HEADSPACE App A.I. Companion and Family & Friends Offer

HEADSPACE are sharing the love! Not only is there a FREE sign-up for MOD Personnel, including UK Civil Servants this has been extended to include families of Serving Personnel 🙌 

Whilst the advertising focuses on Army, this service and offering is available for Tri-Service. 

Find out more here 👉  https://work.headspace.com/britisharmy/member-enroll              

https://work.headspace.com/royal-navy-wellbeing/member-enroll    

         

HEADSPACE have also introduced an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Mental Health Companion called Ebb. This app has been built by clinical experts to help guide users through some of life’s challenges, so you know you’re not alone. Complete with meditations and activity prompts, check it out in more detail here.

 

FamCAS 25: Have you shared your views on Service family life? Time’s running out!

The Families Continuous Attitude Survey (FamCAS) 2025 closes in 1 week! Don’t miss your opportunity to tell us what you think about Service family life.

Each year, Defence invites a random sample of Service partners to complete the Families Continuous Attitude Survey (FamCAS). This survey is your chance to tell us about your experiences and views in relation to various aspects of Service family life.

You can see if you are in this year’s sample, and can access the survey, by using the online tool.

The survey closes on Monday 7 April 2025 at 23:59.

Why complete the survey?
Your feedback will help us to understand what Service life is like for your family, which will help us to make informed decisions on what changes to prioritise and develop policies to address your family’s challenges and needs. Whether it’s with childcare and children’s education, housing, deployment, or employment.

Who can complete the survey, and how?

To find out if you can take part in FamCAS 2025, please use the online eligibility tool. You will be asked to enter a token/access code, which is your partner’s Service number. This is needed for security reasons only. Please be assured that all survey responses are anonymous.

If eligible, the tool will direct you to the survey. We recommend using Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.

If you have any questions about this year's FamCAS, please email: Analysis-Surveys-Enquiries@mod.gov.uk

Information and support
Check out our new Families Hub, which signposts to support, guidance and organisations to help you navigate Service family life.

Visit Discover My Benefits to find out about the range of benefits, opportunities, and support for you and your family.

SHAPE: After School Activities for 6+ at the SHAPE International Library

Two fantastic events for kids ages 6+ after school. April and May sessions are both coming up.

Registration is required for both, sign-up at the Library Desk.

Five FREE Animal Parks and Attractions in and around Brussels

If you are looking for something to do this Easter break, you have come to the right place. You may have already heard of or visited the awesome Pairi Daiza or Plankendael Zoos, but did you know there are five free animal parks and attractions to visit in and around the Capital?

Although Brussels may have briefly had a zoo in Parc Leopold in the mid-1800s before animal deaths, bad conditions and falling numbers befell it, today there are five modern gems in the Brussels Capital Region.

Click Here to find out more about:

• Brussels City Farm
• Nos Pilifs
• Roodebeek Park
• Tivoli Park
• Huizingen Domain

And as two wee extras, don’t forget to check out Jette Children’s Farm in Baudoin Park and The Little Farm of Uccle near Fond Roy.

BRUSSELS: Mundo Pixar Experience, on now!

Looking for something to do this weekend? Or fancy having something up your sleeve for a wet Spring  Weekend or the Easter Break? How about the Mundo Pixar Experience at Brussels Expo?

After its great success in Madrid and Barcelona, “Mundo Pixar” Experience has opened its doors at Brussels Expo (Palais/Paleis1).

Visit the world’s largest immersive Pixar exhibition to date.

With almost 3,000 m² featuring your favourite characters, a journey through your beloved stories with life-size scenes: Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Inside Out, Cars, Ratatouille, Luca, Monsters Inc., Up, Coco, Elemental, this is an exhibition, not to be missed!

The whole experience lasts about 60 minutes.

Tickets are (on average) 25-30 € for adults.

WHERE: Place de Belgique 1/Avenue Impératrice Charlotte, 1020 Brussels.
WHEN: From Now until July 2025
WEBSITE (for tickets/practical info/directions): https://mundopixar.com/bruxelles/en/

Visa Fee Increase - 9th April 2025

 

Some Visa fees will be increasing from 9^th April 2025; a full list of the increases can be found here. 

