Generic and local information for the UK Military community in Brunei including Serving Personnel, Families, Veterans, and MOD Civilians.
This is best viewed through a personal device because the MODnet firewall may prevent access to some links.
Tuesday 27 December 2022
Forces Help To Buy Scheme - here to stay from 1st January 2023
From 1 January 2023, The Forces Help To Buy Scheme will become an enduring policy, ensuring its availability to all Service Personnel now and in the future.
The scheme enables Service Personnel to borrow up to 50% of their salary, up to a maximum of £25,000 interest free towards the purchase of a property.
Click here to find out more about the scheme and how to apply
Thursday 22 December 2022
Samaritans support for the military and Armed Forces Community
Find out more here
Monday 19 December 2022
Friday 16 December 2022
Thursday 15 December 2022
Wednesday 14 December 2022
Brunei: PCMF Direct Access to Physiotherapy Christmas closure from 16th Dec - 9th Jan 2023
The Outward Bound Trust - The Annington Challenge 2023
Are you aged 10-19, in a Service family and looking for an adventure for the summer 2023?
The Annington Challenge is an exciting initiative run in conjunction with The Outward Bound Trust.
Applications are now being accepted for 2023
Full details can be found HERE
The Westminster Centre for Research in Veterans based at the University of Chester are recruiting participants for their new study
There is a shortfall in research regarding the UK Armed Forces and ethnic minority populations even though we are aware that such populations are higher users of veterans specific mental health services and are also overrepresented in the Service Complaints system.
Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT) awarded a grant to the University of Chester’s Westminster Centre for Research in Veterans to conduct research into the experiences of black, Asian, and minority ethnic veterans and their families. The study will use questionnaires, interviews, and focus groups to understand the motivators behind why black and Asian communities choose to join the British Armed Forces, remain and ultimately their reasons for leaving.
We are currently looking for veterans from any ethnic minority to complete the short online questionnaire, which should take no longer than 10-15 minutes and can be accessed by clicking on the link below:
We are also looking to interview veterans with Indian sub-continent or West Indian heritage. This usually takes no longer than 60 minutes, it can be conducted via an online meeting platform, and those participants who are interviewed will receive a £30 Amazon.co.uk gift voucher.
As a long-term outcome we would like to see that such veterans and their families are better placed to access appropriate assistance if required, including specialist medical and mental health services, through better engagement and connectivity.
If anyone has any questions regarding the study please contact the research team at veterans@chester.ac.uk
Tuesday 13 December 2022
Monday 12 December 2022
Sunday 11 December 2022
Saturday 10 December 2022
Friday 9 December 2022
Brunei: Are you looking to complete your IELTS/B1 Language course here in Brunei?
B1 Language course, or International English Language Test (IELTS) is a requirement for Naturalisation.
If you are looking to complete this test whilst posted here in Brunei, CfBT Education Services Sdn Bhd in Bandar Seri Begawan provide this service.
CfBT Education Service, Unit 8, Block C, Level 1-2, Kiarong Complex, Lebuhraya Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Gadong, BE1318.
Tel: +673 2451905
Email: exams@cfbt.org
The test provider needs a minimum of 6 people to enrol on the course before they will schedule a test date.
If you need support to ensure there are 6 people applying to do the course at the same time whilst posted here in Brunei, please contact the HIVE at BruneiGar-SpSvcs-HIVE-Mailbox@mod.gov.uk with your name and contact details.
HIVE will happily collate names and confirm back to you all when 6 people have registered interest.
Military partners working remotely overseas for a UK-based company - latest advice from MOD
The MOD have issued guidance for those military partners living overseas and working for UK companies. Read the full article here
Brunei: RESIDENT TO PLACE OF DUTY (RTPD) SERVICE – CHRISTMAS STAND DOWN
1. The RTPD service will not be provide during Christmas stand down period from 12 December 2022.
2. Normal RTPD service will resume from Monday 09 January 2023.
Thursday 8 December 2022
Primary School Admissions for 2023 - UK
The Education Advisory Team UK (EAT UK) is part of the MOD’s Defence Children Services (DCS). We are a tri-service organisation that provides information, advice and guidance on all educational matters in the UK.We are providing advice to parents about the admission process for applying for primary school places in the U.K for September 2023.
To read click here.
Primary School Admissions 2023 - Overseas
To read click here
NHS Step-by-step guide for Service Leavers
Find information and support to help you move from military healthcare to civilian healthcare after leaving the armed forces.
Leaving the armed forces can be a daunting process to undertake. Understanding what options you have and what actions you can take will help make your transition from military healthcare to civilian healthcare as smooth as possible.
Step-by-step guide for service leavers - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Warm Welcome Spaces
There are over 3000 registered organisations that have opened or are opening up free, warm, welcoming spaces for the public over this winter across the UK.
Warm Welcome Spaces come in all different shapes and sizes, from a homework club in a local church on a Tuesday, to over an over 65s community centre drop-in on a Wednesday and library co-working desk open all weekend. People just need to enter their postcode and their requirements to find the right space for them.
www.warmwelcome.uk/#find-a-space
Wednesday 7 December 2022
The Gurkha Museum Lecture and Curry Lunch - The Savage Wars of Peace 17th February 2023
The war in the Far East ended abruptly, violently and chaotically following the nuclear bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. While the Imperial Japanese Army had been defeated in Burma and was losing the war in the Pacific, her army in Malaya, Hong Kong, French Indo-China, the Netherlands East Indies, Manchuria and Siam was undefeated. Many of these countries saw the end of the war as their chance for independence and Gurkha, Indian and British troops became responsible for restoring colonial rule and became locked into open combat. The Allies’ most pressing task was recovering their prisoners of wars and civilian internees knowing little about their condition or locations in camps across South East Asia, China and Japan. Japan’s sudden surrender created a seismic resetting of the political and social order in the Far East as power vacuums were exploited for political gain and rapid decisions were made with consequences which reverberate today.
The lecture will be delivered by Lieutenant Colonel Mike Tickner who is a serving officer with a long term interest in the British Army in India and particularly the Far East campaigns. He regularly gives talks to military and civilian groups, clubs and museums, has led battlefield studies and writes the occasional article.
The Armchair Battlefield Tour is followed by a two-course curry lunch.
The Gurkha Museum Burns Night 2023 - 25th January 2023 1800 hrs
This Burns Night,we will celebrate this relationship, as well as the great poet Robert Burns, with a fantastic Burns Night celebration in The Gurkha Museum in Winchester.
With a drink on arrival guests will tour the Museum and be given a chance to view some of our collection items associated with Scotland and learn about the deep historic links between Gurkhas and Scottish Regiments.
In our exquisite McDonald Gallery, guests will then be treated to a fabulous three course Scottish themed dinner, with a Nepalese twist. Let’s not forget the obligatory tot of whisky, which is also included in the ticket price!
Tickets are priced at £60.00 (£50.00 before 30th November 2022) and will also include half a bottle of wine or a bottle of Kukri beer, per person with dinner.
So get your kilt on, a night of bag pipes and whisky awaits.
Dress code: Black Ties or Suit (jacket and tie).
Ladies Equivalent. Tartan is optional but encouraged!
For full details and to purchase tickets Click here
Tuesday 6 December 2022
Monday 5 December 2022
Universal Credit
Easy read: Universal Credit - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Blue Light Card - Fuel Savings
All SP and families are eligable for a Blue Light Card which amongst other offers, provides access to the discount available via ESSO for fuel:
See Link for further details
FREE ESSO CARD™ FOR BLUE LIGHT CARD MEMBERS