Give Us Time: Spring & Summer Respite Breaks

For further info, please follow the link: www.giveustime.org.uk

SaluteMyJob: Pathways programme to enhance cyber leadership opportunities for veterans

SaluteMyJob expands their innovative pathways programme with exciting partnership with Ofsted-skills provider to enhance cyber leadership opportunities for veterans and police officers

For a decade, social enterprise SaluteMyJob has been helping ex-military personnel upskill into areas with a notable cybersecurity skills gap, with many candidates going on to make their mark in multi-national companies. And now, an exciting partnership is set to fast-track more veterans and police officers into a career in cybersecurity with their Accelerated Cyber Leadership Pathway.

Visa Fee Increase – 9th April 2025

Some Visa fees will be increasing from 9th April 2025; a full list of the increases can be found here.

A summary of the increases that may affect our Service Community are in the image.

Department for Work & Pensions (DWP): Don't miss out on your State Pension entitlement

The 5 April 2025 deadline for paying voluntary National Insurance contributions to fill any gaps in your record between 2006 and 2018 is approaching. To support anyone wishing to check their records, or make a payment, there is now a DWP video and an online form to request a callback.

Watch the DWP video How to check your State Pension and pay for gaps in your National Insurance record on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_8GkTNgyXqs

DWP’s online form is available to request a call back at: https://ow.ly/oGbl50VarlC

National Memorial Arboretum: Talent in the Ranks Artist Development Programme 2025

For more information, please contact Rasmith@thenma.org.uk. 

Aurora New Dawn: Armed Forces Domestic Abuse, Sexual Violence and Stalking Helpline launches on 31 March

On 31st March 2025 @ 09:00 Aurora New Dawn are delighted to be launching the first helpline for Royal Naval, British Army, and Royal Air Force personnel and their family members who are victims and survivors of: 

• Domestic abuse
• Sexual violence
• Stalking

Coverage is available for all UK forces personnel and their families including those deployed abroad. The service is independent, confidential, and free - with phone and WhatsApp functionality available.

Callers from outside of the UK may need to dial 00 44 333 091 2527. 

Women in Defence Awards 2025 – Nominations now open, including new International category

The Women in Defence Awards 2025 are now open for nominations, until 2 May 25.

This year there is a new International category; the International Award is designed to recognise individual women or groups of women completing exceptional work in support of the defence of their own country. This award is open to individual women, groups or teams, as members of the Armed Forces, Civil or Public services, or those who work in Defence industries or associated bodies. Locally Employed Civilians (LECs) in overseas locations have been confirmed as eligible for this category.

Details of all categories and how to nominate can be found at: Women in Defence UK | Awards 2025 Criteria

Help for Heroes: Seeking Help and Recovery College Courses

Help for Heroes have a new leaflet to explain how they can support, and how to access this. To view the leaflet please click HERE.

There is also a range of courses available through the Help for Heroes Recovery College. Information and the prospectus can be found on the Help for Heroes website: https://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/get-help/recovery-college/self-help-guides/

For further details on Help for Heroes services and how to get in touch, please go to: https://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/

Government partners with young people to help develop new national youth strategy

The government has launched its national listening exercise to let young people have their say on support services, facilities and opportunities they need outside the school gates. Through youth engagement charity My Life My Say and the #iwill Movement young people will be able to engage with Government both in-person and online. The Deliver You online survey is now open and will close on Wednesday 16 April, it is for young people aged 10 – 21 years old (aged 25 with SEND).

See Gov.uk article here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-partners-with-young-people-to-help-develop-new-national-youth-strategy

Click here to access the survey

Defence launches the Families Hub – an information portal to help navigate Service family life

The Families Hub – which signposts to information, support and organisations to help navigate all stages of Service family life – has launched.

For the first time, Armed Forces families will be able to access a “one stop shop” digital platform – which signposts to a wealth of information, support and organisations – to help you navigate Service family life.

The Families Hub is for all Armed Forces (Regular and Reserve) families and personnel – from the moment of entering the Forces, through to leaving.