A summary of the increases that may affect our Service Community are in the image.

New HIVE Information Packs Available NOW!

 Did you know the HIVE has a Departure Pack and a Welfare Pack?

These are available in electronic format or as a hard copy. 

Call into the Community Office or drop me an email on RC-Pers-HIVE-SHAPE-0Mailbox@mod.gov.uk to request a copy!

If there is an information pack that you think would be useful, please do let me know ☺️

 

SHAPE: Netball Team has returned!

Love Netball? Want to get back into playing?

Pop along to the SHAPE Main Gym on a Monday at 17:15 to 18:30 to join in.
For more information contact Rachael or Chelsea, details on the poster

Department for Work and Pensions(DWP): Don’t miss out on your State Pension entitlement

Are you here as a spouse of a serving Military Person? If you arrived between 2006 and 2018 read on….

The 5 April 2025 deadline for paying voluntary National Insurance contributions to fill any gaps in your record between 2006 and 2018 is approaching. To support anyone wishing to check their records, or make a payment, there is now a DWP video and an online form to request a callback.

Watch the DWP video How to check your State Pension and pay for gaps in your National Insurance record on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_8GkTNgyXqs

DWP’s online form is available to request a call back at: https://ow.ly/oGbl50VarlC

National Memorial Arboretum: Talent in the Ranks Artist Development Programme 2025

 

For more information, contact: Rasmith@thenma.org.uk

SHAPE: British Forces Post Office (BFPO) Opening Hours

 

The British Forces Post Office is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 09:15 - 13:30

Wednesday and Friday 09:15 - 13:00.

The BFPO number for SHAPE is BFPO 26.

Asian Hornet Traps in the Walloon Region.

Seen these hanging in trees whilst out walking?

If you come across any of these when you’re out exploring, please leave them alone and do not touch them; they are traps for Asian Hornet Queens. They have been proposed by the Walloon Region and are the subject of a study.

Help for Heroes: Seeking Help and Recovery College Courses

Help for Heroes have a new leaflet to explain how they can support, and how to access this.  To view the leaflet please click HERE 
 
There is also a range of courses available through the Help for Heroes Recovery College.  Information and the prospectus can be found on the Help for Heroes website: https://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/get-help/recovery-college/self-help-guides/
 
For further details on Help for Heroes services and how to get in touch, please go to: https://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/

Euro Space Centre, Transinne

If you have a budding astronaut, the Euro Space Centre is a Must-Do!

• Dress up and strike a pose
• Test the vital skills needed to be a successful astronaut applicant with interactive tests for precision, accuracy, communication, vision and more
• Walk on the Moon and Mars
• Drop into the void to experience the sensation of a free fall
• Feel the effects of Centrifugal Force on your body, like the astronauts experience at take-off
• Visit the Planetarium and take in a film on the theme of Mars and the Sun System
• Relive the big moments of the conquest of Space
• Experience the 5D Space Show in the dynamic cinema
• And fly over the Red Planet in your own spaceship.

Stop for refreshments in the Voyager Cafe before heading out to Cosmic Valley to walk the alleys of the galaxy and learn more about the means of communication set up to keep in touch with your teammates back on Earth.

For some exclusive activities including fixing a satellite, riding the multi-axis chairs and the weightlessness wall, extend your trip over 2 days and 1 night with full board. 

A thoroughly enjoyable day out!

For more information visit: https://www.eurospacecenter.be/en/

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

Have you visited Luxembourg yet?

This beautiful, landlocked country is definitely worth a visit whilst you are in Belgium. With all public transport being FREE, the gorgeous architecture and all the history of this Grand Duchy country there is so much to see and do.

We visited on a sunny Saturday, parked for free at Kleinbettingem and hopped onto the Tram, also free and incredibly clean, for a 20 minute journey in Luxembourg City. We then met a lovely lady at the City Tram Stop who took us under her wing, warning us to be cautious of Pickpockets and advising us of the best stop to alight ‘Hamilius’. Here there was a lovely fruit and antiques market in Place Guillaume II that we enjoyed browsing on our way to the Tourist Information Office.

