Brunei: Kids' Halloween Disco - Friday, 01st November 2024, 6 - 8 PM @ Patio Bar, Mumong

Please contact Karina for Tickets on 8293763.

Brunei: BFB Tihar 2024

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NHS Step into Health: Internship Vacancy now open for Service Leavers and Veterans

NHS Step into Health are pleased to announce that recruitment for their Programme Assistant Internship is now open. To be eligible to apply for the internship you must be in the process of being or have been medically discharged from UK Armed Forces regular service within the last 5 years.

Location: Leeds with agile working (home based will be considered)

Role: Fixed term (12 weeks). Full time, flexible working patterns considered.

Salary: £22,837 (pro rata)

Closing Date: 23:59 17th November 2024

The post-holder will join the Step into Health team and will gain valuable experiences and skills which will be beneficial and transferable into other NHS roles. The full job description can be found via this link, and is also attached here. Although SitH cannot guarantee employment when the internship comes to an end, they are able to support individuals to apply for other roles within the NHS.

To apply, please use the link on the vacancy page.

For more information on how the Step into Health programme can assist Service leavers and veterans into an NHS career, please go to https://www.militarystepintohealth.nhs.uk/.

Military Mortgage Advice Webinars: 3rd November to 26th January - Sundays, 1930 (UK Time)

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Book your place here: Webinars | Military Mortgage Advice

Brunei: PCMF and Dental Centre Closure Notice - Wednesday, 30th October 2024

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PMCF can be contacted via the below number:

PCMF civilian line - 322 4893

PCMF military ext line - 3224101 Ext 3226

During out of office hours, our duty nurse can be reached via 833 0246.

Dental can be contacted via the below number:

Dental military ext line - 3224101 Ext 3354

Dental mobile number - 8301856

Brunei: BFB Inter COY Selroti and Chutney Competition - Wednesday, 30th October 2024, 1200 onwards @ CCCC

BFB INTER COY SELROTI AND CHUTNEY COMPETITION 

Total 6 teams from BFB (A, B, C, SP, HQ Coy & GST) are competing for the title of this year Selroti & Chutney Champion.

The event is taking place Tomorrow on the first day of great festivals Tihar at CCCC.

The Competition starts from 1130hrs.

From 1200hrs onwards, all the spectators are warmly welcome to support and witness the competition plus the results of this year's Selroti & Chutney competition.

Brunei: BFB Fitness Classes - Tuesdays & Thursdays, 7 - 8 PM @ Mumong Community Centre

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Join the BFB Fitness Classes Facebook group.

Brunei: BFB Spouses Circuit Classes - Mondays & Thursdays 0800 - 0900 @ Garrison Gym

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Circuit Classes are held in the Garrison Gym on Mondays and Thursdays at 0800-0900.

BFB spouses must be gym inducted to attend class and use of gym facility.

For gym induction seek Duty PTI by person on Mon-Thu at 0900-1100 hrs.

There is no requirement for personal insurance cover as its covered by BFB establishment insurance.

Stem Cell Donation: Sign up to save a life!

Every 20 minutes someone in the UK is diagnosed with blood cancer.

Stem cell transplants are used to treat blood cancers like leukaemia, aplastic anaemia as well as other diseases of the immune system. Chemotherapy can help in some cases, but for many people a stem cell transplant is the only chance of a cure.

30,000 new donors are needed in the UK each year to find matches for the steadily rising number of stem cell transplants taking place in the UK every year. Stem cells are found in the bone marrow – a soft, spongy tissue at the centre of certain bones – and can produce all essential blood cells, including red and white cells and platelets (which stop bleeding).

Give blood and save a life

Sign up today

Supporting each other – give blood and save a life

Places where kids eat free (or for £1) this October half-term

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Money Saving Central - October half-term​

AWS Community Support Annual Report 2024

The Army Welfare service is proud to present the AWS Community Support Annual Report for 2024.

