DIO Families First newsletter – issue 24.

This issue and previous issues can be read online at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/defence-infrastructure-organisation-service-family-accommodation

Recruit for Spouses - online workshop for Foreign & Commonwealth military spouses and partners Tue 4 Mar.

Calling All Foreign & Commonwealth Military Spouses - Unlock Your Potential: Master Immigration, Visas, and Career Growth with Recruit for Spouses!

Are you navigating the complexities of life in the UK? Let RFS help you thrive! Join the exclusive workshop hosted by the Army Families Federation (AFF) and Recruit for Spouses (RFS), tailored specifically for Foreign & Commonwealth military spouses.

Defence launches the Families Hub – an information portal to help navigate Service family life.

The Families Hub – which signposts to information, support and organisations to help navigate all stages of Service family life – has launched.

For the first time, Armed Forces families will be able to access a “one stop shop” digital platform – which signposts to a wealth of information, support and organisations – to help you navigate Service family life.

Give Us Time - March breaks for Forces families.

 

Give Us Time have provided a round up of the breaks they have available for Forces families for March below:

NEW!

21 – 28 March

Bird’s Nest, Carrick Shore, SW Scotland – property is for 2 people only Airbnb link

AVAILABLE AGAIN DUE TO CANCELLATION

Headspace App – Five FREE family & friends subscriptions available for Army Personnel and Army Civil Servants.

Click poster to enlarge. Army personnel and Army civil servants are eligible to sign up to Headspace for free, and also to extend this free subscription offer to five friends and family.

To sign up, please go to https://work.headspace.com/britisharmy/member-enroll

Please use your @mod.gov.uk, @armymail.gov.uk or @csmail.mod.uk email address to verify your account when prompted.

Headspace says, “We make mental health support accessible to everyone, no matter their background or experience. Through our flagship Headspace app, we provide mindfulness tools for everyday life, including meditations, sleepcasts, mindful movement and focus exercises. Our enterprise offerings combine this experience with a human-centered model of care, with coaching, therapy, psychiatry and EAP services under one roof. Our team of experts ranges from mental health clinicians, to Emmy award-winning producers and data scientists, working together as one to help millions of people around the world be healthier and more productive.”

Give Us Time: respite breaks for military families - 2025 dates are live!

 

Click posters to enlarge.

The charity ‘Give Us Time’ offers accommodation for respite breaks for UK military families. No referral is required from Welfare for families to sign up. Please see the posters for more details and the current March dates, but more 2025 dates are available on the website: https://giveustime.org.uk/

For more information email: enquiries@giveustime.org.uk

Applications open for the Service Pupil Support Programme.

Exciting update for UK schools supporting service children!

The Service Pupil Support Programme is back and bigger than ever, now offering grants up to £150,000!

Part of the MOD’s Armed Forces Families Fund (AF3), the Service Pupil Support Programme will award grants between £5,000 and £150,000 to projects supporting service children along their educational pathway, and to reach their full potential.

Service Leavers' Guide - latest edition.

T​he updated version of the Service Leavers' Guide has now been published on Gov.UK.

Please click the link to read this edition online.

DIO Service Family Accommodation (SFA) Communications Update .

Reporting Damp and Mould

Tackling damp and mould in SFA remains a top priority for DIO and our suppliers. Over 9,000 homes have already benefited from the delivery of damp and mould works since the taskforce stood up in 2023. In response to the works delivered, reoccurrence of damp and mould has been addressed in circa 85% of cases.

SHAPE & BRUSSELS have a new AFF Overseas Assistant!

Meet the new AFF Overseas Assistant….Rachel.

She says…” Hello, my name is Rachel, and I am employed as the AFF Overseas Assistant (GSO), and I am based at SHAPE in Belgium. I can offer tri-service support for any issues or concerns that you may have; please find my postcard attached to this bulletin, with a link to contact me. It can be helpful to save my email to your contact list for any future enquiries”

The Ripple Pond – Spring Newsletter

 

The Spring Edition of The Ripple Pond has arrived. Here is the link to read online.

