BookTrust - Bookstart

Bookstart gives a free book pack to every baby born in England, Northern Ireland and Wales.

It also offers further packs at key stages before school, as well as packs for children with additional needs, tips and guidance on reading together, resources, activities, and much more.

Find out more: https://www.booktrust.org.uk/what-we-do/programmes-and-campaigns/bookstart/

Free September webinars from the National Careers Service

Free courses can be booked online at the following link: Free webinars and events for job seekers

New Bullying, Harassment and Discrimination Helpline Number

The Bullying, Harassment and Discrimination Helpline Number changed on 15th August. 

The New number is 0800 014 2381 (UK), + 44 330 008 5942 (outside UK)

Eligibility and Entitlement Focus Groups

Eligibility and Entitlement Focus Groups

Eligibility and Entitlement Focus Groups

Eligibility and Entitlement Focus Groups

Have your say on Eligibility and Entitlement policy

During the 3rd and 4th week of September MOD will be holding virtual focus groups with Serving personnel and families to discuss eligibility and entitlement to allowances and benefits within Defence policy. We know that due to the mobile nature of Service life that eligibility and entitlement is important. All Serving Personnel and spouses / partners are welcome to volunteer, and we would also be grateful for the following demographics to participate so all are represented:

a. Dual Serving couples

b. Single parents

c. Separated families with shared custody

c. Those in long-term relationships; and

e. Married couples/ civil partnership couples.

The focus groups will be 1.5 hours long and be held virtually over Teams*. We would be grateful for your participation to ensure that Defence policy is reflective of the needs of Armed Forces families.

The focus groups will be held at the following times:

I. Monday 19 Sept – 11:00-12:30

II. Tuesday 20 Sept – 10:00-11:30 & 13:00-14:30

III. Thursday 22 Sept – 09:30-11:30

IV. Monday 26 Sept – 09:30-11:00

V. Tuesday 27 Sept- 10:00-11:30

VI. Thursday 29 Sept – 12:00-13:30 & 14:00- 15:30

VII. Friday 30 Sept 13:00-14:30 

If you would like to take part, please contact Leo.Fountain101@mod.gov.uk

The UK Armed Forces Families Strategy 2022-32 recognises the diverse range of family relationships and situations that exist in the armed forces community, its vision is that:

“the armed forces community is an environment that is welcoming and attractive to families. It supports and nurtures family life, and its diversity is reflective of wider society.”

Currently, eligibility and entitlement (E&E) to allowances and benefits, in Defence policy, tends to be based on whether a couple has chosen to legally formalise their relationship status through being married or entering a civil partnership. This is not backed up by increasing trends in cohabitation (long-term relationships) and stepfamilies. There are also large increases in dual earning and dual serving Armed Forces families. For Defence policy to remain relevant and up to date, we need to understand the lived experience of Armed Forces families.

*To facilitate analysis of data from the focus groups, participants will need to consent to Teams transcription being enabled.

Defence Discount Service - Essentials

HIVE enquiries

Dispelling HIVE Myths - HIVE staff are volunteers...

Dispelling HIVE Myths - HIVE is only in the UK...

Dispelling HIVE Myths - HIVE is only for families...

Dispelling HIVE Myths - HIVE is an external organisation...

Dispelling HIVE Myths - I live too far away from HIVE for help...

Brunei: SSO Office Opening Hours

SSO and Housing Office opening and business hours are:

Monday to Thursday: 0830 – 1130hrs and 1315 – 1530hrs

Friday: 0830 – 1130hrs

Saturday to Sunday: Closed

For ID Registration/De-registration/Renewal: 0830 – 1130hrs and 1330 – 1530hrs

For Housing: 0830 – 1130hrs and 1330 – 1530hrs

All out of hours emergencies are to be directed to the Duty Officers:

RGR Duty Officer +6738 330220

Garrison Duty Officer +6738 330230

Unit Welfare Officer +6738 330231

Health and wellbeing support for Service children

 

Feeling stressed? Kooth is by your side and support is available for you today. On Kooth you'll find:

• Live chat support with a friendly mental health practitioner
• Helpful articles
• Discussion boards
• Self-help tools
  
  If you're aged 11 to 18 and have a parent serving in the British Armed Forces or working for the MOD or the British Government in the UK or overseas then sign up for free today at kooth.com/mod​
  

Kooth - Health and wellbeing support for Service children

​Struggling to cope with stress or anxiety? You don't need to be in a mental health crisis to access support. Get the help you need anonymously with free online support from Kooth for children with a parent serving in the British Armed Forces or working for the MOD or the British Government in the UK or overseas, aged 11 until their 19th birthday. Talk to other people in the community or find support via live chat today.​

Suicide Bereavement UK Armed Forces Suicide Bereavement Study

If you would like to find out more, please contact:

sharon.mcdonnell@suicidebereavementuk.com

RBLI Life Works Website is Now Live

We are proud to announce the new Life Works website is now LIVE!

