SFA: The UK walkway scheme is no more, so what happens now?

There’s no longer the option to use the official walkaway scheme when moving out of your home. The responsibility for ensuring your quarter is at move-out standard is down to you, so how can you ensure it’s up to scratch? 

To find out more, click here to access the full Army and You article. 

Togetherall: World Mental Health Day 10th October

It's World Mental Health Day and this year's theme is making #mentalhealth a global priority for all.

@togetherall has a community full of people from all walks of life, coming together to get (or give) the mental health support they need.

Someone somewhere will understand how you're feeling, and they'd love to hear your story.

✅Togetherall is FREE to UK Military,

Veterans & Family members 16+ join at: https://account.v2.togetherall.com/register/uk-armed-forces

Brunei: BFB Cost of living survey - closing date 23rd Sept 2022

With the current cost of living challenges in Brunei, and in order to provide more evidence to the LOA review team, we are looking to understand the scale of the issues with regards to inflation, and the possible impact on morale of service personnel and families assigned in British Forces Brunei. 

To that end, could all serving personnel and families in BFB please complete the survey. The survey will take between 4 and 5 minutes dependant on, if you want to add comment.

It would be appreciated if this could be completed ASAP but will be open until Fri 23 Sep 22 for those that are unable.

We have a responsibility to all in British Forces Brunei as well as dependants, and with a little understanding, we can make a real change for the better.

British Forces Brunei - Cost of Living Survey - MODNET link.

QR code to access from Mobile Phones.

Career Pursuit - A third year for the magazine with career resources for spouses and partners of those who serve

A Third Year for Magazine With Career Resources for the Spouses and Partners of Those Who Serve

Career Pursuit has become a must-read resource for military spouses, partners, and veterans looking to build careers that work for them. Sponsorship, this year from RAF Astra, RJS Family Law, and St. James’s Place Financial Adviser Academy, will allow for 1,500 printed copies to be distributed for free to every military community information office across the the three services, UK-wide.

The military lifestyle of moving every few years can be very disruptive to families and limit military spouses and partners' potential for professional development. The UK Armed Forces Families Strategy 2022–32 highlights that, “Today, dual-earning couples are the norm rather than the exception. Coping with the upheaval of military life is far more difficult when balancing two careers; especially when the career of the service person’s partner or spouse may take precedence.” Career Pursuit is designed to help make that balance easier.

Since Career Pursuit launch in 2020, it has addressed the conflicting responsibilities and challenges of a military spouse or partner, which can often cause them to put career goals on the back burner. Projects like this ultimate career guide are vital in the future, with a recorded 51% of partners and spouses needing to feel more valued by the services. A fine-grained approach is required to find solutions that will benefit military families and the military itself.

This year, Career Pursuit is delighted to provide career support to those who have served in the military and their families as they seek new opportunities with meaning and autonomy. The magazine can be found in information offices at military bases across the UK or downloaded online.

Helen Massy, founder and editor-in-chief of the magazine, said, "Over the last three years, the success of Career Pursuit has continuously grown. There is a wealth of employment and entrepreneur support available to military spouses, partners, and veterans, but it’s challenging to find. Career Pursuit directly answers that problem by putting resources into one central place.”

There is a free online flip-book version accessible at: https://www.medicalandhealthwriter.com/career-pursuit

JCCC Virtual Contact Card - download today

The Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) have produced a Virtual Contact Card for Service Personnel and their families.

Download, save and share with family members today!

www.gov.uk/guidance/joint-casualty-and-compassionate-centre-jccc

New Style Employment and Support Allowance – Change to new claims telephone number

New Style Employment and Support Allowance – Change to new claims telephone number

The telephone number to call to make a New Style Employment and Support Allowance new claims is changing. From 12 September 2022 the telephony number to call will be 0800 055 6688. This line will be open 8am to 5pm to align with Working Age. This is a shared line, with New Style Employment and Support Allowance joining New Style Job Seekers Allowance and Maternity Allowance New claims. Once connected to the line, callers will be given all three options to choose from.

From 12 September, any calls made to the old number - 0800 328 5644 – will get a recorded message directing them to the new line. The Benefit Enquiry line telephony number 0800 169 0310, remains unchanged and should be used for all enquires after a new claim has been made. Text, Relay and Welsh Language line numbers also remain unchanged.​

Help for Households - Gov.uk

Help for Households campaign

‘Help for Households’ is a new site on GOV.UK detailing a range of government support measures that can help people deal with the increasing costs of living. The measures include help with childcare, finding work, transport costs and more.

Please take a look at the Help for Households website to see what cost of living support you could be eligible for and how to access it.​

Brunei: Amah Employment and Registration

Brunei: Have you nominated a local emergency contact?

 

It is parent's responsibility to make sure you complete the emergency contact details whilst posted in Brunei. Click here to download the form. Please hand over to UWO office after completed.

Early Years programme: Grants to enhance pre-school learning for Service children

AFCFT want to share with you news of the launch of their latest funding programme

The Armed Forces Families Fund: Early Years programme.

This programme will focus on ensuring great places for Service children aged 0-5 years to learn and develop. This fantastic funding complements the existing Education Support Fund, currently live but closing this month.

Find out more HERE​

FAM and the accommodation offer

From 31 October 2023 aspects of your accommodation offer will change

The way people live and work is changing and our accommodation offer should reflect this. We know it’s crucial to provide accommodation that works for a modern Whole Force, their partners and families.

We are now three years into the Future Accommodation Model (FAM) pilot, which has offered more choice to thousands of Service personnel over where, how and with whom they live. Throughout this time, we’ve been looking at lessons learnt and are working to create the best possible accommodation offer.

Using feedback and findings from the FAM pilot, work is now underway to decide how to deliver a wider accommodation offer that works for personnel across the whole of Defence.

What’s next…

From 31 October 2023, aspects of your accommodation offer will change, and we will put our plans to improve and modernise accommodation options into action.

Over the course of the next year, we will be giving more details about what these changes will look like, keeping you informed and updated every step of the way through regular articles, Chain of Command updates, social media and on GOV.UK.

At this moment you do not need to take any action.

You can still benefit from FAM in the meantime…

All those who are eligible can still take advantage of the FAM offer until the pilot ends on 31 March 2023.

Those expecting to be posted to the pilot sites: HMNB Clyde, Aldershot Garrison and RAF Wittering must have a Report for Duty Date no later than 31 March 2023.

More information Email: People-Accom-ASC@mod.gov.uk You can find out more about FAM and how to apply on the FAM defnet page or on GOV.UK. Or visit Discover My Benefits

Action For Happiness Calendars - September 2022

Click here to access the Action for Happiness Calendar

Wraparound childcare funding now available in the UK

Soldiering On Awards 2022 - Inspiration Award Finalist

The Inspiration Award ​honours a person who has overcome significant challenges, injury or disability, and whose ongoing or past outstanding achievements are an inspiration to others within the Armed Forces community. The winner of this award will be chosen through a public vote.​

​Full details ​HERE​​

SPOUSAL EMPLOYMENT: NATO SOFA

UK Government have today published guidance on spousal employment with regards to the NATO SOFA.

Determine if you can work in the territory of another nation under the NATO Status of Forces Agreement and any other related arrangements.

The NATO SOFA is a multinational agreement between nations enabling the operation of a nation’s Defence task in the territory of another nation. By nature of purpose and design it does not provide for the employment undertakings of a Spouse but of equal importance it does not deny.

Further information can be found at SPOUSAL EMPLOYMENT: NATO SOFA - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)