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust: Reducing Veteran Homelessness Programme reopens for applications

Reducing Veteran Homelessness Programme reopens for applications 

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) has announced a new round of funding under the Reducing Veteran Homelessness (RVH) Programme in a bid to deliver further sustainable, supported housing options for veterans in need.

The Trust is delivering this important programme on behalf of the Office of Veterans’ Affairs (OVA) in support of the government’s ambition to end veteran homelessness and ensure veterans have access to the support they need, including housing.

Current findings from the RVH programme
Following on from the initial awards made in July 2023, the Trustcommissioned Alma Economics to consult with key stakeholders in the housing sector, including those awarded funds in the first round. Key recommendations from this consultation include:

• A need for increased support for veterans with acute, complex or multiple support needs.

• Promoting a needs-based approach to support provision.

• Addressing bottlenecks across the lifecycle of support provision.

• A focus on partnership working.

Both the RVH interim programme evaluation report and the summary of consultation findings are available to read on the Trust’s website.

Further funding available
Under this new round of the RVH programme, charities, local authorities and registered social housing providers can apply for up to £300,000 towards a project delivered for up to nine months.

There is also an opportunity for organisations to apply for an enhanced award of up to a further £200,000 where that work will fill a significant level of unmet need.

What applicants will need to show
Projects should improve the capacity of services in supported housing to better help veterans with a range of different needs. Full details of the programme priorities are mapped out in a Programme Guidance document available on the Trust’s website.

Op Fortitude
Funded projects will need to work with Op Fortitude, a UK wide referral pathway supporting homeless veterans or veterans at risk of homelessness, into housing. 

Find out more
Want to know more about applying to the RVH programme? Full details are available at: www.covenantfund.org.uk

Application deadline is noon, 31 March 2025.

ONLINE: Time For You Online Parenting Emotional Support Session, starting next week!

 Starting next week...Time for you

Are you parenting in mainland Europe or Turkey and looking to connect with other parents while receiving expert guidance and emotional support?

Join our online parenting and emotional support sessions, facilitated by Health Visitor Kerry Riley, Specialist Community Public Health Nurse.

Click here to join: https://tinyurl.com/y4ndehpa

Why Join?

Research indicates that peer support and guided discussions improve parental wellbeing and enhance coping strategies (Public Health England, 2021). Engaging in community support reduces feelings of isolation and contributes to positive child development (NSPCC, 2019).

Take this opportunity to connect and learn in a supportive online environment 

Standing with Giants installation returns to the British Normandy Memorial ahead of VE Day 80

Following an overwhelming response to 2024’s installation of the Standing with Giants captivating project, the Giants return to the Meadow Fields of the British Normandy Memorial ahead of VE Days 80th Anniversary this year.

If you didn't get a chance to see this last year, please don’t miss the opportunity this year. It returns on 12th April and remains on display until September 2025. It is set to be an incredibly emotional and humbling experience. More Information Here.

Service Police Confidential Crime Line, available 24/7 - You are not alone

Anyone (Service or Civil Servant) who has been the victim or witness of serious crime at any point of their Service in the MOD can call:

• the Service Police Crime Bureau on 02392 285 170 or 02392 285 180, 
• or the Service Police confidential crime line on 0800 085 0658, available 24/7. 

You will be listened to, there is support available for victims and all allegations are taken seriously.

Are you a family member of a Veteran who is suffering with addiction?

 

Tom Harrison House provides specialist addiction recovery programmes and family support for UK Armed Forces serving personnel, veterans and emergency services personnel. The next Tom Harrison House Family experiential therapeutic retreat is 4th - 6th April 2025, at Derwent Hill Outdoor Centre, Keswick. For more details please see the poster or website: https://tomharrisonhouse.org.uk/events/afcft-family-retreats

Places are limited and will go fast so to find out more or book your place email:events@tomharrisonhouse.org.uk

Funded by Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust

SHAPE: Les Terres Disparues, Prehi Daiza at Pairi Daiza, now open

If you are looking for something to do this weekend, why not pop along to Pairi Daiza to see the incredible Land of the Past exhibition. An enjoyable trip for young and not-so-young alike, this spectacular immersion into prehistoric times will not disappoint.

