Friday 31 December 2021

England: Covid-19


If you’ve tested positive or have symptoms, you can stop self-isolating after 7 days instead of 10 days if you get 2 negative lateral flow test results on day 6 and 7.

Wednesday 29 December 2021

Army Families Federation - AFF


Don't forget that we have a Facebook Live coming up on 11 January where we will be talking about the new SFA housing contracts and answering all your questions.

Tell us anonymously what you'd like to know here: https://bit.ly/FDIS_Questions and make sure you join us live on Facebook in January!

https://www.facebook.com/ArmyFamiliesFederation/

Army Families Federation - AFF


A reminder to all our non-UK families that we have qualified and experienced advisors who can assist with any enquiries you may have. For specific information about a child's entitlement to Citizenship, click here: http://bit.ly/Child_Citizenship

Unfortunately the Home Office guidance relating to children born overseas is inorrect - we are working with our contacts to get this corrected ASAP.

Veterans Railcard


Don't forget, if you're heading out, you can get 1/3 of rail travel with the Veterans Railcard. Get yours today. https://www.veterans-railcard.co.uk/

The Railcard can be used to get discounts on rail travel in England, Wales and Scotland.

Thursday 23 December 2021

Guidance Avian influenza (bird flu)


Housing measures are now in place to protect poultry and captive birds from
#AvianInfluenza. Full details: ​Guidance Avian influenza (bird flu)

Tuesday 21 December 2021

Monday 20 December 2021

SCiP Alliance - Connected Forces On-Line Community for 16-19 Year Olds From Military Families


Connected Forces Online Community. Are you 16-19 and have parents/carers who are Serving in the Armed Forces? You could join a new safe and supportive online community. See poster for details.​ 

Friday 17 December 2021

Have you been affected by crime? Sign up to My Support Space, the free online resource from Victim Support


My Support Space is an online resource designed by the independent charity Victim Support to help you manage the impact that crime has had on you.


You can work through a series of interactive guides which address your specific needs. The guides are designed to be completed in your own time and at your own pace. You can save your progress and revisit where you left off at any time.

There's also information about where and how you can access further support, and the opportunity to register with SilverCloud, an online therapy system.

My Support Space is also available for those supporting someone after they’ve experienced crime or trauma, for example friends, family members, colleagues or neighbours.

Thursday 16 December 2021

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust - Afghanistan Veterans' Fund


The Afghanistan Veterans’ Fund aims to increase capacity in services and initiatives that offer supportive comradeship, engagement and wellbeing efforts for those in the Armed Forces community impacted by events in Afghanistan, and the wider veterans community.

The Office for Veterans Affairs has asked the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) to run programmes that will award grants to improve wellbeing, resilience and promote good mental health, responding to increased needs in veterans who have served in Afghanistan and other recent conflicts and the wider veterans community. The programme closes for applications on 17th Jan 2022 Full details HERE

CTP-Focus on resettlement


The latest employment opportunities, vocational training updates, event details and resettlement-related news for Service leavers at any stage of their transition from the military to civilian life. CTP-Focus on resettlement ​

Armed Forces healthcare briefing Dec 2021

Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service

Building Resilience with Military Families


Building Resilience with Military Families

Building Resilience with Military Families has been designed to support armed forces families to develop the skills, knowledge and strategies drawn from the science of resilience. The programme of six, 1 hour session is for parents to learn about the science behind emotional resilience. The programme builds session on session to walk you through how to build you own resilience and help you raise resilient children. The programme is facilitated as a virtual on-line course.

Fully funded by The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust

Click the link below for dates and times of sessions: https://bounceforward.com/building-resilience-with-military-famili/?

Tuesday 14 December 2021

Veterans: Areas where support is available


As a veteran of the armed forces, you can continue to be a part of the armed forces community. The Armed Forces Covenant can help you in your life as a veteran.
 Veterans UK is MOD’s dedicated veterans support organisation. It provides assistance on many issues including MOD’s injury and bereavement compensation schemes, armed forces, pensions, benefits, housing and welfare.