If you’re a veteran or immediate family of currently serving military personnel and looking for employment support, it’s now even easier to access our award-winning programme.

The new website contains updated features including a course calendar for easily finding a Lifeworks programme in your area, booking a course and contacting our dedicated team for further information.

You will also have the opportunity to gain access to the Lifeworks Hub; a unique area of the website created to help you on your job search with a list of our employment partners, veteran friendly job opportunities and a range of useful material for additional support.

Visit the new Lifeworks website today: https://wearelifeworks.org.uk/

NHS Healthy Start

What is Healthy Start?

If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk.

If you’re eligible, you’ll be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in some UK shops. We’ll add your benefit onto this card every 4 weeks.

You can use your card to buy:

plain liquid cow’s milk

fresh, frozen, and tinned fruit and vegetables

fresh, dried, and tinned pulses

infant formula milk based on cow’s milk

You can also use your card to collect:

Healthy Start vitamins – these support you during pregnancy and breastfeeding vitamin drops for babies and young children – these are suitable from birth to 4 years old 

Further information can be found here: https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/

Cost of Living Support – Help for Households

Cost of Living Support – Help for Households

Countries around the world are facing rising goods and energy prices, inflation and cost of living pressures after the pandemic and Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

We know people are worried, so the government is offering help for households.


To see what cost of living support you could be eligible for go to Cost of living support
Help for Households cost of living

Kooth - health and well-being support for Service children

Need to talk? If you are a child with a parent serving in the British Armed Forces or working for the MOD or the British Government in the UK or overseas, you can find support anonymously for your mental health and wellbeing today. Available for children aged 11 until their 19th birthday.

You can find:
Live chat with a friendly mental health practitioner
Helpful articles
Discussion boards
Self-help tools

Sign up for free today at kooth.com/mod

NEW Health and wellbeing group

Launch of Army Official Health & Wellbeing Closed Facebook Group

A new Health and Wellbeing Facebook group has been launched for Regular and Reserve Army personnel only. The aim of this group is to provide access to information on relevant topics (including policy updates and useful articles) and will also act as a forum for peer-to-peer support.

Join the group by using the link below (forwarded to your personal device) or it can be found on Facebook through searching Army Health and Wellbeing. Once joined please share the group far and wide with your Army colleagues. 

They will be asked a series of questions to confirm that they are serving – please ensure that these are completed fully. 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1061344861429921/

Bank of England to withdraw £20 & £50 notes from circulation

​​​https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/news/2022/​

Free online employment course for ex-Forces partners' and their adult children over 18

Date of course: 5th-9th Sept. 

This is a pilot course, offered for free in liaison with JointForces ISS and aims to help you re-set your existing skills for the journey ahead in civilian life. Aimed at ex-Forces partners' and their adult children over 18.​ 

Closing date to apply is 22nd Aug. 

See also: https://janejamesconsultancy.com/military-reboot/

Brunei: Panaga FC looking for new players to join their friendly squad

Brunei: Netball team Belait Flyers looking for new players....

Wraparound Childcare (WAC) in the UK - further information

The UK roll-out of Wraparound Childcare (WAC) funding is great news for Service families with children!

See the latest article about it on: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/military-families-to-benefit-from-3000-of-childcare-support

Service families can visit http://bruneihive.blogspot.com/2022/07/wraparound-childcare-to-be-rolled-out.html to see important steps to take now before funding becomes available.

Personnel can also read the WAC DIN (2022DIN01-079) on internal channels for more information.

Launch of Kooth - Online mental health and wellbeing support if you're aged 11-18

Kooth is now available for children (aged 11 until their 19th birthday) with a parent serving in the British Armed Forces or working for the MOD or the British Government in the UK or overseas.

The free, safe and anonymous mental wellbeing platform allows you to chat with a friendly mental health practitioner, find support from a helpful community or use a range of self-help tools..

Find out more at https://www.kooth.com/

Kooth - health and well-being support for Service children

 

Join Kooth online at any time for anonymous online mental health and wellbeing support. Kooth is available for children with a parent serving in the British Armed Forces or working for the MOD or the British Government in the UK or overseas, aged 11 until their 19th birthday. Sign up at kooth.com/mod

​If you need to talk about what's on your mind or find support with your mental health and wellbeing, you can:

* Live chat anonymously with a friendly mental health practitioner online at kooth.com/mod
* For urgent support in the UK click here
* Or contact Brunei HIVE for more information