Serve & Protect Credit Union: April Update

  

📢 Free financial webinars this April from Serve and Protect - don't miss out!
 
🌍 Eco-Friendly Ways to Save Money
📝 Budgeting 101: Take Control of Your Money
🚀 Credit Score 101: Boost Your Score
☔ The Road to Financial Resilience
🔍 Before You Borrow: Things to Know
 
🔗 Register here: https://sandpcu.co.uk/webinars
 
NEW Fixed Cash ISA 
Serve and Protect have launched their new Fixed Cash ISA for the 2025/26 tax year 💷
Secure a guaranteed and tax-free 4% AER return over the next year and watch your savings grow!
🔗 Learn more via their website: https://serveandprotectcu.co.uk/save/cash-isa/
 
Podcast Episodes 11 & 12 🎧
Loan sharks can have a devastating impact on people's lives and becoming a victim is easier than you may think 👤
Our friends at Serve and Protect recently welcomed Stop Loan Sharks to their podcast to explore some misconceptions, stories from victims, and the support available! 
🔗 Watch here: https://youtu.be/6z-xdYbehBs?si=di6_UU_0OCTptnkB
For Debt Awareness Week, our friends at Serve and Protect welcomed the Money and Pensions Service to their podcast to explore the stigma around debt 🗣️
If you find it difficult to talk about money with your loved ones, this episode includes some manageable steps to start a conversion.
🔗 Watch here: https://youtu.be/X_PkxsAG1co?si=voGbF96Aovyafy9l
 
Stress Awareness Month - April
April is Stress Awareness Month, a time to understand the causes and cures of stress 😔
If your finances make you feel stressed, Serve and Protect are here to help you save and build your financial resilience.
🔗 Learn more via their website: https://serveandprotectcu.co.uk/

 

DIO Families First Newsletter - Issue 25

  

Here is the link to read this issue (and previous issues) on line: Service Family Accommodation - GOV.UK

 

Civvy Street Magazine – May 2025 Edition now available online

  

The latest edition of Civvy Street magazine is now available to read online at: https://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=9e5aa915-ce5f-49af-9183-1f88a6967914
 

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) bulk recruitment - Southern England (multiple locations)

  

The Department of Work and Pensions has 100 new Executive Officer work coach opportunities across Southern England. These are now open for applications until 17 Apr 2025.

 

Civil Service Jobs link:  Universal Credit Job Centre - Work Coach - Southern England (Ref: 729) - Civil Service Jobs - GOV.UK

 

There are jobs available at the following locations: Abingdon, Aldershot, Andover, Aylesbury, Banbury, Basingstoke, Bedford, Biggleswade, Borehamwood, Bracknell, Chesham, Didcot, Eastleigh, Hatfield, Hemel Hempstead, Hertford, High Wycombe, Hythe, Leighton Buzzard, Letchworth, Luton, Maidenhead, Milton Keynes, Newbury, Oxford, Reading, Salisbury, Slough, Southampton, St Albans, Stevenage, Waltham Cross, Watford, Witney

 

More information on DWP, the roles available and the application process can be found on the DWPEO Microsite.

New Guidance for Schools and Local Authorities on Supporting Service Pupils

  

On 1 April 2025, the Ministry of Defence and Department for Education published non-statutory guidance to help state-funded schools and local authorities in England to understand and address the needs of Service pupils in schools (reception to year 11).

Speaking about the new guidance, Minister for Veterans and People, Alistair Carns DSO OBE MC MP, said:
“Armed Forces families play a vital role in supporting our Service personnel to keep Britain secure at home and strong abroad. Fittingly, this announcement coincides with the Month of the Military Child, which is a time to speak up for our Service children.
“Service children face many challenges due to the unique nature of Service life, but it’s important that they are able to benefit from their exceptional experiences. 

“That’s why this joint guidance with the Department for Education, explains how we can break down barriers and help our Service children to thrive in education.”

Minister for Education, Stephen Morgan MP, said:
“Through our Plan for Change we are focused on breaking the link between young people’s background and their future success.
“Military families make a huge sacrifice for serving this country and their children face unique challenges that can impact their learning from family members being in active warzones, to frequently having to move schools.
“We provide a range of support for service families and their children to help break down the barriers they face. This includes additional funding for schools through the Service Pupil Premium, giving priority to service children in the admissions process and ensuring there is a school place for every service pupil returning to England from overseas bases. To build on this we have published new guidance for schools to help them to provide the targeted support service children need to achieve and thrive.”