Free Helpline (UK only): 0808 1914 218

Telephone (overseas): +44 1253 866 043

Opening times:

7:30 am to 6:30 pm Monday to Thursday

7:30 am to 5:00 pm Friday

Visit Veterans UK for more information.

The Veterans Gateway is the first point of contact for veterans seeking support.

Visit Household Quotes for more information on housing and financial assistance.

Find out more about the Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committee who serve and support ex servicemen and women, their widows or widowers and their immediate family members.

Friday 10 December 2021

Career Transition Partnership - Focus on resettlement

The latest employment opportunities, vocational training updates, event details and resettlement-related news for Service leavers at any stage of their transition from the military to civilian life. CTP-Focus on resettlement

Thursday 9 December 2021

Brunei: PCMF - Health Visitor Mobile Number

The Health Visitor is now contactable via mobile phone on 830 1019

The Health Visitor can be reached via this number Monday to Friday between 0900-1500

The Health Visitor can also be reached through the office number on 322 4101 ext 3781

Please note the Health Visitor office is not always manned.

Brunei: DIO - how to relight a pilot light on a gas boiler

 How to relight a pilot light on a gas boiler!


The recent gas supply outage has resulted in no hot water in many houses that have manual gas boilers. There are different types of gas boilers in our estate, and the pilot light in each must be ignited manually to resume the hot water supply. 

The QR code takes you to a video explaining how to relight the pilot light after outage for four different types of gas boilers in the BFB Estate. If you are still experiencing issues after this, please inform the DIO Helpdesk.

https://youtu.be/TTUC-822xFc

Wednesday 8 December 2021

Brunei: Baggage Entitlements - Posted or assigned to UK/Brunei? Updated Baggage allowance explained...



BAGGAGE ENTITLEMENTS

1. JSP800 Volume 2, Part 2, Chap 6, Table 2-6-1, page 154 stipulates the
baggage entitlements for SP and Spouses when travelling for service reasons by air.

2. The current MoU that HQ BFB have with Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA) states that pax traveling within this agreement will receives an entitlement of either;

a. 30Kg - Routine activity.

b. 40Kg - Personnel (including family members) on routine assignments.

c. 56Kg - Other activity if justified.

d. Pax travelling on alternative methods (Not using RBA or if booked without the MCC) will have baggage in accordance with JSP800 Volume 2.

PCMF Patient Satisfaction Survey - share your experience

 


The PCMF would like to hear about your experiences as patients here in BFB. Your feedback will help shape their changes to better suit the community. Scan the QR code above or follow the LINK to the form

Substitute Service Family Accommodation - Mears Update

Domestic Abuse - Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) info

Understanding different types of support available: SARCs can be accessed by anyone who is a victim/survivor of sexual assault or abuse. However, the NHS notes that awareness that these services exist is still low and they are keen to increase that awareness across the population. 

This document contains information about what a SARC is, what you can expect when you attend a SARC, and links to further information.​

Please click here to access the information 

Tuesday 7 December 2021

Monday 6 December 2021

Updated MOD policy on Safeguarding

The policy regarding Safeguarding within the MOD has recently been updated. 

The latest version of JSP 834 can be found here

Friday 3 December 2021

Men's Health Promotion

MEN’S HEALTH

When we talk about health inequalities, there is a clear health gap between men and women. And the stats, as they say, don’t lie. Let’s look at some of the areas that are driving these statistics.

· In the UK, one man in five (19%) dies before he reaches 65 (and 40% of men die before the age of 75).

· Men are 37% more likely to die from cancer overall – and 67% more likely to die than women from the cancers that men and women share (excluding sex-specific cancers and breast cancer).

· Coronary Heart Disease, one of the UK’s biggest killers, accounts for 1 in 7 of every male deaths in the UK.

· Men are 26% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than women.

· Over three quarters of all suicides are male. The peak age group for death from suicide is 45-49.

· In the 2016 GP Patient Survey, 30% of men wouldn't take time off work for blood in their urine, 40% wouldn't for an unexpected lump and 42% wouldn't for chest pain. For "feeling low or down", 85% wouldn't take time off work and for anxiety, 81%.

