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Tuesday, 27 May 2025
Friday, 23 May 2025
RBLI Lifeworks Families – new remote courses now available
Lifeworks Families Remote courses will run on the following dates:
Tuesday 27th - Friday 30th May
Monday 23rd - Thursday 26th June
Monday 28th - Thursday 31st July
- Lifeworks Families courses are available to those in the UK and overseas.
- Lifeworks families courses are available to spouses, partners, school-leaving age (and above) children and extended/blended family members.
- Lifeworks Families courses are available to serving and veteran family members.
To view the Lifeworks Families leaflet, please click here.
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!
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.
On the course we will talk about:
- Day 1 – Assess where you are right now and create an action plan to improve your situation. We look at how recruitment works and begin to develop a ‘skills library.’
- Day 2 – Why you must have a CV a certain way, including what you DON’T put in, creating that CV and tailoring it. You will also be introduced to, and complete some of, a qualifications package which is part of your course.
- Day 3 - Covering letters; completing applications; starting to formulate your thinking to tell people about yourself; tricky interview questions.
- Day 4 – Interview technique and types of interview, preparing yourself and your thinking; a mock interview skills and where to get further support.
Service Family Accommodation (SFA) Communications Update from DIO, 16 May 2025
Early adopters of new online platform HomeHub
DIO in collaboration with Pinnacle, Amey and VIVO, have invited a small group of Personnel and families as early adopters of HomeHub – a new online platform for households to easily manage repairs, appointments and their SFA in general.
Early adopters include representatives from all three services and a mix of ranks and locations – with the aim of gaining a broad representation of our SFA community and estate.
Those participating will be contacted in the coming days with instructions on how to take part. From this month until August, they will have access to an early version of HomeHub where they can feedback their honest thoughts and experiences through surveys.
For those families supporting the development of HomeHub as early adopters, your help in gathering feedback will be invaluable in helping us refine the portal into a seamless and user-friendly platform that really meets the needs of our families. A finalised version of HomeHub will be rolled out to all SFA this year.
Summer safety reminders:
Window restrictors
With the warmer weather and children soon off for the school holidays, it’s imperative you and your family stay safe this summer by following the current safety guidance on window restrictors.
We understand that it can get very warm, and you may want to open windows wide to let in a cool breeze, but there is a risk of children or vulnerable adults falling from open windows and being injured if restrictors are not engaged.
It is important to check whether your window restrictors are operating correctly. Please contact Pinnacle immediately on 0800 031 8628 if your restrictors are not working or your windows can be opened more than 100mm when restrictors are engaged.
Gas and electrical safety
Gas and electrical safety in SFA are a top priority for DIO, our industry partners and their sub-contractors. We regularly ensure appliances are safe and checks are carried out for gas every 12 months and electrics every 2 years.
There have been a few incidences recently where access has been blocked to a boiler flue or electrics have been adjusted – causing damage to the properties and a safety risk to families and neighbours.
To ensure everyone remains safe, it is vital we can access your home to carry out these inspections and you do not interfere, alter or obstruct any gas or electric appliances, in particular boiler flues.
Flues are designed to take in air and then dispel harmful fumes outside homes via a second duct. Any interference could cause the appliance to malfunction or prevent boiler emissions being discharged outside the home, resulting in a serious health risk to the household. The flues are checked annually as part of the Landlord Gas Safety Inspections (LGSI).
Before undertaking any DIY projects, you should seek approval by submitting an enhancement request to Pinnacle to ensure the proposed works are safe.
Understanding the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP)
Defence has created an informative and transparent leaflet called ‘welcoming our new neighbours’ to help you understand more about our eligible Afghan allies, who have been relocated into our communities and SFA under the UK’s safe and legal ARP.
The new resource is attached for ease and outlines: Eligibility and the evidence-based migration process.
Defence’s duty to support our Afghan allies in need, who risked their lives working alongside British Armed Forces during the campaign in Afghanistan.