This Report outlines some of the key achievements delivered and challenges faced by our team over the past year. It provides an overview of key areas of work, statistical information and also looks forward to the year ahead. It demonstrates the breadth and depth of the impact that the Community Support team have.​

Please click HERE to read this report online.

Forces in Mind Trust Post-Service Employment Research Policy & Practice Summaries

New research and policy summaries focused on post-Service employment among ex-Service personnel and their partners.

These summaries form part of our commitment to ensuring evidence is at the heart of decision making for the benefit of ex-Service personnel and their families.

The summaries provide easy digestible access to up to date research evidence and an overview of current policy and service provision focused on post-Service employment among ex-Service personnel and their partners.

A robust methodology has been used to create these summaries meaning they are an accurate and trustworthy source of information which can used to inform and transform policy, practice, and future research priorities.

You can access the full summaries and two-page infographics here:

Research summary: Research | FiMT Research Centre (fimt-rc.org)

Policy summary: Policy Practice | FiMT Research Centre (fimt-rc.org)

Brunei: Brunei HIVE - Let's Celebrate 40 Years of Information Support! - Wednesday, 23rd October 2024, 10 AM - 1 PM @ Chit Chat HIVE, Chit Chat Community Centre

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EVERYONE is WELCOME!

Armed Forces in Policing Recruitment Event

We have planned the 2025 series of events called National Joining Forces – these are police recruitment events for all police organisations in England and Wales. They are designed to provide insight and understanding into police careers; the recruitment process and the structures in place to support candidates through the process. In particular the events highlights the qualities and skills veterans possess which are transferable into British policing.

​The events are advertised on Eventbrite and are as follows:

Tuesday 14th January 2025 from 1800 x 1900

Tuesday 15th April 2025 from 1800 x 1900

Tuesday 15th July 2025 from 1800 x 1900

​Friday 14th November 2025 from 1800 x 1900

Brunei: Yoga and Meditation with Pandit Ji - *Next Session* Tuesday, 22nd October 2024, 0900 - 1030 hrs @ CCCC Main Hall

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Brunei: AWS Community Support - October Half-Term Activities - Monday, 21st October - Thursday, 24th October 2024

Please book on - No Charge, Limited Seats.

Bring your own snacks and drinks.

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Please scan the QR code above to Register or

Click here for Booking Form

Click here for Annual Registration Form

Brunei: DIO(B) - Infrastructure Fault Reporting - Help Desk

INFRASTRUCTURE FAULT REPORTING - DIO(BRUNEI) HELP DESK

1. The DIO (B) Helpdesk opening hours are as follows:

    a. Monday to Thursday 07:30hrs to 16:30hrs

    b. Friday 07:30hrs to 13:30hrs

    c. Saturday to Sunday Closed

2. All fault reports are to be directed to either military extension no.3375 or civilian phone no.3224130.

3. Urgent and routine fault reports emails are to be directed to BRUNEIGAR-DIO-HelpDesk@mod.gov.uk. This is to be used for Urgent and Routine repairs only.

Do NOT email faults that required emergency and very urgent call outs.

4. All out of hours emergencies are to be directed to the Duty Officers as shown below.

    a. RGR Duty Officer 006738 8330220

    b. Garrison Duty Officer 006738 8330230

Travel to Refuge Scheme: Free travel for those fleeing domestic abuse

Travel to Refuge is an umbrella scheme in which travel companies cover the cost of train or coach tickets for women, men and children escaping domestic abuse travelling to refuge accommodation. It’s made up of two schemes:

• Rail to Refuge, a joint initiative between Women’s Aid and the Rail Delivery Group, set up in April 2020, providing free rail travel for survivors of abuse.

• Road to Refuge, a joint initiative between Women’s Aid and National Express, set up in 2023, providing free coach travel for survivors of abuse.