Visit the Families Hub today and explore a range of topics, including partner support, housing, health and wellbeing, childcare and finance.

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust: Service Women: Seen & Heard programme

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust recently announced over £700K to support projects that provide targeted support for serving women through their Service Women: Seen & Heard programme.

Find out how these projects will work to empower both regular and reserve service women, helping them to make informed decisions and access vital resources to improve health and wellbeing.

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust: Watch recording of recent Lunch and Learn webinar about the Empowering Bereaved Military Families programme

Want to find out more about the Empowering Bereaved Military Families programme? Watch a recording of our recent Lunch & Learn webinar on our website.

This programme offers a single portfolio grant of up to £1.8 million, to achieve long term, transformational change in the non-statutory support provided to bereaved military families.

Expressions of interest must be submitted by 12 noon, 2 April 2025.

From sailing to service dogs: over £850,000 awarded to improve the quality of life for veterans negatively impacted by their service

Breaking down barriers; building bridges; addressing trauma. The Armed Forces Covenant Trust’s (the Trust) Fulfilling Futures programme has supported six outstanding projects totalling more than £850,000 to improve the lives of veterans negatively impacted by their service.

National No Smoking Day 2025 – 12 March

• Take back your life this No Smoking Day – Wednesday 12th March 2025.
• Quitting smoking is the best thing you can do for your health.
• It’s never too late to quit smoking. Even if you’ve tried quitting before, give it another go this No Smoking Day.
• When you stop smoking, there are almost immediate improvements to your health.
• There’s no need to go it alone – it’s much easier to stop smoking when you get the right support and there are lots of options to choose from.
• Getting free expert support from your local stop smoking service is proven to give you the best chance of quitting successfully. Some are now able to offer free vape starter kits too.
• NHS Better Health offers a range of free quitting support including the NHS Quit Smoking app, Personal Quit Plan, 28-day email programme, local stop smoking service look-up tool, as well as advice on stop smoking aids including information on how vaping can help you quit smoking.
• On average, you could save around £2,500 per year by quitting smoking.

Army&You Magazine – Spring Edition Out Now!

Army&You magazine online - https://tinyurl.com/3e4vv2kb

AFF Independent School Fees Survey – closes 16 March

The Army Families Federation have deployed a survey which aims to measure the financial impact to families after the implementation of the policy introducing 20% VAT on independent school fees. If your family is utilising independent education, whether claiming CEA or not, they would very much appreciate you completing the survey at the link below.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/V3NQR3J

Please note that the survey is due to close on 16 March.

Give Us Time & Walling2Recovery breaks

To find out more, click here.

Op ASCEND – Careers After Service

Op ASCEND is a free, government-backed service to support veterans in growing their careers.

Whether you’re a veteran seeking employment or an employer looking to attract skilled veterans to your workforce, find out what signing up to the Op ASCEND service can do for you.

For more information visit: https://careersafterservice.campaign.gov.uk

Give Us Time: New Motorhome Breaks Now Available

Give Us Time have had a new donation of breaks from the team at Sponsored Breaks. These are 3-day/2-night stays in their fully kitted out motorhome, which sleeps up to 4 people. The motorhome is based in Wolverhampton, so does need to be collected and dropped off back to site, and any drivers must be between 25 and 70 with 2 years’ experience of driving and less than 6 points on licence. Unfortunately no pets are allowed.

How to protect yourself from loan sharks

A loan shark – or illegal money lender - is someone who lends money illegally without proper authorisation from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

That means if you borrow from them, they don’t have to follow the rules – they can decide how much you pay back and when.

These criminals are not always easy to spot - they can be a friend, a fellow service member, even a senior officer.

Whoever they are, they will usually appear as a friendly face, offering you a favour. They may tell you that what they are offering is nothing more than peer-to-peer lending and their offer may seem hard to resist.

But very quickly the situation can spiral out of control, and you could find yourself having to pay back much more than you initially borrowed. You might even be subjected to threats, violence and intimidation if you struggle to make a payment.

