC)?
The WAC scheme provides funding for up to 20 hours per week, per child, during term time, to eligible Service families with children aged 4 to 11 years old (4-16 years old if in receipt of disability allowances), who are in full-time education in school or being home educated. WAC funding is available to eligible working Service families in the UK, assigned overseas within the European Economic Area & Switzerland (EEA&S), assigned overseas and using Defence Children Services (DCS) before and after school childcare provision or assigned overseas unaccompanied with family remaining in an eligible location.

Explore Flanders; full of many jewels of the Belgian Crown

If you are looking for somewhere to explore in Belgium, how about the Flanders region?

With art and architecture, World War 1 sites and history, sports and outdoor activities, amusements parks and nature parks a plenty, there is something for everyone in the family.

Find out more here.

Your Market Guide Throughout Belgium

Do you love a wander around a Market to while away the hours?

There are regular Markets throughout the country offering fresh, food, fruit, vegetables, clothing, vintage treasures, local crafts, plants and flowers.

Request your copy of the HIVE’s Guide to Markets throughout Belgium; either pop into the Office or drop me an email on RC-Pers-HIVE-SHAPE-0Mailbox@mod.gov.uk

Top 10 Kids Farms to visit whilst here in Belgium

Love a Farm? You will be spoilt for choice with this lovely range.

Here’s 10 Farms offering hands-on experiences to enrich your visit, that’s one for each Province! If these ten aren’t enough, there is a link within the article to 66 Farms in Belgium that kids will love!

Visit Louvain-la-Plage this Summer, until 31st July 2025

Get into the Holiday mood with Louvain-la-Neuve’s answer to a stay-at-home summer break: Louvain-la-Plage! 

The university town has been converted into a summer holiday destination extraordinaire which is perfect for lazy summer days and entertainment. Offering concerts on Thursday and Saturday evenings.

You can also also feel the sand between your toes along the sandy stretch with its palm trees, parasols, deckchairs, beach games, a bouncy castle and plenty of other outdoor activities for all ages.

Louvain-la-Plage is operating until 31st July 2025.
Open daily 10.00-midnight with the beach games ending at 20.00 each evening.

WHERE: Grand Place, Louvain-la-Neuve

Find out more here.

BRUSSELS: Leuven’s Big Holiday, Friday 11th July to Friday 8th August 2025

Get into the spirit of Summer at the Het Groot Verlof (the big Holiday) Festival. 

The FREE Summer Festival offers numerous events including:

• Picnic in the Park on 20th July 
• Open-air cinema 
• A packed programme of concerts, including Red Sebastian and Daan. 

In the middle of the Festival you can also catch the four day M-idzomer music and culture festival from 31st July to 3rd August.

Catch these events across Leuven.

For more information, click here.

DIO Service Family Accommodation (SFA) Communications Update - 11 July 2025

Planning for move-ins/outs and removals this summer

Summer is the busiest time of the year for housing allocations and removal activity. Our suppliers will always strive to meet your preferred dates, however because of the volume of requests, on occasions this is not always possible.

To help manage this busy time and ensure you have a smooth experience, we recommend families consider our advice and guidance when planning for move-ins/outs and removals: 

• Book your pre-move-out appointment with your Housing Officer as soon as you apply for your next SFA (at least 30 working days ahead of your scheduled move-out date). We have extended the time to complete a pre-move-out appointment from 14 to 30 working days, allowing more time for you to receive advice on moving-out and guidance to prepare your house in meeting the move-out standard. 
• If circumstances allow, please only request services during the last week of July and first week of August if you are unable to move at any other time. These are particularly popular dates and tend to be fully booked in advance. 
• We understand how important it is to receive your next allocation and status of your application as soon as possible. Pinnacle have 15 working days to process your request, we kindly ask you do not chase for an update before this timeframe. 
• You can start planning your removal as soon as Assignment Orders are received via the Agility Portal. To start the process, you only need the location and not a confirmed delivery address. 
• Once you have been allocated SFA, it is advised to confirm availability for removals before booking a move-in/out appointment. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Agility directly (remember to include your service number). For further guidance, please visit the Pinnacle website.