What educational needs do Service pupils have?
Life as a Service child has unique challenges, which are not often recognised in wider society and is therefore not always reflected in an educational setting. Service pupils often move schools several times and experience family separation as their Service parent(s) are deployed. It is during these periods that Service children need extra support from local authorities and schools.

How will the new guidance help Service pupils?
This guidance brings together existing guidance into one, easily accessible, place. It outlines the support that schools and local authorities should provide to Service children, and signposts to useful resources. 

This includes new guidance on the Service Pupil Premium, which recently announced more funding for schools to offer pastoral and academic support to eligible Service pupils as they move schools and cope with family separation.
It also encourages local authorities to appoint a Service pupil champion to provide individual support for Service children and outlines their responsibilities and duties. 

This aligns with the Armed Forces Covenant, which is a promise by the nation that the Armed Forces Community should be treated fairly, and not be disadvantaged when accessing public and commercial services, with special provision provided, where appropriate.

Help schools and local authorities to support your child
Please read and share this new guidance with the below:

• school leaders, school staff, trust leaders, trust boards and governing bodies in all maintained schools, academies, and non-maintained special schools in England
• local authorities in England

Useful information 

Read the new non-statutory guidance on supporting Service pupils in schools. 

Find out how you can celebrate the Month of the Military Child. 

Visit Defence’s new Families Hub, which signposts the support, guidance and organisations that can help to navigate Service family life. The hub includes a section on education and childcare.

Going Forward into Employment (GFiE): Latest Vacancies in London area (multiple roles/locations) - available exclusively to Service Leavers, Veterans and Military Spouses/Partners

                                                       

The following vacancies are now open for applications under the GFiE Scheme:

GFIE 428 - Work Coach – Dept for Work & Pensions (DWP)

London – 18 vacancies across multiple inner/outer London locations

Closing Date: 28 April 2025

Job Description 

​GFiE roles are available specifically to people who served in the Armed Forces, or be in your resettlement period and due to leave the Armed Forces within a reasonable time frame or a Military Spouse/Partner (your current partner must still be serving or was discharged within the last 12 months).

To apply, please submit a completed EOI Form (also see Guidance notes) and an up to date CV to GFIE@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

For more information on the GFiE scheme please go to: A complete guide to GFiE – Veterans, Military Partners/Spouses and Service Leavers – Life Chances – Going Forward into Employment (GFiE) (blog.gov.uk)

Recruit for Spouses: March Newsletter

                                         

The March newsletter from Recruit for Spouses is out now. To read this on line, please go to: recruit4spouses.cmail19.com/t/r-e-thfluid-nhlmhutrr-m/

NAAFI Fund 2025 – Applications now open!

                                      

NAAFI have just announced the launch of the NAAFI Fund Date for 2025!

The NAAFI Fund was launched back in 2020 and has supported 467 projects so far, donating over £4 million to help improve the lives of service personnel and their families around the world. To read more about the projects that NAAFI have supported to date: https://naafi.co.uk/giving-back/

To read the blog post announcing new information regarding the NAAFI Fund 2025: NAAFI Fund: Applications Open Soon - NAAFI

Applications now open: https://naafi.co.uk/fund/

SSAFA Forces Additional Needs & Disability Forum (FANDF) Conference – Registration Now Open

                          

The Forces Additional Needs & Disability Forum (FANDF) Conference 2025 is taking place on 2 June 2025. This is an empowering and informative event designed for current service personnel and their families with additional needs or disabilities. Hosted by the FANDF committee and facilitated by SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, this conference will offer expert insights and practical advice for service families.

The event will be FANDF’s first hybrid FANDF event. You can join in person or virtually, making it accessible for those with caring responsibilities or living further afield.

Forces Employment Charity Monthly Update - Award Nominations, Marathons, and Events

                                               

Forces Employment Charity’s monthly update is now available, and the latest news includes:

• Heropreneurs Awards 2025 nominations are now open
• A round-up of events across the UK and online webinars
• Marathon preparations
• Get to know Forces Employment Charity’s military women employment lead
• Satisfaction survey
• Links for further information

Read the update in full at this link: Get involved: Award Nominations, Marathons, and Events