Reading Well for teens

A new 'Reading Well for teens' collection launched in public libraries in England and Wales on World Mental Health Day 2022.

The scheme supports the mental health and wellbeing of teenagers aged 13 to 19 years old, providing information, advice and support to help them better understand their feelings, handle difficult experiences and boost confidence in a post-pandemic context. Click the link below for details.​​

Reading well for teens

Samaritans - Emotional Health & Wellbeing for Service Leavers and Veterans

To read the Samaritans Emotions Health and Wellbeing for Service Leavers and Veterans - Life after the Armed Forces​, please click HERE​

Credit Union Difference

Cost saving suggestions for reducing energy bills

Togetherall: Movember - men's health and wellbeing

 

Talking can feel hard. Let's make it easier.

If you or someone you know might be struggling, opening up and sharing how you are feeling can help. Whether that's with family, friends, a professional or in the @Togetherall community, there is help available. Togetherall is an anonymous, online community available 24/7, to get (or give) support.

✅Togetherall is FREE to UK Military,

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

Defence Accommodation Strategy

To read more about Defence Accommodation Strategy Click here

Defence Accommodation Strategy

 

We recognise the importance of homes and families to the wellbeing of Service Personnel, especially when making such extraordinary sacrifices in the UK and overseas.

Defence continues to consider how we best support our people and ensure that they have access to high quality subsidised accommodation in line with modern living standards and the support that meets their varied needs, health, and wellbeing.​

To read click HERE​

SCiP Alliance - Applying to University - a guide for Armed Forces Students

As part of the Connected Forces project, the Inspiring Choices Uni Connect partnership will be running a webinar for all students from Armed Forces backgrounds who are interested in finding out more about applying to higher education through the UCAS system.

Click HERE​ to register​

Mindful Connections - Scotland - Service Leavers

Forces Children Scotland has launched a holistic support service to help families leaving the armed forces to make a successful transition to civilian life across central Scotland.

Titled Mindful Connections, this new service has received funding from the Scottish Veterans Fund to pilot holistic support to help former armed forces families to make a successful transition to realise their potential and thrive in civilian life.​

​Mindful Connections - Forces Children Scotland

Armed force covenant - Evaluation report for Tackling Loneliness

Click here to read the full Evaluation report for Tackling Loneliness (covenantfund.org.uk)

Brunei: SSAFA Brunei are looking for volunteers...

Please click the image to enlarge.

SSAFA Brunei - Click Here

Facebook

Email: ssafa.isc.brunei@gmail.com

Servicewomen’s Health Handbook 2022

The Servicewomen’s Health Handbook​ was released last month and is for all personnel who are directly affected by female-specific health issues, for commanders and line managers who have a responsibility to enable their people to be their best, and for colleagues to better understand and support.

Copies of the handbook are available via internal Health and Wellbeing Portals or can be downloaded direct from Servicewomen's Health Handbook​.

Tax Free Childcare - Overseas

Whilst overseas, TFC can only be used at nurseries or childminders that are MOD provided (regulated and inspected). 

If you are eligible for Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) and you are assigned to an overseas location within the European Economic Area (and Switzerland) where there is no access to MOD provided schools and nurseries, you will be able to claim the TFC top-up using a manual process.

Armed Forces Families and Safeguarding (AFFS) worked with HMRC to allow for an application to be made with data then being transferred securely to HMRC for eligibility checking and processing of refunds.

2022DIN01-102 Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) Scheme for eligible working parents (Service personnel) has now been published, this includes the application form for the manual process.

Personnel without internal SharePoint access should contact People-AFFS-Child-Expenses@mod.gov.uk to request a copy of the application form. ​

Brunei: Miri Crocodile Farm

 

Looking for a day out? Just across the border in Miri, you'll find Miri Crocodile Farm. Monkey's Sun Bears, Birds of Prey, Snakes and Crocodile feeding....

Click here for further details. 