Answers to the most frequently asked questions and safety concerns of families.
How families can support their integration into the community.
Improvements to the e-1132 form online system
Applying for your new SFA home can be both an exciting and daunting time. To make the process of applying easier, DIO will be updating the design of the e-1132 form today (Friday 16 May 2025) – making it simpler for you to navigate the online system and locate the information you need quickly.
On receipt of a new assignment order or if you are entitled to SFA, you must apply for your new home at your next duty station using the e-1132 form. You can access the online system here after logging into the Defence intranet.
Department for Work and Pensions (including Jobcentre Plus) bank holiday arrangements for 26 May 2025
The Department for Work and Pensions (including Jobcentre Plus) office opening arrangements are different for the 26 May bank holiday.
England, Scotland and Wales:
On Monday 26 May offices and phone lines are closed.
To make sure people get their payment on a day when our offices are open, arrangements have been made to make some payments early.
If the expected payment date is Monday 26 May then benefits will be paid early on Friday 23 May. If the expected payment date is not shown, customers will get their money on their usual payment date.
Defence Update: Your Offer – recognising your service
What Defence is doing to improve Service life and information on support and opportunities for you and your family.
The substantial range of benefits and allowances available in your Armed Forces Offer recognises the unique demands of military life and individual needs, at home and abroad.
Pay is the most well-recognised aspect of the Offer, but the breadth and complexity of everything that’s included within the Armed Forces employee package means it can be difficult to navigate and understand.
Friday, 16 May 2025
Gov.uk News Update: VE Day boost for veterans’ healthcare
Government announces £1.8 million investment to transform NHS care for veterans, serving personnel and their families.
Armed forces veterans and their families will benefit from improved and targeted healthcare, the government has announced as the nation marks the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
A new training programme will ensure NHS staff across the country are supported to meet the unique health needs of veterans, serving personnel and their families.
The new programme will see NHS staff across England receiving dedicated training to help them identify and support patients with military backgrounds. GPs, doctors and NHS nurses will work with regional trainers to make sure they embed this support into their services.
To read this news announcement in full please go to: VE Day boost for veterans’ healthcare.
(SFA) Communications Update 13 May 25: Business from Home - update
Applications to run a Business from Home in your Service Family Accommodation (SFA) were paused in January 2025, to allow a review of the policy and associated processes to take place.
This review has now been completed, and DIO is able to confirm that the processing of applications to run a Business from Home has resumed with immediate effect. The existing guidance and application form for running a Business from Home is available here.
DIO is working with Pinnacle to finalise some adjustments to the application process, form and policy. Once these changes are finalised, the policy will be updated and shared on the Pinnacle website in the near future.
Under the changes, those operating a Business from Home can expect to receive better and clearer communication from a named Housing Officer who can help answer their specific housing related queries.
Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust: Suicide prevention is everybody’s business
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“Research tells us that military personnel are twice as likely to suffer from anxiety and depression as non-military civilians. A culture of self-sufficiency and not admitting ‘weakness’ still exists, which is a potential barrier to accessing support.” Ged Flynn, Chief Executive of PAPYRUS
Those working on the frontline with vulnerable veterans know this challenge all too well. It’s why the Armed Forces Covenant Trust (the Trust) has made this a key priority in their Embedding Prevention of Veteran Suicide programme (EVPS), awarding over £1.5 million to 18 projects that are driving real change in veteran suicide prevention.
PAPYRUS is a UK charity dedicated to the prevention of suicide and the promotion of positive mental health and emotional wellbeing in young people. Speaking about their EPVS funded bespoke training project, Ged explains: “Veterans may not want to engage with civilian mental health services as they feel it won’t cater for their military experiences.
“We know alienation from civilian life is a large driver of suicide ideation and no veteran deserves to be alone with thoughts of taking their own life.”