For more infomation please visit: Travel to Refuge

Reminder: Set up your eVisa Account

You can now set up your eVisa account. An eVisa is an online record of a your immigration permission in the UK, and any conditions which apply. It can be viewed by logging into the online ‘View and prove your immigration status’ service using your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account

For more information on getting an eVisa, visit: ​​​www.gov.uk/get-access-evisa​

Sign up to your SFA roadshow - Aldershot 6th Nov or Leuchars 28th Nov

Come and instigate change!

DIO along with Pinnacle, Amey and VIVO invite Service Personnel and your families to the Roadshows hosted by our senior representatives. We will share updates about investment in your homes, the steps we're taking to improve the services you rely on and give you the opportunity to share your experience of living in SFA.

Click here to sign up or scan the QR code on the poster. 

Flooding: DIO and Pinnacle have provided some handy information around flood proofing

Pinnacle - flood preparedness 

A reminder about electric heater safety in the home from DIO/Pinnacle

RAND Europe Research: Meeting the Needs of the RAF and RN/RM Family

RAND Europe is currently undertaking research to support the Royal Air Force (RAF) Benevolent Fund and Greenwich Hospital in understanding the current and future size, demographics and support needs of RAF and Royal Navy/Royal Marines (RN/RM) Service People, Veterans and Families.

We are recruiting participants!

As part of our research, we want to better understand the experiences of current and former RAF, RN and RM serving personnel and their families. We are intending to do this through interviews and surveys, focusing on:

• RAF, RN and RM families' experiences of military life, military-to-civilian transition and post-Service life.
• Issues/challenges former and current Service personnel and their families may be experiencing in relation to day-to-day living, health and wellbeing (including mental and emotional), education, housing, finance and employment.
• Experiences with accessing support and perspectives on how support to RAF, RN and RM families could be improved.

​Who is eligible to participate?

Introductory Flight Scholarship (IFS) and Junior Rank and Officer Pilot Scholarship Scheme (JROPSS) 2025 - applications invited from RAF Personnel

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The following opportunity may be of interest to RAF staff within Tri-Service locations both UK-wide and worldwide.

Applications from RAF Junior Ranks (JR) and Junior Officers (JO) are now invited for the IFS and JROPSS 2025. Generously funded by the RAF Charitable Trust (RAFCT), and delivered through selected RAF Flying Schools, the JROPSS is open to JR (Cpl and below) JO (Flt Lt and below) from the RAF Regular and RAF Reserve Services.

​Further details can be found here​

Full eligibility requirements and terms can be found at www.RAFSA.co.uk

Are you eligible for Pension Credit?

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It is estimated that up to 880,000 households are missing out on Pension Credit, and it is worth, on average, £3,900 per year, providing additional benefits such as help with Council Tax and Housing Benefit and a free TV licence for those over 75.

In addition to Pension Credit, those who qualify could also receive Winter Fuel Payment and other support like help with housing costs, help with Council Tax and a free TV licence for those aged 75 and over.

Thanks to the Pension Credit backdating rules, it is possible to apply for Pension Credit and have the claim backdated by up to 3 months, (ticking the backdating box on the claim form). This means that the latest date to apply and still qualify for Winter Fuel Payment is 21st December 2024.

To note, Pension Credit can also provide extra support for heating costs such as The Warm Home Discount Scheme and Cold Weather Payments​.

Checking entitlement is easy with this on-line calculator: Pension Credit calculator - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

NDNA Childcare Works supported employment programme - starts next week!

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Are you a spouse/ partner of a serving military personnel or a reservist?

Are you interested in career in childcare but don't know where to start?

Then the Childcare Works project could be for you.

Act quick as the project starts on 22nd October and there are only a couple of spaces left!

Contact Lesley.williams@ndna.org.uk or call on 07718 803652.

Please click here to read more about this project online

Army HQ Welfare Matters Newsletter - Families Edition

Army HQ publishes the Welfare Matters newsletter quarterly, and this is shared internally with MOD staff and Army units.

A new families version of the newsletter is now available, as it is recognised that Service family members may also be interested in the latest news updates, and will find the newsletter informative.

