Click here for the June 3 Naples Newsletter
Thursday, 26 June 2025
NHS ‘Say You Served’: Why Declaring Your Military Affiliation Matters – For You and the Forces Community
Why Declaring Your Military Affiliation Matters – For You and the Forces CommunityWhether you’re serving in the Armed Forces or supporting a loved one who is, one simple action can make a big difference: declaring your military connection when registering with your GP, local council, or other public services.
It may seem like a small tick in a box, but this information is crucial—not only for you and your family, but for the wider Armed Forces community.
Why It Matters for You
Declaring your military status ensures that you and your family can access the right services, at the right time. The NHS and local authorities recognise that the needs of serving personnel, reservists, veterans, and their families can differ from those of the general population—particularly around mobility, deployment, mental health, and continuity of care.
By identifying your military connection, healthcare professionals and service providers can take these unique circumstances into account. This could mean faster access to treatment (Dependent on personal circumstances), for a better understanding of your housing and educational needs during a posting or resettlement.
Increase to Early Years childcare funded hours for eligible working families assigned overseas
From September 2025 eligible working families assigned overseas will have access to up to 30 hours of funded Early Years childcare for their children aged from 9 months old.Early Years funded childcare overseas.
To reflect the offer available in England, all families assigned overseas with children aged 3 to 4 years old, and 2-year-old children in receipt of additional government support, are entitled to 15 hours of funded childcare per week during term time (38 weeks per year).
Defence is expanding the childcare offer for working families assigned overseas with children aged 9 months to school starting age, to match the entitlement in England.
From September 2025 eligible working families can claim funding for up to 30 hours per week, per child aged 9 months old to school starting age, during term time (38 weeks per year).
This is an increase to the additional funded hours that became available in September 2024, in which 15 hours of Early Years childcare funding, per week, per child, during term time, became available for eligible working families with children aged 9 months to 3 years old.
For more information about the Early Years Childcare available in England, please go to Early Years childcare | Childcare Choices (GOV.UK).
Going Forward into Employment (GFiE): Latest Vacancies in Scotland - available exclusively to Service Leavers, Veterans and Military Spouses/Partners
GFIE – 438 - DWP Fraud Officer, Leith & Glasgow10 positions available
Closing Date: 23 Jun 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)
Office for Veterans’ Affairs: Analysis of responses to the Veterans’ Survey 2022 relating to family support for UK armed forces veterans
The Veterans’ Survey 2022 was the first survey of its kind in the UK and was a collaboration between the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the Office for Veterans’ Affairs and the devolved administrations.
Alongside the Veterans’ Survey, a smaller Veterans’ Family Survey was made available for immediate family members of UK veterans who resided in the UK and were aged 18 years or over. Family members could complete the survey if their veteran family member was living or deceased, and the survey was open to any immediate family member including stepparents and adult stepchildren. The survey was conducted through a voluntary self-select sample which relied on advertising and promotion primarily by veterans’ charities and organisations.
In total, 2,390 people responded to the Family Survey and response rates varied by question asked. This represents a small proportion of family members that would have been eligible to respond to the survey. These data are presented as unweighted data only.
To view the full survey analysis, please go to: Family support analysis of UK armed forces veterans
Little Troopers New Forest Reconnection Weekend – next events are Dorset, 25 to 27 July, and 26 to 28 Sept
Group of children photographed with Little Troopers Founder, Louise
Military families were brought together this week when Little Troopers, the children’s military charity, hosted a New Forest family reconnection weekend.
In January, the organisation revealed they were launching a series of four fully-funded family reconnection weekends for forces families to spend quality time together outdoors, funded by Team Forces.
The weekend was the second one to take place, with eight families taking part in action-packed activities at the New Forest Outdoor Centre in Lyndhurst, Dorset.
Families arrived on Friday (13th June), kicking off the weekend by taking part in an evening woodland nature walk, before staying in shepherd’s huts.
On the second day, families got to try out raft building and racing on Leominstead Lake, followed by archery and bushcraft, a BBQ cooked by the parents, and campfire games for the children in the evening. Families headed home on Sunday 15th June after a morning of trying out high and low ropes amongst the trees and enjoying some Father’s Day treats.
