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.

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.”

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.

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”

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.

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!

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/
 

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.

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.

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/

DIO SFA Communications Update - Business From Home Requests

Updated information for those of you returning to the U.K.

Please note, with effect from Monday 20 January, the Business from Home (BfH) policy is under review and applications are now paused.

The review of this policy will have input from key stakeholders including the Families Federations to ensure the policy best meets the needs of families and wider MOD. We will share the updated policy with you as soon as possible.

You can continue to submit BfH applications to Pinnacle during this time, however these will not be processed until the review is complete. Existing applications received before 20 Jan 2025 will be processed as usual.

We understand this might be disappointing for those of you who wish to start a business from home immediately and apologise for any inconvenience caused during this pause. We will update you as soon as possible.

Serve and Protect Credit Union’s latest Fixed Saver account

 

Serve and Protect Credit Union's latest Fixed Saver account is here 🤩
 
Secure a guaranteed 4.25% AER return on your savings over the next 12 months. Available to apply throughout February.
 
Learn more at: https://serveandprotectcu.co.uk/save/fixed-saver/

 

Passport Renewal Procedure Change

It’s that time of year! If you are due to renew your passport this year, did you know the process has changed? 

The NSE no longer does this on your behalf, but they do need to know that you are applying for a passport renewal. You are now required to submit your own passport renewal online. Please remember to bear in mind the peak travel seasons and plan your renewal application accordingly.

TIPS FOR RENEWALS:

• Do let the NSE know that you are needing to apply for a passport renewal; this will get the process rolling.
• Do use the NSE/BFPO Address in section 2 of the application.
• Make sure you keep a note of your application reference number and the office you registered online with.
• Bring your old passport to the NSE and provide them with the details of your application reference number and the office you submitted to; the NSE will return your old passport along with a covering letter (which also goes to the Armed Forces Team) to ensure that everything is married up.
• Passport renewal costs can be claimed back by the Serving Person via JPA.