Have Your Say: Accompanied Established Long-Term Relationship Overseas Pilot Survey open until 14 Apr

Please click the image to enlarge.

To take part in the Accompanied LTR(E) Overseas Pilot Survey please click HERE.

More information is available on Sway HERE.

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust: Latest round of grants under The Armed Forces Families Fund - Early Years Programme

The Early Years programme is back for 2025 and we’re excited to share that applications are now open!

Part of the MOD’s Armed Forces Families Fund (AF3), The Early Years Programme will award grants between £5,000 and £80,000 towards projects that enable early childhood education and childcare settings to meet specific needs of young service children.

Headspace App – Five FREE family & friends subscriptions available for Army Personnel and Army Civil Servants

Army personnel and Army civil servants are eligible to sign up to Headspace for free, and also to extend this free subscription offer to five friends and family.

To sign up, please go to https://work.headspace.com/britisharmy/member-enroll

Please use your @mod.gov.uk, @armymail.gov.uk or @csmail.mod.uk email address to verify your account when prompted.

Headspace says, “We make mental health support accessible to everyone, no matter their background or experience. Through our flagship Headspace app, we provide mindfulness tools for everyday life, including meditations, sleepcasts, mindful movement and focus exercises. Our enterprise offerings combine this experience with a human-centered model of care, with coaching, therapy, psychiatry and EAP services under one roof. Our team of experts ranges from mental health clinicians, to Emmy award-winning producers and data scientists, working together as one to help millions of people around the world be healthier and more productive.”

Blue Light Card Offers

Member Days:
Blue Light Card’s Member Days are back and bigger than ever before. Each year, attractions across the UK will close their gates to the public, on selected dates, and open them exclusively for our members. Expect smaller crowds, free parking, selected discounts on food and drink. Our first Member Day at Alton Towers takes place on Friday 7th March so don’ t delay in getting your tickets.

Find out more about Member Days here: Blue Light Card News

Mother’s Day campaign:
From the first-time mum and work mum, to foster mums and stepmums – in the run up to Mother’s Day, we celebrate all those who mum. We have a range of offers so those in the Blue Light community can celebrate the mother figure in their lives. Make the most of deals with brands such as eFlorist, SpaBreaks, Moonpig and many more.

Big Saver Weekend:
Taking place between Friday 28th March – Monday 31st March, our Big Saver Weekend is a four day sale-event, providing fantastic discounts to the Blue Light Community. From fashion and homeware, to everyday essentials and gifting – there are Spring savings for everyone to take advantage of.

New Offers:
We’re always on the lookout for new brands and offers to ensure our community gets the most out of its membership. Some of the new and exciting offers we’ve recently introduced, include: 20% off food, Sunday – Friday at Banana Tree, £10 off your first order over £15 or more with Just Eat, save 10% on the latest trends at All Saints.

About Blue Light Card
Blue Light Card is the UK’s leading discount service for those working in the emergency services, NHS, social care sector, teaching community and armed forces.

We’re here to help our members do more with less! For just £4.99, members can enjoy 2 years access to over 13,000 discounts online and instore.

For more information and to sign up, click here.

Forces Employment Charity: ‘Empowering You’ Employment Workshop, Manchester and online – 10-12 March

Empowering You is brought to you by the Forces Employment Charity, from Monday, 10 March, to Wednesday, 12 March 2025. It is a hybrid three-day employability and confidence-building workshop for spouses and partners, including military women, and those who are separated, divorced, or bereaved. Please note military spouses and partners of any gender may attend.

Your top 5 reasons to attend: 

1. Receive a free one-to-one mentoring session with a corporate mentor 
2. Join us in person in Radbroke where Barclays will host our sessions 
3. Hear from employers about pathways into employment and regional job opportunities
4. Understand the value that your transferrable skills can bring to employers
5. Expert sessions delivered by our Families Employment Advisors

For more information and to register, please go to: https://rfea.my.site.com/forcesemployment/s/community-event?id=a48N1000000C66TIAS