Over the next two years, PAPYRUS will offer bespoke CPD accredited suicide prevention training to those working with and supporting veterans. Delivered in partnership with veteran charities, resettlement centres, COBSEO members and veteran families, the training will equip participants with skills to identify warning signs, intervene effectively, and reduce stigma around mental health and suicide among veterans.
Ged continues: “Suicide prevention is everybody’s business and through this training for those who work with and support veterans we will be spreading greater awareness and ultimately help to prevent the tragic loss of veteran’s lives.”
Safe community spaces to promote mental wellbeing
Taking a different approach, a UK-wide veterans’ sheds project from UK Men’s Sheds Association (UKMSA) is providing safe, welcoming spaces in local communities where veterans can come together to connect, create and converse. Research gathered by the UKMSA Health and Wellbeing Survey 2023 suggests 39% of Shed Leaders believe their Shed may have prevented at least one member from taking their life.
UKMSA Shed communities reduce feelings of isolation, promote mental and physical wellbeing, and provide enormous benefits not only to those directly involved, but also the wider community. Many veterans already participate at men’s Sheds nationwide and have shared stories of how Sheds have changed their lives for the better. With their EPVS award, UKMSA will recruit a dedicated Armed Forces Lead into its existing Shed Development Team to focus on maximising the benefits of Sheds for veterans and those leaving the armed forces.
UKMSA will work with partners, including the Royal British Legion, a volunteer network and the wider community to seed new Sheds and introduce an Armed Forces Accreditation Scheme to better support the military community in existing Sheds across the UK.
Amy Robinson, UKMSA's Head of Operations and a RAF veteran said: “Men’s Sheds have long been a source of community and support for veterans, and we are proud to now be able to provide support specifically focussed on the armed forces community. This funding allows us to better inform, signpost and guide groups in the creation of new Sheds and welcoming spaces for veterans, reservists, and current military personnel soon to leave the armed forces. We know it will save lives.”
A network of collaborative support across the UK
These are just two of the 18 projects across the UK supported through EPVS earlier this year. Ranging from peer mentor training in Wales, to an adventure-based therapy programme in Northern Ireland, from specialist housing and financial support in Scotland to a holistic wellbeing project that will use football as a catalyst in the North East of England, there is a wide range of work underway.
EVPS was developed in direct response to findings from the Trust’s successful One is Too Many (OITM) programme which aimed to reduce suicide risks within vulnerable veterans in a co-ordinated and targeted way. OITM successfully improved mental health and wellbeing in veterans, with lifesaving implications. But there is always more that can be done.
The programme evaluation highlighted three key areas which needed focus;
- addressing mental health wellbeing, help-seeking and stigma within the Armed Forces community,
- supporting staff and volunteers who work with vulnerable beneficiaries,
- addressing the needs of under-represented groups.
Working together to make a difference
Collaboration is central to this programme, widening the potential reach and benefits of each project. The Trust are building connections between funded projects at round tables across the UK. These valuable events provide an opportunity for projects to connect, alongside Thrive Together leads, to understand what’s happening in their region, talk about their plans, and share best practice and resources. The first of these has already taken place, bringing together Northumberland County Council, UK Men’s Sheds Association, and DMWS (Thrive Together Lead for North East and Yorkshire) to discuss the veteran landscape in their region and ways to enhance future collaboration. More are planned across the UK in the coming months.
EPVS programme lead Steven Inman said: “The high number of applications we received shows just how much awareness there is of this issue and how many organisations across the country are ready to take action.
“While we could not fund every initiative, we’re encouraging all those who applied to stay connected with the Thrive Together programme. By working together, we can find lasting solutions to this complex and important challenge.”
Find out more
For a full list of all awardees from the Embedding Prevention of Veteran Suicide programme, visit the Trust’s website www.covenantfund.org.uk
Keep up to date with funding opportunities
For the latest updates and announcements on Covenant Fund programmes, and any other funding opportunities the Trust has available throughout the year, sign up to their e-newsletter via their website www.covenantfund.org.uk.
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