Togetherall: Self Compassion

                                                       

Embrace the power of self-compassion

Dive into @Togetherall’s series of self-compassion tips and discover the support waiting for you on Togetherall. Because you deserve kindness, especially from yourself.

Join the Togetherall community today for FREE at https://togetherall.com/en-gb/mental-health-support-for-all-uk-armed-forces-veterans/

Family Action Job Opportunity: Facilitators - Remote / Occasional Community Work

                                                 

The Family Action Parenting Together For Children Team are recruiting Facilitators based in Surrey, Sussex, South & West Yorkshire, Liverpool & Cheshire – mainly remote work with occasional community based work (only 1-2 times a year) – for more information please see:

Parenting Programme Facilitators, Planning Together for Children – Remote based in Sussex, Surrey, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Liverpool or Cheshire - Family Action (family-action.org.uk)

Facilitators can choose their hours and deliver sessions around any existing commitments, ideal for a second job or someone returning to work after a break – working daytime, evening time, school hours and / or weekends.

Trust launches Armed Forces Covenant Fund: Hidden Voices programme for 2024/25

                                    

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) has launched a further Covenant Fund programme under its exciting three-year Funding Framework.

The Hidden Voices programme is now open for applications for grants of up £20,000 for projects that will provide accessible mental health and wellbeing services for under-represented serving Armed Forces personnel, Reservists, Veteran and families.

What is the Hidden Voices programme all about?

The Trust ran a public consultation in 2023, which identified that one of the key areas to focus on was ‘reducing isolation and loneliness for Armed Forces communities.’ This programme will enable and deliver accessible mental health and wellbeing support, as well as to identify known and unknown gaps in service provision. The consultation findings are available to read on The Trust website.

NHS England Guidance for Service Parents: Registering a child with an NHS GP and use of the NHS App

                                                        

 Registering a child with an NHS GP and use of the NHS APP

1. Registration

There are safeguarding aspects to registering children without a parent, but it is not a reason for refusal.

Ideally, an adult with parental responsibility should normally be registered at the practice with the child where the ID of the adult can be matched to the child’s birth certificate details.

However, one of the exemptions to this is where both parents serve in the armed forces and are registered with an armed forces GP.

Serve & Protect Credit Union - Upcoming Webinars and 'Lunch & Learn' Sessions starting in September 2024

                                  

From September, Serve & Protect Credit Union are launching 'Lunch and Learns' with the following topics:​

• Managing the Cost of Living
• Budgeting and Spending
• Boosting your Credit Score
• What Lenders are looking for

​The link to sign up for these, plus other webinars throughout July and August, is here:
Webinars - Serve & Protect (serveandprotectcu.co.uk)

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Bulk Recruitment across Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire and Isle of Wight

                                                   

As the UKs largest public service department, DWP are responsible for welfare, pensions and child maintenance policy, transacting around £212 billion in payments each year, operating out of more than 800 locations with over 90,000 employees.

Recruitment is now taking place for the following with a closing date of 6th August 2024:

Location: Chippenham, Devizes, Lymington, Ryde, Salisbury, Swindon
Role: Work Coach
Number of roles: 70

For more information and to apply, please click HERE​

Reserves Continuous Attitude Survey 2024: Results Published

                                                                

Findings from the Reserves Continuous Attitude Survey (ResCAS 2024) have been published on GOV.UK: ResCAS 2024 publication.

What is RESCAS? 
ResCAS is MOD’s annual survey which gathers information on the attitudes and experiences of Volunteer Reservists across the Tri-Services.

2024 Survey Results
This year, a total of 4,656 Reservists completed ResCAS.

The survey found 70% of Volunteer Reserves are satisfied with life in the Reserve in general, and 89% are proud to serve in the Service. Satisfaction with pay was 43% and the annual bounty was 63%. Overall, there has been a decreasing trend in satisfaction with pay and the annual bounty since 2021.

The top 3 reasons cited by Reservists for joining the Reserve Service were; to serve their country (64%), for the challenge (59%), and for personal development (58%).

For further results, please see the publication report: ResCAS 2024 publication.