Stuart More, serving in the Royal Navy based in Portsmouth, attended with his daughter. He said: “My favourite thing from the reconnection weekend was the family time. Military families have come together as one, played different types of games, and interacted with each other with no use of technology, which is brilliant. It’s brought us all back to nature and it’s been really rewarding to be part of it.”
Natasha Lowe, from Gosport, attended with her two teenage children, Joseph, 13, and Saffron, 11. She said: “It’s been fantastic to come with my children, no devices, and actually spend some time together. The raft building we all got stuck in and enjoyed. Meeting the other parents and realising that often you are all in the same boat, it has felt like a real military community and all the kids have got on great. We learned new skills like fire lighting which we’d never done before, pushed ourselves and came out our comfort zone. We’ve enjoyed it very much.”
Penelope Ball, 10, is part of a Royal Navy family. Penelope said: “I’ve liked meeting new military people because the know how you feel when your parents are away and so it’s nice to play with other people who know how you feel.”
Louise Fetigan, Founder of Little Troopers, said: “Our new ‘All Together’ family reconnection weekends are aimed at families before, during or after a period of separation or deployment, to help ease periods of separation and help children to connect with their parents and make new friends. Our New Forest weekend went brilliantly. It was so lovely to see families getting stuck in with all the activities and it was a real joy to see everyone laughing and enjoying some special time together out in nature.”
The Little Troopers weekends invite between eight and ten families, with one or both parents and up to four siblings aged nine to 16, to go away for an exciting few days of outdoor adventure and connection, where they are encouraged to put down their phones, meet new people and make memories. Each weekend runs from Friday to Sunday at no cost to the families.
The dates and locations for the next two Little Troopers All Together reconnection weekends in 2025 are:
- Friday 25th July to Sunday 27th July, Brenscombe, Wareham, Dorset.
- Friday 26th September to Sunday 28th September, Portland, Dorset.
The events form part of the charity’s broader ‘All Together’ programme which brings together young people from across the military community to benefit from spending time with others who have shared similar life experiences. For more information about Little Troopers All Together and to learn more about the charity’s work supporting military children, visit www.littletroopers.net
Invitation to attend Financial Literacy Focus Groups
Financial literacy is a key life skill and is critical to the development of our personal and collective resilience. The Financial Times charity FLIC is has funding to expand financial literacy into the Armed Forces and they are running 2 online focus groups in June and one face to face focus group in July (details below). 20-30 Service personnel and family members across a mix of ranks, ethnicity and gender are being sought for each focus group, to help FLIC understand the financial challenges that the Armed Forces face, and the information that would be useful.
The three focus groups will take place on the following dates/times:
19 Jun 2025 (1130-1230 tbc) – Online focus group delivered by via MS TEAMS (25 pers)
24 Jun 2025 (0900-1000 tbc) – Online focus group delivered via MS TEAMS (25 pers)
17 Jul 2025 0900-1200 – Face to face focus group delivered by FLIC, Buller Conference Centre, St Omer, Aldershot. (35 pers). Civilian attire, lunch at PAYD facility.
Register interest here: https://forms.office.com/e/at8DSE3evc
Volunteers will be asked to take part in a discussion to help shape a package that informs our Service community in a way that is relevant, engaging and accessible. The discussion will explore their topics of interest, financial challenges and how they want to receive the information. The session will also include the opportunity to test video and e-learning platform capabilities.
Assigned overseas? Take the MOD Overseas Families Survey!
How can we better support you and your family while overseas?
Take the MOD Overseas Families Survey!
Your feedback will help to shape Defence’s overseas families' policies, in areas such as education and childcare, partner employment, and welfare.
Take the survey
All Regular and Reserve Service personnel, and their partners / civil spouses, are encouraged to complete the survey.
Please be assured that survey responses are anonymous.
Survey closes on Saturday 30 August 2025.
Forces Pension Society Online Armed Forces Pension Update
The FPS will deliver an online Armed Forces Pensions update for Serving Personnel, Veterans and Dependants at 12:30 on Wednesday 25 June via MS Teams.
It will cover:
- The latest on the 2015 Remedy (McCloud) implementation
- A reminder of how pension benefits are/were earned during service and the ages that deferred pensions are paid
- When and how the pension benefits increase
- How to obtain a pension forecasts whilst serving or as a Veteran
- Dependants Benefits
- When and how to claim a deferred pension
- The benefits of membership of the Forces Pension Society
Thursday, 19 June 2025
Friday, 13 June 2025
Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust: Improved support for serving families facing separation challenges
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The idea of not seeing your partner or parent for months at a time, often with limited contact, can be stressful and unsettling. But it’s a common experience for many armed forces families.