At the TIO we collected a City Map and embarked upon out 3km City Walk to discover the historical delight of the City. The Grand Ducal Palace (top photo) is an impressive sandstone building not far off the Place Guillaume II and is guarded by a lone soldier. Along the route we passed winding, Harry Potter-esque streets, churches and chapels and some gorgeous buildings. At the half-way point we stopped at the UNESCO World Heritage Bock Casemates (see photo 👇🏻 ) to explore the world famous fortifications of the old town.

As we completed our walk we stopped for some well deserved lunch at the fantastic Chocolate House before visiting the Cathedral Notre-Dame de Luxembourg and riding the Pfaffenthal Panoramic Elevator.

There was so much more we could have done and we would love to go back to explore more. If you visit, do call into to the Office or drop me an email and let me know what you do!

For more information, visit:

https://www.luxembourg-city.com/en/plan-your-stay/traveller-information/citymap

New Customs Duties and Travel Regulations Update

If you are travelling back and forth between the UK, please be aware of the customs duties and new travel regulations for Non-UK Passport holders and Belgians residents.

Travelling to and from the UK? Beware custom duties and new travel regulations for Belgians | The Bulletin

SHAPE: Calling all keen Cricketers, SHAPE Cricket Club needs you!

The sun is shining, what better time to start thinking about Summer?

The SHAPE Cricket Club are seeking new players….

They train every Wednesday between 17:30 and 19:00 at SHAPE Indoor Tennis Courts.

Membership open to all NATO AMIS Card holders.

Contact James.YARWOOD@shape.nato.int for more information.

SHAPE: The Bookshop Mons celebrates its first anniversary

Owners Jerry Systermans and Laura Desmedt, celebrate the first anniversary of The Bookshop, Mons

A passion for reading in English is fuelling the literary community in the Hainaut capital. The Bookshop is a very welcoming English-language book service with a growing community of passionate readers.

Find The Bookshop Mons at:
Rue de la Chaussée, 26-28
7000 Mons
Belgium


Read More Here: The Bookshop Mons: A passion for reading in English fuels literary community in Hainaut capital | The Bulletin

 

Op ASCEND – Careers After Service

Op ASCEND is a free, government-backed service to support veterans in growing their careers.

Whether you’re a veteran seeking employment or an employer looking to attract skilled veterans to your workforce, find out what signing up to the Op ASCEND service can do for you.

For more information visit: https://careersafterservice.campaign.gov.uk

BRUSSELS: Neil Young and Jean-Michel Jarre to perform in an Open-Air Concert at Brussels Palace

 

If you are a fan of Neil Young or Jean-Michel Jarre, don’t miss their performances at a new Summer Festival at Brussels Palace Open Air.

Neil Young is performing at the end of June 2025 with Jean-Michel Jarre performing at the beginning of July 2025.

For more information see this link: Gracia Live | Home

Monthly Rail Strikes planned between now and July

Please be aware….

A general strike that would also include the larger railway unions is scheduled for 17 and 31 March. Rail unions are planning two strike days a month between now and July, likely on a rotating basis, for example by district.
 

At this time, the unions are threatening four strike days per month from April onwards with a new strike notice filed that runs from Sunday 23 to Sunday 30 March

See Here for more information.

Have Your Say: Accompanied Established Long-Term Relationship Overseas Pilot Survey open until 14th April 2025

If you are in a Long-Term Relationship, this is your opportunity to share your views and help inform decisions & changes to the Overseas Accommodation Offer for Service Personnel.

Find out more Here

Take the Survey

How to protect yourself from loan sharks

How to protect yourself from loan sharks
A loan shark – or illegal money lender - is someone who lends money illegally without proper authorisation from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

That means if you borrow from them, they don’t have to follow the rules – they can decide how much you pay back and when.

These criminals are not always easy to spot - they can be a friend, a fellow service member, even a senior officer.

Whoever they are, they will usually appear as a friendly face, offering you a favour. They may tell you that what they are offering is nothing more than peer-to-peer lending and their offer may seem hard to resist.

But very quickly the situation can spiral out of control, and you could find yourself having to pay back much more than you initially borrowed. You might even be subjected to threats, violence and intimidation if you struggle to make a payment.