Tihar Festival

DWP - New single Twitter account

DWP official social media accounts - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Universal Credit - easy read guides

There are two new easy read guides available on GOV.UK

Before you apply for Universal Credit’ (UC3ER) and ‘How to apply for Universal Credit’ (UC4ER) – English and Welsh versions.

These easy read guides help people with learning disabilities to understand what Universal Credit (UC) is, who can get UC and how to apply for UC.​ Follow the link below...

Easy read: Universal Credit guides (link is external)

Carers in the Army - Survey by Army Carers Advocate for Serving persons

Click here to read more about Edd's story

To complete the Survey online, click here Service Carer Survey (office.com)

Forces Families Jobs

RBL - Cost of Living Energy Top Up Grants

Over the last 12 months we've seen a 20% increase in requests for support with food and basic living costs.

RBL have announced new emergency energy top up grants to help members of the Armed Forces community pay their fuel bills.

This will give those struggling to pay their bills up to £200 per month, depending on their financial circumstances.

Apply directly at rbl.org.uk/costofliving Or call 0808 802 8080​

Reserve Forces & Cadet Association (RFCA) - Regional Employer Engagement Directors' Contact Details

Your regional Employer Engagement Director can offer you support and advice relating to defence personnel issues, including employment of reservists, veterans, cadet instructors and spouses/partners.

CLICK HERE for details​

Employment Workshop for Service Families - Amazon

MILITARY FAMILIES EMPLOYMENT WORKSHOP – WEDNESDAY 2nd NOVEMBER 2022

We are delighted to announce that for the first time, Amazon UK are hosting an Employment Workshop for military spouses and children of Servicemen and women aged 17+ on Wednesday 2nd November 2022, in our Headquarters in Shoreditch, London. The aim of the event is to help military spouses and forces families to into employment. Full details are at the link below, but we are planning to have sessions on apprenticeships, CV writing and interview skills, plus guests speakers from LinkedIn and Amazon Web Services for careers in technology.

Spaces are limited to we encourage people to sign up well in advance:

https://amazonforcesfamiliesworkshop.splashthat.com/​

National Rail - Free Travel For Serving Military Personnel & Veterans - 13 Nov 22

Remembrance Sunday – 13 November 2022

Train Operating Companies will be offering free travel for serving military personnel and veterans to and from Services of Remembrance across Great Britain.​

Full details HERE​

Little Troopers - New therapy programme

Click here to access the full document. 

 

Armed Forces Loneliness

Click the image to access the full document or click here

UK Government Advice on Domestic Abuse Updates

The UK Government Website have updated their advice on domestic abuse in the following areas:​

Guidance and support for those affected by or dealing with cases of domestic abuse in the Armed Forces Community.​

www.gov.uk/government/collections/domestic-abuse-guidance-and-support-for-the-armed-forces-community

​A hand book for civilian suppport services, designed to help and inform civillian support services who are working with the Armed Forces:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/armed-forces-domestic-abuse-a-handbook-for-civilian-support-services​

Support within the foreign and Commonwealth community for those affected by domestic abuse:

​www.gov.uk/government/publications/support-within-the-foreign-and-commonwealth-community-for-those-affected-by-domestic-abuse​

Kooth - health and wellbeing support for military children

Children and young people with a parent Serving in the Armed Forces often face moving from place to place with their family, living overseas, attending several schools, leaving friends behind and making new ones. Being part of an Armed Forces family can also mean long periods of separation from the Serving parent when they are deployed or away training.

Kooth and the British Army Regional Command, on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, are working together to provide easy access to mental health and well-being support for children and young people aged from 11 to their 19th birthday. 

Kooth.com/mod is available for all children and young people with a Serving parent and children and young people who are living overseas with parents working for the MOD or British Government.

Who are HIVE?

Guidance: Help for service leavers from Defence Transition Services

For information about how military personnel and their families can get more support and extra help from Defence Transition Services when leaving the armed forces, please click HERE

Army & You - Autumn 2022 Edition

Army&You's autumn edition is out now in print and online! 

Read here and look out for your copy in your HIVE soon​.​

Positive Pathway Research Programme - RFEA - can you take part?