Please click here to view the newsletter online 

Brunei: Families Day 230 Sqn welcomes BFB - Friday, 18th October 2024, 1300 - 1630 @ Medicina Lines

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Please scan the QR Code or Click HERE for sign up.

Brunei: Head of Defence Children Service (DCS) visit to BFB - Thursday, 17th October 2024, 1000 - 1130 hrs @ AWS Cafe Area, Chit Chat Community Centre

Head of Defence Children Service (DCS) visit to BFB

Head of DCS (Mrs Beverley Martin) will visit BFB between 14-17 Oct 24. This visit will include a ‘Parents Forum’ on Thu 17 Oct 24 between 1000-1130hrs at the Chit Chat Community Centre (CCCC). All parents with children attending Hornbill School (HBS) who are due to attend Yr 7 and Yr 8 in the new academic term (Sep 25) are strongly encouraged to attend to receive key information concerning future DCS provision within Brunei. Parents of current Yr 4 and Yr 5 pupils are also encouraged to attend to receive information concerning future HBS modelling. All Chains of Commands (CoCs) are encouraged to allow Serving Personnel to attend.

Veterans ID Card accepted as Polling ID

The government has backed the armed forces community by allowing HM Armed Forces Veteran Cards to be used as Voter ID in forthcoming elections.

More information can be found here.

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust: Over £380K awarded to enhance Early Years provision for Service families

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (The Trust) have awarded funding worth over £380,000 to a further 12 fantastic projects supporting Service children in the latest round of the Early Years programme!

These projects are set to help enhance early childhood education and childcare to better support the unique needs and challenges of young children from Armed Forces families.

Dedicated resources for Service children across the UK 

Part of the MOD’s Armed Forces Families Fund, the Early Years programme supports initiatives that help Armed Forces families access good quality early childhood education and childcare provision. This will enhance capacity, allowing more Service children to enrol, create improved learning environments, and offer suitable training for staff development to address the unique challenges faced by Service children.

Defence Children Services: New information on school admissions and education support to Service families

Defence Children Services and Education Advisory Team (UK) have released some new information for Service families. This includes guidance about key dates related to school admissions which are coming up; the first of these is October 31st for families who have a child due to start secondary school in September 2025. There are also leaflets explaining the support available from EAT (UK) and the Overseas Education and Supportability Team (OEST):​

Letter for families

Top Tips Information sheet with some FAQ

EAT(UK) leaflet

OEST leaflet

​DCS also has a new website with comprehensive information for Service families: www.dcs.school

Brunei: Life Support Awareness Session - Tuesday, 15th October 2024, 0830 - 1100 hrs @ Chit Chat Community Centre

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To register, please scan the QR code above or click HERE.

All Non serving adult members of the BFB Community are invited including Amah / Maid under the Garrison / RGR employee. 

There is limited capacity for this session and places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Brunei: Running a Service in SFA - Revised BFB Housing Directive

RUNNING A SERVICE IN SFA - REVISED BFB HOUSING DIRECTIVE (Link)

Timeline: Personnel with existing authority to run a Service in SFA are authorised to continue delivering the Service until 15 Oct 24 (Transition period). After 15 Oct 24 all existing authority to run a Service in SFA will be INVALID therefore they are all reminded to reapply (Link) at the earliest opportunity. The new Revised Policy for Running a Service in SFA (below) is implemented from 16 Oct 24. All personnel must comply with the new Revised Policy. Non complaint personnel are liable for disciplinary action.