These include perceptions on training, life in the Reserves, career progression and family support. Queries can be sent to: 

people-strat-cdpregroup@mod.gov.uk

Naples Newsletter July 3

Click here for the latest newsletter

Naples Newsletter July 3 

Don’t miss out on Wraparound Childcare in the new autumn term. Are you eligible to claim WAC funding?

 Don’t miss out on Wraparound Childcare in the new autumn term.

Are you eligible to claim WAC funding? Click the link to find out.

Join more than 5000 Service families who are currently benefitting from claiming up to £3,400, per child per year, of before and after school childcare costs.

What is Wraparound Childcare (WAC)?

The WAC scheme provides funding for up to 20 hours per week, per child, during term time, to eligible Service families with children aged 4 to 11 years old (4-16 years old if in receipt of disability allowances), who are in full time education in school or being home educated in the UK. Over 7000 Service children's before and after school childcare is currently being funded by WAC.

Wraparound childcare is also known as ‘Out of School care’ in Wales and ‘School Age Childcare’ in Scotland.

What is new for autumn term 2024?

The WAC capped hourly rates, which are set by region and provider type, have been updated for the 2024/25 academic year. The capped hourly rates may have gone up or down and may affect the amount of funding you can claim.

To find out if this affects your claims, check the updated rates in DIN2022DIN01-079 - Wraparound Childcare from the start of the autumn term. The DIN is available on Defnet and Defence Connect

 How do I register for the new academic year?

* Complete the WAC registration within JPA. This can be done once the child has turned 4-years-old, started full time education (including home education) and has an active Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) account (active means that you receive the 20% top up from HMRC when you deposit funds into the account). 

Please note, all WAC claims submitted must have first been paid via an active TFC account.

* If you have already registered your child(ren) for WAC within JPA, you do not need to re-register in autumn term, however any changes in your JPA record may result in a WAC de-registration. If this happens, so long as eligibility criteria is still met, you will need to update your WAC record to continue to claim the funding.

Service personnel: Please note that JPA will be down 18th October – 4th November 2024. No JPA functions will be available, including WAC registrations and claims.

Further information, guidance and support...

Visit the Defence Childcare Information Page on Defnet and Defence Connect where you can find the DIN, FAQs, Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) information and links to Step-by-Step Guides on registering and claiming WAC.

Families can visit Discover my Benefits Army, RAF, Navy or Marines for more information.

If you have any questions, contact the WAC team at:

PEOPLE-AFFS-WAC-FRO-mailbox@mod.gov.uk

New awards provide educational support for Service children

                                        

New awards provide educational support for Service children

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) has announced 21 new awards in the latest round of the Service Pupil Support Programme!

Worth £1.3 million, these projects are set to make a real difference to school-aged Service children across the UK - improving their educational pathways and helping to address the challenges they can face.

Supporting Service pupils across the UK

Part of the MOD’s Armed Forces Families Fund, the Service Pupil Support Programme supports projects which focus on pupils from currently serving families and support them along their educational pathways. The projects supported in this funding round address gaps in educational attainment, support Service pupils with additional needs, and support small cohorts of Service pupils within educational settings.

A reminder of the help available from the Forces Employment Charity

                                 

The Forces Employment Charity exists to provide life-long, life-changing support, job opportunities, and training to Service leavers, veterans, reservists and their families, irrespective of circumstances, rank, length of service, or reason for leaving.

Their Families Programme supports spouses and partners of still-serving personnel and veterans, including divorced, separated, and bereaved, on their journey into employment; regardless of whether you are in the UK or overseas. They understand Service life and transition can impact the whole family, so they also offer mentoring and career guidance to military children and young people aged 16-24.

Understanding the Afghan Relocation Assistance Policy (ARAP)

                                                               

The Afghan Relocation Assistance Policy Scheme and Service Families

For information about the ARAP scheme, the status of Eligible Persons, background to the use of Transitional accommodation (TSFA) and further links to official government sites, please see the ARAP Scheme Toolkit and also see the FAQ document

Going Forward Into Employment (GFIE) role available for Veterans, Military Spouses and Partners: DWP Work Coach, based at Laurieston JCP (Glasgow) & High Riggs JCP (Edinburgh)

                                             

GFIE-319 - Work Coach

This role at the Dept of Work and Pensions is 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 Military Spouse/Partner: Your current partner must still be serving OR was discharged within the last 12 months.