Meet Vulcain, the 21 meter long most complete dinosaur skeleton ever displayed, in the grand entrance. Marvel at the family of Woolly Mammoths down by the lake and the quake at the sight of the ferocious T-Rex’s eyeing up their next meal.

Fascinating facts, spectacular sights and sensational sounds, this new exhibition is not to be missed.

Do you have ‘Families Insurance’?

In Belgium, the tenant of a property is responsible for maintaining and clearing the paths accessing their property; for example, should someone slip on untreated ice, or trip over an uneven pathway and sustain an injury, you as tenant would be liable.

Similarly for dog owners, should your dog jump at someone causing them to fall an injure themselves, they would likely wish to claim from the pet owner for their medical bills. 

Families Insurance (Insurance Familial) is one way of protecting yourself and your family members from personal liability claims.

KBC and ING are two Belgian banks offering such cover.

Forces Employment Charity: Job Vacancy – Families Employment Advisor, Colchester/SE England

 

Forces Employment Charity is seeking a dedicated employment advisor. As part of a national team, you will provide employment and training advice and guidance to a remote caseload of spouses and partners of still serving Armed Forces and ex-service personnel (Veterans) in the UK and overseas with personal development and/or until they are settled in sustainable careers.
​
Reporting to the National Employment Projects Manager. This position is full-time, 35 hours per week with a salary of £29,000 per annum. This role is Home-based (with community outreach) in the Colchester region with community outreach throughout the region (Southeast, East of England, London).
 
The closing date for applications is midnight on 21 Feb.
 
To find out more and to apply for this role, please click HERE
 

SHAPE: Imagix Cinema showing Films in English Language

 

Did you know Imagix Mons show films in English? 

Check out their website Here and select ‘Mons’ in the Cinema tab and ‘Original Version’ in the Version tab; there are a great selection coming up!

Little Troopers celebrates the Month of the Military Child - come and get involved!

April is the international Month of the Military Child and the charity Little Troopers is celebrating by launching a new dandelion-themed book for military children, as well as organised a special month packed full of workshops, activities and events for all forces families and schools with service children.

 

Dandelion Book

Launching on Dandelion Day – Friday 4th April – “Dandelions” is a brand-new book from Little Troopers’ resident author, Donna David. The book follows the story of a military child who is about to move home and learns all about why the dandelion is the official flower of the military child – strong, resilient and putting down roots wherever the wind takes it. Ideal for children aged eight to eleven, Little Troopers will be giving away 100 copies throughout April.

 

School Pack and Dandelion Day

Schools can now download the brand-new Little Troopers “Month of the Military Child School Pack”. Education settings are encouraged to hold their very own ‘Dandelion Day’ on Friday 4th April where students can come into school wearing something yellow to signal the school’s recognition and inclusion of military children. The Little Troopers school pack features new activities and classroom ideas to engage service and civilian children, as well as tips on involving the local military community in the special day. You can download the pack to share with your child’s school here.

 

At home activities

Families are encouraged to celebrate the Month of the Military Child at home by exploring the charity’s list of fun, dandelion-themed activities, which include painting, mask-making, playdough, baking and crafting. Get creative and share your photos online.

 

Events

Little Troopers is running events throughout April, bringing together as many military children as possible.