1. BFB offers limited employment opportunities for spouses of personnel assigned to Brunei. Every foreigner who wants to work in Brunei needs a valid employment Visa issued by their respective country’s Embassy/High Commission and must obtain a work permit from the Brunei Department of Labour. In order to support spouses of personnel assigned to BFB Garrison, they will be permitted to run a service from SFA. However, spouses must be sponsored by the HoH (Head of Household) to run a service from SFA and the HoH must take full responsibility of all the activities within the SFA. They must submit their application (Link) to the SSO department. Any authority to run a service from SFA provided by GSO will only be valid up until the expiry date of their insurance at which point they need to reapply/renew. Services should only be provided to personnel and their families employed within BFB Garrison and only delivered within BFB Garrison premises. Services should not be advertised or delivered to personnel outside of BFB Garrison. Any service requiring working with children must submit a valid certificate of safeguarding course level 2. This course is run free of cost by BFSWS(O) in the CCCC. All documents submitted must be UK recognized or equivalent. The following rules apply:

a. Teaching/Private Tutoring in SFA. Applicants must provide the following:

1. Submit application to run a service from SFA to GSO.
2. Certificate of Qualification.
3. Certificate of Insurance (Personal liability / Public).
4. Certificate of DBS Clearance.
5. Certificate of Safeguarding Course Level 2 (Run free of cost by BFSWS)

b. Preparing & Selling food in SFA. UK law states that all of those who work with food must be able to demonstrate that they have received on-the-job training or have undertaken self-training. Therefore, all applicants must provide a valid Level 2 Food Hygiene/Training Certificate. A food hygiene certificate is documentary evidence that you have completed a food hygiene and safety course. The certificate is proof that you have acquired food hygiene knowledge to safely work in an arena where food is handled or sold to customers. With a food hygiene certificate, an Environmental Health Officer, employer, and/or customer can have instant proof that you have undertaken training. Applicants must provide the following:

1. Submit application to run a service from SFA to GSO.
2. Certificate of Insurance (Personal liability / Public).
3. Certificate of Food Hygiene/Training Certificate (Level 1 or 2). Can be obtained online with a minimal cost. Find an online course or follow the link below: Food_Hygiene_&_Safety_Course_For_Catering_Level_2/ Food_Safety_Training_Level_2

c. Arts and Handicraft. Submit application to run a service from SFA to GSO.

d. Other service in SFA. Personnel seeking to run other services such as sales & marketing, language, yoga, mindfulness, wellbeing, reiki, meditation etc will need to submit the following documents as a minimum but may need to submit additional certificate as requested by GSO on case by case basis. As a minimum they should provide the following:

1. Submit application to run a service from SFA to GSO.
2. Certificate of Qualification.
3. Certificate of Insurance (Personal liability / Public).
4. Certificate of DBS Clearance.
5. Certificate of Safeguarding Course Level 2 (Run free of cost by BFSWS).

Please contact SSO Clerk or click here for the Application Form.

Efna: Norefna.MohamadDin100@mod.gov.uk

Army Health Promotion: New Leaflet - An Individual's Guide to Mental Fitness

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Please click here for full guide.

Launch of New British Forces Cyprus Community Website

HQBFC are pleased to announce the formal launch of the new British Forces Cyprus Website:

Welcome to British Forces Cyprus - The central point for all information on living and working in British Forces Cyprus.

​This open-source website will provide a one-stop shop for service personnel, UK based civilians and their families to access useful information about being assigned to Cyprus alongside key information for living in Cyprus. HIVE and the HIVE location guides for BFC are to be added soon.

It is an iterative project that will continue to develop and improve over time and will seek to replace what is a high volume of individual unit SharePoint sites, unofficial social media groups and old-fashioned paper arrival packs.

The website will significantly improve the information available to personnel and their families, accessible in a way that modern communications demands, enabling the whole family to understand what they need to know to consider an assignment in Cyprus or what they practically need to do once assigned here.

You will find the link within the BFC Sites list on the BFC SharePoint Home page and under BFC Key Information.

Stage 2, through the Autumn Term, will be continuing to develop the generic information such as what information is needed for when families depart Cyprus and working with the Stations to enhance their information pages.