The 'Positive Pathways' programme at the University of Winchester is a two-year long project which aims to support ex-forces, military families and reservists in exploring pathways into Further Education and Higher Education, and build the skills and confidence to do so. This survey is to help inform the development of targeted outreach activities and tailored transition support through the 'Positive Pathways' programme, in partnership with the RFEA (the Forces Employment Charity).

The coordination of the activity delivered in the Positive Pathways programme at the University, under the EM3 Armed Forces Veterans and Families Programme led by RFEA, is part funded by the European Social Fund, January 2021 – December 2024.​

To take part in this research, click here

One4all Gift Cards - available in Brunei Forces Post Office

Are you looking for a gift to send to the UK for a loved one?

Did you know the Garrison post office sell Gift Cards?

Choose from a wide range of designs for every occasion. From birthdays to weddings, anniversaries to thank you's, the One4all Gift Card is the perfect gift.

With over 130 stores to choose from nationwide, including Argos, Primark, Boots, TK Maxx, M&S, Debenhams and many, many more, your lucky recipient can use their gift card to get what they really want!

For further information and a full list of retailers CLICK HERE.

The display of any brochure of advertisement on the HIVE blog does not constitute endorsement of any item or service.

Brunei: Use Of BFPO’S To Operate A Business

References:
A. JSP 462 Ch 18 - Regularity and Propriety in Public Expenditure.

B. SI BA (G) 5206 sponsored by HQ UKSC (G) and C&I BFLO (G).

61. CPCOs and WO/SNCO/NCO IC FPOs are reminded that the use of BFPO’s by customers, who are operating a business overseas for personal gain, are not authorised to use the BFPO facilities to forward or receive mail items connected with that business.

The MOD pays for the transportation of mail to and from overseas by air or surface means. To allow customers to use the BFPO to operate a business for personal gain would constitute an abuse of public money.

62. Individuals, who are authorised to operate businesses overseas, are to be advised that they should use local civilian post offices to receive or send goods connected with their business, whereby full international rates of postage will be paid. Those who breach this regulation disciplinary action may be taken.

Service Pupil Premium

The Department for Education (DfE) provides additional funding (£310 per pupil) for State Schools, Academies and Free Schools to support Service children in England. Service Pupil Premium (SPP) is there to provide mainly pastoral support in recognition of the challenges these children may face. 

Service parents, if they haven’t already done so, are encouraged to inform schools of their Service status before the Autumn school census deadline (6th October 2022). 

Without this information schools will miss out on this additional funding.​

Call for Evidence: The impact of the pre-2000 ban on homosexuality in the Armed Forces

This Call for Evidence is seeking testimony and views from individuals and organisations on the impact of the pre-2000 ban on homosexuality in the Armed Forces.​

For more information, visit: Call for Evidence - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

UK Secondary School Applications for 2023

Call for Evidence: review of hybrid & distance working

The Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) is conducting a review on the emerging trends and tax implications of hybrid and distance working.

They are particularly interested in evidence relating to problems that have been exacerbated by the pandemic or caused changes in working practices, as well as issues that we think are unique to military families. Follow the link below for further information

Call for Evidence: Review of hybrid and distance working - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

RBL Poppy Pebbles

To mark Remembrance Day 2022, we are inviting pupils to participate in our Poppy Pebbles project. The work created by pupils will be celebrated and shared by us during the month of November. By taking part in this project pupils will be given the opportunity to:

* Discuss the importance of Remembrance and why we continue to mark the occasion

* Learn about the importance of war memorials, both in the past and present day

* Identify what they can do in their local community to mark Remembrance Day 2022

The packs have curriculum links to History, Citizenship, English, Geography and Art, providing teaching resources in order to teach Remembrance and to open up the discussion in the classroom or at home, thereby raising awareness about the day and its meaning. We have two packs, one for primary students and one for secondary students.

If your family, or your primary or secondary school is interested in taking part, please email comms@forcesemployment.org.uk and we will send copies of the packs, which can then be used at home or forwarded onto the school.