To apply, complete an Expression of Interest form and email to:
GFIE@cabinetoffice.gov.uk along with a copy of your CV

Closing date for applications: 9th August 2024​

 

Social health in the Army and wider military community

                                                     

Social health aligns to the Values & Standards of the Army. It is the ability of individuals to form healthy and rewarding interpersonal relationships with others. Good social health results in the ability to adapt positively to social situations, remaining true to oneself and maintaining work life balance. It is about having a sense of belonging whilst valuing diversity. It involves open communication, boundary setting and mutual respect regardless of our differences.

We can all improve our social health status by connecting with others, communicating more effectively and engaging in the extensive range of activities that the Army provides, such as sporting activity, networks and specialist interest groups.

​This will result in an increased sense of belonging within our Army community and will have positive effects on our emotional, physical and mental health and overall wellbeing.

It is important that we all know where to turn for help. Click this link for support and self-help resources.

Going Forward Into Employment (GFIE) role available for Veterans, Military Spouses and Partners: Strategic Exports Sanctions Enforcement Investigation Officer Executive Officer

                                              

GFIE-323 - EO -Strategic Exports Sanctions Enforcement Investigation Officer

This role at His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is 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 Military Spouse/Partner: Your current partner must still be serving OR was discharged within the last 12 months.​

To apply, complete an Expression of Interest form and email to: 

GFIE@cabinetoffice.gov.uk  along with a copy of your CV

Closing date for applications: 30th August 2024

The Ripple Pond - Summer Newsletter

                                         

The only registered UK charity solely supporting the adult family members of physically or psychologically injured British Forces personnel and veterans

The Ripple Pond Summer 2024 Newsletter - to view click here​

The Whispering Winds - Commemorative event for military connected parents who have experienced pregnancy, baby and child loss

                                   

Dandelion Military Families are proud to present The Whispering Winds. A commemorative installation and garden of reflection for military connected parents who have experienced pregnancy, baby and child loss.

Reservations are now open for the individual windmill markers that will form part of The Whispering Wind Commemorative Installation and Garden of Remembrance at Beckett House, Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, Shrivenham for Baby Loss Awareness Week 2024 (9-15th Oct).​

To reserve a windmill, please email:
dandelionmilfamilies@gmail.com and complete the registration form received.

For more information, please see booklet at this LINK

Togetherall: Summer Support

                                   

🌞 Feeling lonely or overwhelmed this summer? You're not alone. @Togetherall is here to help you stay connected and supported in a safe, anonymous, and compassionate community. Discover new ways to connect and find comfort in knowing that others are going through the same challenges. Prioritise your mental well-being this summer.​

📲 Sign up today at:
https://togetherall.com/en-gb/mental-health-support-for-all-uk-armed-forces-veterans/

Family Action Job Opportunity: Corporate Partnerships Manager - London Hybrid or Home Based

                                           

Please click on the image to enlarge.

The charity Family Action have a London Hybrid or UK Homebased role that may be of interest to a military spouse/partner. They are looking for a Corporate Partnership Manager – full time or part time hours, with regular travel (twice monthly to London if home based). To read more & apply –

​Corporate Partnerships Manager - London Hybrid or Home Based, Full Time or Part Time, Permanent Contract - Family Action (family-action.org.uk)

Army Cadet Summer Magazine 2024

                                           

Army Cadets Summer Magazine is here;
In this issue we’re celebrating exped season with features that’ll have you ready for whatever your detachment or contingent commander has in store for you. With plenty of awesome stories covering DofE, Navigation, Sports and Music, there is something for everyone!

To read the latest issue click here

#Andysmanclub

                                       

     

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust: New Covenant Fund programme focusing on prevention of Veteran suicide

                                    

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) has launched the third in its series of new Covenant Fund programmes for 2024/25.

The Embedding Prevention of Veteran Suicide programme will award one-year grants up to £50,000 and two-year grants up to £100,000, for projects which draw upon the key findings from their One Is Too Many programme, and will enable systemic change and long-term, sustainable impact in supporting Armed Forces Veterans with poor mental health, their families, and those who are caring for or supporting them.