 

• 5th April - Online interactive science workshop hosted by Devon Science. Sign-up here.
• 13th April - Tidworth 10K and Family Fun Run. Everyone is invited to come and celebrate the Month of the Military Child while raising crucial funds for Little Troopers. There will also be entertainment and family activities throughout the morning for military families. Find out more and register here.
• 16th April - Little Troopers will be returning to the Royal Hospital Chelsea to host an intergenerational workshop during the Month of the Military Child. The event offers forces families the unique opportunity to meet and spend time with the iconic Chelsea Pensioners. Anyone interested in attending can now register here.
• 26th April – Online interactive bake-a-long workshop with CookStars. Sign-up here.

 

As well as giving away 100 copies of the new Little Troopers Dandelion Book, the charity will have lots of other giveaways for families that are signed-up to the charity’s newsletter.

 

The spring edition of the Little Troopers Gazette will also be available to request for free towards the end of the month. The newspaper will be packed with articles written by current military children, as well as featuring activities and ideas to mark this special month in the military calendar.

 

Louise Fetigan, founder of Little Troopers, comments: “Little Troopers is a charity that ensures military children from all three services are recognised, included and celebrated. That’s why we always have a busy calendar of events and activities during April the official Month of the Military Child, so that wherever you live, you can get involved in the celebrations with your little troopers.

 

“2025 is set to be a really special April and we hope lots of schools and families get involved in our new Dandelion Day and read our special new book. We also hope to see lots of you in-person at our Tidworth 10K and family fun run! Let’s all take time this month to show all the little troopers out there just how amazing they really are.”

 

For more information and to get involved visit www.littletroopers.net/month-of-the-military-child

Introducing MyCadet

MyCadet is a digital app specifically designed for parents and guardians of the Army Cadet Force, making it easier than ever to keep up to date with your cadet’s progress.

Find out more by visiting: https://armycadets.com/mycadet/
 

Pinnacle Service Families: Latest News Update for SFA Occupants

 

Our doors are open
Alongside colleagues from DIO, Amey, and VIVO, we continue to up our local offices so families can drop in for support.
In total, we are now offering this service across 14 locations, with the plan to open more in the coming weeks.
We keep the list of locations up-to-date on our website here, so please do share with your communities for the latest news.
 
SFA roadshows continue
Our Client Director and members of our regional team have already been in attendance at the first two SFA roadshows of the year at Stafford and Cosford.
These events provide families and stakeholders with a valuable opportunity to engage directly and ask questions of senior representatives from DIO, Pinnacle and Amey/VIVO in a face-to-face setting.
The next events take place on Tuesday 4 March at 1pm and 5.30pm in Brize Norton. Families and stakeholders can secure their places here.
 
New damp and mould reporting form launched
To make it easier for families to reach out to us, we have launched of a new damp and mould reporting form. This can be found on our website here.
The new form allows families to easily select the rooms they are having problems with and indicate the level of the issue.
Families are also encouraged to add photographs on the form so we can assess the issue, quickly assign a severity level and get the job across to our maintenance partners.
 
Reporting issues with cookers, showers and boilers
We really want to support families as much as possible to get a swift fix for any issues they’re experiencing in their homes.
As such it’d be really helpful if, when families contact us, they could have the make and model of cookers, showers and boilers to hand so we can pass the information over to VIVO or Amey straight away, who will get the issue fixed as soon as possible.

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust: New Funding to Support Bereaved Military Families

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) has announced a new funding opportunity for charities supporting bereaved military families.

The Empowering Bereaved Military Families programme will seek to build a strong, collaborative network to meet the needs of those who have given most.

British Gas Apprenticeship Week Open Days

To mark Apprenticeship week, British Gas are hosting a series of open days at our engineering academies this week:

Hamilton Academy Open Day:

AM: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1109269818889?aff=oddtdtcreator

PM:https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1109275084639?aff=oddtdtcreator

 

Dartford Academy Open Day:

AM: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1109282757589?aff=oddtdtcreator

PM:https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1203385762209?aff=oddtdtcreator

 

Apprenticeship Information Webinar: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1116398420729?aff=oddtdtcreator

 

Thatcham Academy Open Day:

AM: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1109045638359?aff=oddtdtcreator

PM: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1106976940829?aff=oddtdtcreator

 

Leicester Academy Open Day:

AM: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1109317952859?aff=oddtdtcreator

PM:https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1111326089249?aff=oddtdtcreator

England: Sexual Assault Referral Centres

There are 48 SARCs across England, which provide help 24 hours, seven days a week. 