Men’s reluctance to consult their doctor and talk about their problems is a perennial issue. Men are less likely to visit their doctor, to acknowledge illness and to seek help, compared to women. The more we believe all that ‘strong and silent’ ‘boys don’t cry’ stuff, the poorer our health outcomes will be. With earlier detection and proactive prevention, so many of these deaths can be avoided. The key message is not to remain silent. Whatever the issue, your GP has heard it all before. Let’s normalising talking about health concerns and asking for help.

The beatstress.uk service offers online support for men of all ages. It is free, confidential, anonymous and staffed by experienced professionals from a wide variety of backgrounds.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

People who do regular physical activity have a 35% lower risk of heart disease and stroke and a 50% lower risk of diabetes and of bowel cancer. Exercise boosts feel-good chemicals that raise self-esteem and helps sleep and concentration. Regular exercisers have a 30% lower risk of depression and of dementia. Walking reduces the risk of heart disease by a third. The further and faster you walk the better but even walking just 5-6 miles a week at a very slow pace (2 miles per hour) will help reduce risk. Little and often is fine. Get a pedometer to count your steps. If you want a target, aim for 10,000 steps a day.

Mind - www.mind.org.uk/information-support/
The Samaritans - www.samaritans.org
Movember - uk.movember.com
Prostate Cancer UK - prostatecanceruk.org
Mankind - www.mankind.org.uk

Tuesday 30 November 2021

Domestic Abuse - 16 Days of Action Campaign



Domestic abuse can take many forms. Find out more using the LINK to the MOD Domestic Abuse Strategy.

Thursday 25 November 2021

Recruit for Spouses - Career Academy




To find out more and register your interest, please email Becky at r.hopwood@recruitforspouses.co.uk


Recruit for Spouses - an introduction to spousal career support


Are you considering a new career? Getting back into the post-covid world of work, or due to relocate soon? Recruit for spouses offer a wide range of programmes and resources to support spouses into gainful employment including CV support. 


Friday 19 November 2021

Wednesday 17 November 2021

Primary School Admission Deadlines - CEAS

​If you require a primary school place in reception in England for September 2022, the deadline for primary school applications is 15th January 2022. The deadline (and process) for primary school applications for places in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will vary according to location. Please check the website of the local authority in which you require a school place at for further information. For bespoke school admission advice and support please contact the Children’s Education Advisory Service (CEAS) at RC-DCS-HQ-CEAS@mod.gov.uk​

Turn2Us

Click here for update from Turn2us.

Grief Works App Launched Today


The Charity for Civil Servants are now able to provide all civil servants, past and present, with access to Grief Works - an app that can help manage experiences of grief.

Click here to download the App​.

Tuesday 16 November 2021

Schools and education in the UK: The national curriculum


The national curriculum is a set of subjects and standards used by primary and secondary schools so children learn the same things. It covers what subjects are taught and the standards children should reach in each subject.

The national curriculum is organised into blocks of years called ‘key stages’ (KS). At the end of each key stage, the teacher will formally assess your child’s performance.

Monday 15 November 2021

Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)


Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) can affect a child or young person’s ability to learn. They can affect their:
  • behaviour or ability to socialise, for example they struggle to make friends
  • reading and writing, for example because they have dyslexia
  • ability to understand things
  • concentration levels, for example because they have ADHD
  • physical ability
Click here to find information on support for special educational needs.

Domestic Abuse Help for Non-English Speakers


On the 28 Oct 21, the Home Office added new translations of the guidance on how to get help on the Gov.uk Website. If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse. Translations of the page have been added in Arabic, Bangla, Chinese, French, Gujarati, Hindi, Italian, Persian, Polish, Punjabi, Romanian, Somali, Spanish, Tamil, Urdu and Welsh. The guidance covers how to recognise domestic abuse, get help and support and how to check whether someone has an abusive past.

Domestic abuse: how to get help


Click here to find out how to get help if you or someone you know is being abused at home.

Thursday 11 November 2021

Remembrance: Lest we forget


For those who leave never to return. 
For those who return but are never the same. 

We remember

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