Naples Newsletter July 2

 Click here for this weeks Naples Newsletter

Naples Newsletter July

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust: New Covenant Fund programme to mitigate impact of separation on Forces families

                                     

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) has launched the second in a series of new Covenant Fund programmes under its exciting three-year Funding Framework. 

Apart Not Alone: Support for Serving Families programme is now open for applications for grants between £5,000 and £15,000 for projects that will help to mitigate the impact of long or frequent involuntary separation for families, spouses, and serving personnel, including Reservists and their families.

The Trust ran a public consultation in 2023, which identified that one of the key areas to focus on was ‘Reducing stress and challenges for Armed Forces families. This family focused programme will address the unique needs of serving Armed Forces families facing long and/or frequent involuntary separation which can have significant impact on different aspect of family life.  

Little Troopers treetop adventure day: Tuesday 27th August

 

Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Hampshire, Essex, Buckinghamshire

The charity Little Troopers has teamed up with GoApe to host a free treetop adventure for 90 military children across several locations on Tuesday 27th August.

The special day is part of the charity’s All Together programme, which brings military children together from all three services, to spend time with each other and feel recognised and celebrated for being ‘little troopers’.

Easy Resettlement Magazine - Summer 2024 Edition

                                                          

  To read the summer edition of Easy Resettlement Magazine, click the link.​​

Families First newsletter - issue 18

                                             

To read the latestest newsletter online, please click here. 

The Ulysses Trust

                                                        

The Ulysses Trust provides support and funding to encourage challenging and adventurous activities by members of the Volunteer Reserve and Cadet Forces.

To find our more: www.ulyssestrust.co.uk​

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust launches first new Armed Forces Covenant Fund programme for 2024/25 - Serving Families: On the Move

                                         

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) has launched the first Covenant Fund programme under its exciting three-year Funding Framework.

Serving Families: On the Move is now open for applications for grants of up £120,000 for two-to-three-year projects that will improve the quality of life for Service families impacted by relocation as a direct result of Service life.

Civvy Street - July 2024 Edition

                                                               

The latest edition of Civvy Street can be found here​.

C is for Cadet.

                                          

Places where kids eat free during Summer holidays 2024.

 

Please click image to enlarge.

Domestic Abuse - Help is at Hand.

                                                     

Click the poster to enlarge it.

Remember, you're not alone during Euro 24. Women's Aid has warned that domestic abuse cases can increase by up to 38% following major games. 

Sharing the information on this poster could be incredibly valuable to someone you know.

Going Forward into Employment (GFiE) - latest Civil Service (HMRC) job vacancies for Service Leavers, Veterans and spouses/partners.

 

The following roles are now open for applications under the GFiE scheme, with a closing date of Wed 31 Jul.

GFIE - 318 - HO Infrastructure Engineer
Higher Executive Officer

1 x Gillingham (Kent)
1 x Manchester
2 x Stratford

'If you flourish dealing with diverse challenges, enjoy delivering exceptional support to users, expanding your knowledge and want to work with a like-minded and supportive team then this may be the role for you.

GamCare - Armed Forces gambling harms awareness.

 

Please click here to visit the GamCare website

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) bulk recruitment in Kent.

 

As the UKs largest public service department, DWP are responsible for welfare, pensions and child maintenance policy, transacting around £212 billion in payments each year, operating out of more than 800 locations with over 90,000 employees.

Recruitment is now taking place for the following from 27/06/24 to 11/07/24.

Location: Kent Role: Work Coach Number of roles: 40

More information on DWP, the roles available and the application process please see their EO Microsite along with the links to apply on the vacancies information tab.

Alternatively you can view the advert on the Civil Service Jobs website: Universal Credit Job centre Work Coach (Executive Officer) - Kent (Ref: 695) - Civil Service Jobs - GOV.UK (candidates will be directed to the microsite to apply).

Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) resources signposting guide - 2024 edition

 

From DMRC and the ADVANCE (Armed Services ​​Trauma Rehabilitation Outcome) Study this is a list of charities and services which you, your family and friends may find useful.

https://www.advancestudydmrc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Advance-SignpostingBooklet-June2024_website.pdf


It is divided into sections for your ease of reference. The Contents Page will help you to find the sections relevant to your query/search and provides the relevant page number(s).