Deployment, training and exercises make separation a fundamental part of service for many, but this can have a significant impact on family life. Being apart can cause loneliness and a sense of isolation – whether you’re ‘weekending’ and adjusting to a constantly changing family dynamic or dealing with long separations.
Re-opening today, The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (The Trust) devised their Apart, not Alone programme to tackle this issue head on, offering support for armed forces families facing time apart.
Building on the success of last year’s programme, this year the Trust are delivering support where and when it’s needed most - reflecting the changing nature of deployment, recognising the different types of separation and the sometimes very different challenges these can present.
Female Veterans' Transformation Programme
Question: What have Plymouth, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Cannock and Winchester got in common?
Answer: We will be in those locations next month with Agora Photography taking photographs of female veterans!
We are creating a toolkit to aid services who support female veterans. Additional funding has been sought from the Office for Veterans' Affairs & Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust to raise the profile of Female Veterans. Part of this funding will be spent on a photoshoot and we are touring the UK with Agora Photography
We want Female Veterans from the breadth of the UK to be involved in this photoshoot, regardless of age, rank, time served, ethnicity, religion, disability, socioeconomic background, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other characteristic. The more diverse the better!
To sign up for a photoshoot click this link: https://forms.office.com/e/SmuxuxW6EQ
To find out more here.
Going Forward into Employment (GFiE): Latest Vacancies in Scotland - available exclusively to Service Leavers, Veterans and Military Spouses/Partners
The following vacancies are now open for applications under the GFiE Scheme:
GFIE – 438 - DWP Fraud Officer, Leith & Glasgow
10 positions available
Job Description: Click to open
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)
Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust - Serving families: On the Move Programme now open to new applications
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The Support for Relocated Service Families - reopen for new applications!
Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) are pleased to let you know that the Serving families: On the Move Programme under the Armed Forces Families Covenant Fund is now open and ready to welcome new applications!
What’s the programme all about?
Moving to a completely new place, surrounded by unfamiliar faces, can feel surreal. You’re pushed out of your comfort zone, knowing that if you don’t reach out, the feeling of loneliness can quickly grow. But not everyone has the confidence to walk into a coffee morning or event on their own for the first time.
“Having a first point of contact, a friendly face, a supportive presence makes such a difference. Someone who can help you find your way, learn about your new area and most importantly, open the door to connections and friendships. That kind of support isn’t just help, it’s essential for finding your way and keeping your momentum in this military way of life” – Jenna, Army spouse.
Supporting you, on the move
Today, the Trust are reopening the Serving Families: On the Move programme for new applications.
Tuesday, 10 June 2025
Wednesday, 4 June 2025
Quest Magazine – June Edition now available
To view the Quest news update, including a summary of topics covered in the June magazine, please click this link: June Quest Magazine is Out Now.💂
To read this issue (and previous editions) online, please go to: https://www.questonline.co.uk/pages/magazine-archive
Please click the link to read online: February 2025 issue of Quest magazine
Please click the image above to read January issue online.
Action for Happiness Calendar - June 2025
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Our monthly calendars are packed with actions you can take to help create a happier and kinder world.
Click here to access the Action for Happiness Calendar.
DIO Families First Newsletter - June Edition now available
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ACORN programme run by ManKind for male survivors of domestic abuse who are looking to move on to new relationships
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This course has less that six months left to run, so please take full advantage of this opportunity.
Future Defence Housing questionnaire by the Families Federations, as part of the Defence Housing Strategy review
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As part of the independent Defence Housing Strategy Review, the Families Federations are launching a questionnaire on Defence housing for the future.
They are looking for all Service Personnel of all ages, ranks, PstatCats and their families to complete this.
They are seeking views on current SFA, new builds and home ownership to help shape decisions on housing options for generations to come.
Scan the QR Code above or Click here to have your say
Questionnaire Closes on 22nd June 2025.
You can also read the press release here
Armed Forces Continuous Attitude Survey (AFCAS) 2025 Results
The results from the armed forces continuous attitude survey (AFCAS) 2025 have been published and are available here.
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