Identifying your local named Housing Officer

To help you easily find out who your local point of contact is and ensure you can speak to your Housing Officer over the phone when you most need advice or help about your SFA – a full list of Pinnacle’s Housing Officers (including a name and direct telephone number) has been made available on the Pinnacle website, or you can call the National Service Centre on 0800 031 8628 (option 4).

You can find FAQs on the Defence Homes website, if you would like to find out more about the role of a Housing Officer, when you might contact them and additional ways of getting in touch.

This is in support of the SFA Consumer Charter commitment to provide families with better and clearer communication, including a named Housing Officer for every service family who can be contacted about housing related queries. Progress is underway for the remaining commitments which are due to be in place by December 2025.


JLL stock condition surveys return

From 21 July – 1 September 2025, DIO have commissioned Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) to continue the Stock Condition Survey on 1,000 UK SFA homes across 20 sites. The homes selected will be of different types, age and condition.

If your SFA is selected, you will receive a notification letter from JLL at least 2 weeks before the intended date of the inspection, requesting your availability to allow the surveyor access to your property. The surveys will take a maximum of 1 hour.

Where possible, we greatly appreciate your cooperation if you can provide access to your property, as this will allow the surveyor to successfully carry out the survey and inform a detailed assessment of the condition of SFA homes.

Please note your home will not be selected if you have already taken part in a previous survey (from January 2025).

Defence Update - Simplifying Overseas Services Finances

 

Simplifying overseas service finances…

Defence’s new digital tools and updated allowances help you and your family navigate the financial aspects of overseas assignments – with greater confidence and less paperwork.

When serving overseas, you should be able to focus on your work and settling into your new location, without worrying about unexpected costs or navigating complex policies.

Financial stability and a clear understanding of what you and your family can receive are essential components to support operational effectiveness. That’s why Defence is freeing up valuable time and providing welcome reassurance, by simplifying allowance processes and providing tools that reduce admin.

These changes make the move to overseas life smoother for everyone, providing greater clarity and choice – whether you’re posted abroad or keeping a home across borders.

Places where kids eat free (or for £1) - Summer Holidays 2025

If you are heading back to the U.K. for a visit this Summer, check out these brilliant deals.

For further information please go to: https://moneysavingcentral.co.uk/kids-eat-free and check any T&Cs that apply to the offer(s) you may be interested in.

Brussels Monthly Vintage Market, Sunday 3rd August 2025

Brussels Monthly Vintage Market is back in August!

Come along and browse the Vintage clothing, items and decor.

Local Creators Stalls, Music along with Food and Drink, also available.

WHEN: Sunday 3rd August 2025

WHERE: Reset 8, rue de Ligne, Brussels

VIP Entry 10:00-18:00

FREE Entry 11:00-18:00

SHAPE: Summer Cinema at the SHAPE International Library, Tuesday 22nd July 2025, 15:00

Don’t miss the Family Movie at SHAPE International Library next week!

No registration required, just turn up.
All movies will be G or PG Rated. 

Contact the Library direct for Movie Titles.

Give Us Time: Orlando holiday opportunity - Autumn 2025

Give Us Time have a new opportunity for a two week break in Orlando in the autumn, which is live on their website at https://bookings.giveustime.org.uk/login

This is for up to four people in a town house on the Encantada Resort in Kissimmee, to the southwest of Orlando. The resort is close to Disney World and Sea World, and an hour’s drive to both of Florida’s beautiful coastlines.

The dates for this break are Saturday 20 September to Saturday 4 October – they are unable to request alternative dates, although families can choose to arrive a day later or leave a day earlier, depending on flights.

July Quest Magazine is Out Now

To read this issue online, or any previous issues, please go to: Quest Magazine | Quest Online

NAAFI Fund Dives Deep to Support Injured Veterans and Service Personnel

The underwater world just got a whole lot more accessible and therapeutic, thanks to a generous £5,000 award from the NAAFI Fund to the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (RCDM)! This fantastic funding is already making waves, allowing RCDM to replace and procure essential sub-aqua diving equipment. This means their vital Diving courses can continue to benefit not only Tri-Service personnel but also provide ongoing assistance to incredible Diving with the Injured expeditions.

The recent trip to the Maldives was an undeniable success: injured veterans, finding much-needed therapy in the serene embrace of the ocean, experiencing the wonders of marine life. This unique form of rehabilitation offers a sense of weightlessness, freedom, and an incredible connection to nature that can be profoundly healing.