The first section in the booklet lists key charities/organisations that can direct you to the relevant charity/service if you are unsure which charity/service may be the best for your needs/query. The subsequent sections are listed in alphabetical order. The index at the end of this booklet lists charities and services in alphabetical order together with their page number(s).​

Cadets - sign up for Defence Discount Service savings!

 

Are you a cadet over the age of 16? Sign up to Defence Discount Service and start saving!
Tell your friends too!
Just follow these simple steps on our website or app to sign up:
Click register on our home page
Select 'Cadet Forces'
Fill in your details, including the name of your cadet unit
Hit register
Sign up and save today @ https://www.defencediscountservice.co.uk/

MilFest 2024 -The Festival of Business for the UK Armed Forces Community - Thu 27 Jun.

 

The Festival of Business for the UK Armed Forces Community. One day, one location, connecting the Armed Forces community with Forces Friendly companies.

Grosvenor House, London on Thursday 27th June 2024

MilFest’s programme of content – including keynote speakers, interactive panels, fireside chats and industry workshops – has been designed to further unlock the power of the Armed Forces community in business. For full details, see: https://exforcesinbusiness.co.uk/milfest/

If you represent a veteran-owned business or are a service leaver, veteran, military spouse or service family member currently seeking your next career move, you are entitled to a free ticket to MilFest. Complete the form at this link to apply for your Armed Forces Pass: https://exforcesinbusiness.co.uk/armed-forces-pass-milfest-2024/

The event is the same day as the 7th annual British Ex-Forces in Business Award but admissions are separate (an Awards ticket in the evening is not needed to register for the daytime conference).

Domestic Abuse - Help is at Hand.

 

Please click the poster to enlarge


Alternatively click here for a PDF file

You're not alone - it's Euro 24...the charity Women's Aid has advised that domestic abuse can rise by as much as 38% after big games. Please help to spread the information in this poster because it may be really valuable to someone you know.

NHS Step Into Health recruitment webinar - Tue 25 Jun.

 

NHS Ambulance Trusts supporting the Armed Forces Community – Recruitment Webinar

As part of Armed Forces Week, NHS Ambulance Trusts across the UK, Step Into Health and the Career Transition Partnership are bringing a Recruitment Webinar to our Armed Forces communities.

The webinar will share valuable insights into career opportunities within the NHS Ambulance Service; provide insights into the unique skills and experience valued within the ambulance service, showcase the diverse range of roles available, from paramedics to support staff; and offer guidance on transitioning from a military to a civilian healthcare career path.

If you are part of the Armed Forces community and would like to know more about a career within the Ambulance Service, please join us on:

Tuesday 25th June 2024, 10:00 - 11:30

To book your place register via:

https://www.militarystepintohealth.nhs.uk/ambulanceserviceswebinar/

Are you in the Armed Forces Community and interested in Allied Health Professions - could this be a career path for you?

The Allied Health Professionals (AHP) mixed reality work experience program for the Armed Forces community will cover all 14 AHP professions over a one year period - it started with Occupational Therapy on 17th April.

We are partnering with higher education institutes based around England and specifically near to military establishments. The idea is to attract Armed Forces leavers, Veterans and Armed forces families into AHP careers with their aligned values and the transferable skill elements.

Interested people will attend monthly webinars to receive some online content.

There will then be a live stream from the profession in focus from Guys and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust using a head mounted lens (camera) of the AHP treating and going about their day (with all consent and permissions in place ahead of filming)

And will be followed by a live Q and A, and session with some people who have transitioned from the Armed Forces into the given profession and with the relevant professional body.

If you are interested, please register now! To do so, email: armedforces@gstt.nhs.uk

See this Fact Sheet for links to lots of information that is already available about AHPs for the Armed Forces community.

The next webinars coming up are for Diagnostic Radiography on 2nd July, and Therapeutic Radiography on 3rd July.

Forces Employment Charity - 'Pathways into Tech' Wed 11 Sep in London or online.

                                                        

Fancy exploring a career in tech?


Register now to join the Forces Employment Charity at their next key event, Pathways into Tech on 11 September – either in person at the Google Academy, London or virtually through live-stream @ https://loom.ly/8SXmfkk

It’s completely free and we particularly welcome family members!

Further details: Overview (site.com)