This includes crisis care, medical and forensic medical examinations, emergency contraception and testing for sexually transmitted infections.

To find out more about help after sexual assault and abuse, visit www.nhs.uk/sarcs

ONLINE Well-being Sessions still running

The third session ‘Overcoming Isolation and Finding your Tribe’ is running on Thursday 6th March 2025 at 20:30-21:30 (CET) and includes a FREE Gift of a £5 Tesco voucher. Sign-up below 👇🏻 

The final session in the series ‘Growing Confidence’ is running on Tuesday 1st April 2025, 20:30-21:30 (CET) and includes a FREE Gift of an E-book entitles ‘How to Build Confidence Every Day’. Book your place now, QR Code in the picture.

Step into Health: Maintaining or Revalidating your Professional Registration when you accompany your Spouse/Partner on an Overseas Posting

If you are a Registered Health Professional accompanying your spouse or partner on an overseas posting, you may be wondering how to maintain your registration during your time overseas.

This Comprehensive Guide should answer all your questions and concerns.

In addition, they are holding a Webinar to help you return to practice after returning to the UK from an overseas posting. This takes place on Wednesday 26th March 2025 11:00 (CET); Sign-Up here.

SHAPE: Mons Postal Centre Strike action continues

Despite ongoing talks, significant progress has not been made regarding the reorganisation of the bpost post-staff’s routes. As a result, the ongoing strike action in eight postal distribution centres in Wallonia, including Mons, is expected to continue.

More Here.

Save the Date: Major Commemoration planned for 210th Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo

Don’t miss this 210th Anniversary commemoration planned for 28th and 29th June 2025.

The Braine L’Alleud Domain is organising a large scale re-enactment of the Battle of Waterloo. Over the two days some 2,000 military reenactors, 100 horses and 25 cannons will bring the battle to life.

For more information and to purchase tickets see Here.

National Demonstration impacting Public Transport throughout Belgium planned for Thursday 13th February 2025.

Please be aware of the national demonstration by Trade Unions, planned for Thursday 13th February 2025.

Unions intend that demonstrations, over the new Belgian federal government, will be specifically organised on the 13th of each month.

It will impact public transport, mainly bus lines, but road traffic volume could well be impacted by this as well. Belgian railway company SNCB workers are not expected to join the strike. Read Here for more information.

‘Public Transport’ does include flights, with both Brussels Airport and Charleroi Airport anticipating significant delays; read more Here.

Civvy Street Magazine - February-March 2025 Edition

 

Read this months edition online Here 

 

Children’s Mental Health Week: More Resources

 A few more resources for parents and children to support young people’s Mental Health 👇🏻

Children’s Mental Health Week: Resources

Resources to support your child with their mental wellbeing 

See below for a number of exercises and apps young people can access 👇

www.kooth.com/mod

Parenting Smart - Practical tips to support children’s wellbeing and behaviour
https://parentingsmart.place2be.org.uk/

List of reading and digital resources for teenagers
https://www.ssafa.org.uk/media/x1xhrdnm/reading_well_for_teens_-_book_guide.pdf

Little Troopers
https://www.littletroopers.net/little-troopers-at-home/

YoungMinds
https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/

Children’s Mental Health Week: Support

If you are concerned about your child’s mental health, you should call your local medical centre/GP. 

If you feel your child is in immediate danger, please call 112.

For support and advice, you can speak to your SSAFA Community Health Team or visit: https://www.ssafa.org.uk/get-help/ssafa-community-health-overseas/family-hub/childrens-mental-health-week/

Sometimes, a chat is enough, but the right environment is important…