If you have any specific questions or wish to propose content, please email our British Forces Cyprus Community Information Website email: BFC-HQ-CmntyWebManager@mod.gov.uk

Duke of York's Royal Military School - Cyprus Visits 10-15 Oct

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Please click the link for further information: https://www.doyrms.com/​

Brunei: Employment and Unauthorised Occupancy of Amah in Service Family Accommodation (SFA)

Employment and Unauthorised Occupancy of Amah in Service Family Accommodation (SFA)

References:

A. JSP 464 Tri - Service Accommodation Regulations.

B. License to Occupy (SFA).

C. SO8021 - Employment of Amah

1. Law. Everyone is once again reminded that employing an Amah without valid visa and work permit is against the Bruneian Law. Anyone who contravenes this law and is found guilty could be fined up to B$10,000 and imprisoned for a term of not less than six months and not more than 3 years.

2. Illegal. The question has been asked about Amah being employed and sponsored by one Head of Household and working with other households and the cost of employment being shared between two or three households. The advice from the Immigration Department is that this is illegal. Any Amah found doing this is liable to be deported and the sponsor/employer could be liable to a B$10,000 fine and/or a two-month custodial sentence.

3. Amah’s visitor and children. There have been recent cases of Amahs having visitors staying overnight and some have also been with their children in the Service Family Accommodation. Whilst there is no issue with Amahs having visitors during the day, they are not to stay overnight and they are not to co-habit. Please be warned that as the head of house if you allow this to happen you are contravening your License to Occupy and is liable to disciplinary action taken against you. There are numbers of other issues including security, insurance and Health and Safety just to name a few.

4. Amah’s Husband. If you wish to allow your Amah’s husband to live in your quarter, you must ensure that he is her legal husband, and that the Amah formally sponsors him as her spouse with the Bruneian Authorities. Or the husband has relevant visas that entitle him to reside in Brunei in his own right. When applying through the SSO’s office to have an Amah you are to declare the fact that her husband will reside in your quarter and submit all the required documents for the GSO review and approval.

5. Amah’s Brunei Green ID and Employment Pass Renewal. It is the responsibility of HoH to renew their Amah’s ID and employment pass in good time and submit the evidence to SSO department as per BFB SO 8021. Failure to renew Amah’s ID and Employment Pass in time will automatically lose their permission/authority for their Amah to reside in SFA. Please be warned that as the head of house if you fail to renew your Amah’s ID and employment pass, you are contravening your License to Occupy and is liable to disciplinary action taken against you.

6. Other. It is illegal in Brunei for a single (unmarried) female to cohabit with a man. It is also illegal for a married female to cohabit with a man who is not her husband. Both are not to occur in SFA and are against BFB Standing Orders.

Brunei: Transport Plan for BFB Dashain Kalaratri

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Transport Plan for BFB Dashain Kalaratri

A coach has been arranged to facilitate pickup and drop-off service from the above mentioned locations for BFB Dashain Kalaratri on 10 October 2024. 

Service Personnel and their families living in X1, X2, Garrison Officers’ Mess, Mumong and Jurassic Park area are strongly encouraged to use the provided facility.

Brunei: Popular Nepalese singer, Trishna Gurung is on her way to Brunei for Dashain Kalaratri - Thursday, 10th October 2024 @ Tuker Lines

1RGR Kalaratri entertainment 2024 presents popular Nepalese singer, Trishna Gurung who will come to British Forces Brunei to perform at the Dashain Kalaratri event on Thursday, 10th October 2024.

Click HERE to watch the full video.

World Mental Health Day - 10th October: Defence Relaunch of HeadFIT for 2024

HeadFIT is an externally accessible website, developed by Defence to assist our people in developing a proactive approach to mental fitness. It provides techniques and methods to manage your mental resilience, enhance your mood, and improve your confidence. For further information please go to: HeadFIT - Success, it's all in your head

Headspace App: Free Enrolment for Army Personnel and MOD Civilian Staff

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Please use your mod.gov.uk email address to sign up before downloading the App. Link to enrol: Headspace for Work