Brunei: *Next* Pre - Departure Clinic - Wednesday, 05th March 2025, 1000 - 1100 hrs @ Mumong HIVE Office

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COME ALONG! HIVE can offer support through your relocation

This session will cover the Good Conduct Certificate process, how to claim National Insurance Contribution credits, support whilst moving schools, plus much more - and a one stop checklist of things to add to your to do list before leaving British Forces Brunei!

 This is a drop in clinic, no appointment required

For further information: www.bruneihive.blogspot.com

Simply search the labels: Unit Move, Arms Plot Move to Kent or Relocation

Brunei: Did you know....there are TWO HIVE offices in BFB....

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Did you know there are TWO HiVE Offices in BFB?

Chit Chat Community Centre office is located a few doors down from the post office and is run by Mrs Rajina Rai.

Chit Chat HIVE Office is open Monday - Friday 0900 - 1300 hrs  

The Mumong Community Centre office is run by Miss Nasreen Akhter and is located on the Mumong SFA patch, just off the main car park near the playpark and Mumong Patio Club.  

Mumong HIVE Office is open Monday - Thursday 0900 - 1300 hrs.

Friday - Closed (Working From Home)

Pop in to see us and browse our literature, we're here to help!

Brunei: PCMF - Health Promotion - Autism (Acceptance and Awareness)

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Brunei: AWS Community Support - Easter Activities

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Please click Here for parents to book Easter activities or scan the QR Code above.

Brunei: AWS Community Support - Hop into Volunteering this Easter

Email BruneiGar-SpSvcs-AWS-Mailbox@mod.gov.uk for more information.

Brunei: SSAFA - Sunbirds March Programme - Every Tuesday, *next date* 11th March 2025, 1100 - 1200 @ Health Visiting Department Playroom, PCMF

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Follow SSAFA Community Health Brunei Facebook page.

Brunei: SSAFA - Well Baby Clinic - Every Tuesday, 9 - 11 AM @ Health Visiting Department, PCMF

Brunei: BFPO - General Accounting Rate (GAR) for March 2025

Opening Hours:

Mon - Fri: 0930 - 1230 

Exchange Rate:

March - £1.00 = $1.6907

NOTICES

As of this Monday 17/02/25. There will be a change to the Counter Opening Hours for the Post Office. Timings below.

Counter Opening Times

Mon – Fri

0930-1230

UPO collection times

Mon

1200-1300 (Depending on mail arrival times)

Tue – Thu

0930 – 1300

Fri

1130 – 1230 (Depending on mail arrival times)

Post Office Closure Dates

Post Office Closed on the following dates:

24/02/25 - 41st Brunei National Day

27/02/25 - GST Visit to Bandar

03/03/25 - 1st Day of Ramadhan

17/03/25 - Revalation of the Qu’ran

31/03/25 - 02/04/25 - Hari Raya Aidilfitri

18/04/25 - Good Friday

21/04/25 - Easter Monday

Due to the majority of our workforce being Muslim, we will not have the ability collect mail on their religious and public holidays.

Mail Services

All mail services from the BFPO 11 are with immediate effect back online, however the following conditions apply:

Restricted items in the mail (BFPO 11 Service)

1.      Dried Food Articles. Postage of dried food articles, including fish, tea and coffee are subject to the following conditions:

        a.      A maximum of 5kg per entitled person per week, up to 20kg each calendar month and parcels are to be packaged separately.

2.      Sold goods. Commercial postage of clothing, apparels and services for personal gain through the BFPO is strictly prohibited.

3.     Any misuse of BFPO services, such as using them for personal business purposes, constitutes an abuse of resources and is subject to disciplinary action. Misuse compromises the integrity and efficiency of services intended to support BFB’s Directives.

British Forces Post Office Services

British Forces Brunei post office is located in the Chit Chat Community Centre.

The BFPO system can be used to send and receive post from the UK.

All mails are distributed to work addresses only.

Authorised personnel

All BFPO services are available to entitled personnel only, which includes:

- Service Personnel & Families

- UKBC / Teachers & Families

Relatives and other UK or foreign civilians are to use local banking and postal services as they are not classed as authorised, under the MoD provision.

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

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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.

Serve and Protect Credit Union - March update

📢 Free financial webinars this March from Serve and Protect - don't miss out!
🌍 Eco-Friendly Ways to Save Money
📝 Budgeting 101: Take Control of Your Money
🚀 Credit Score 101: Boost Your Score
🔍 Before You Borrow: Things to Know
🔗 Register here: https://sandpcu.co.uk/webinars

Mindfulness can be a simple and effective tool to live in the moment and reduce financial stress 😊
Discover how to navigate your financial journey with clarity in Episode 10 of the Smile and Save Podcast.
🔗 Watch here: https://youtu.be/gb8ItNJ76_A?si=-IvTvTA_qSesz-GT

Start of Spring | 📆 Thu 20th March

Why not give your finances a fresh start and start saving from your pay with Serve and Protect Credit Union?

🔗 Learn more via their website: https://serveandprotectcu.co.uk/

Debt Awareness Week | 📆 Mon 24th - Sun 30th March
Boost your financial knowledge this Debt Awareness Week with the free webinars provided by our friends at Serve and Protect Credit Union!
Discover 10 steps to improve your credit score and what to consider before applying for credit.
🔗 Learn more via their website: https://serveandprotectcu.co.uk/education/webinars/

Brunei: BFB New Arrivals Induction Brief - *Next Date* Thursday, 13th March 2025, 0930 - 1230 hrs @ Main Hall, Chit Chat Community Centre

For all the New Arrivals in British Forces Brunei, please attend the Mandatory Induction Brief on Thursday, 13th March 2025 at Chit Chat Community Centre.

The session will run from 0930 - 1230 hrs. (be seated by 0920 hrs)

Tea and coffee will be provided.

Brunei: Closure of Regimental Accountant’s Office

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Month of the Military Child - Wear PURPLE on 25th April 2025

Month of the Military Child – April 2025

To find out more about this year’s Month of the Military Child, please visit: www.neversuchinnocence.com

You can watch the Dandelions music video, a song written by the Armed Forces Children's Choir for Month of the Military Child, on YouTube: Dandelions Music Video

Action for Happiness Calendar - March 2025

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Our monthly calendars are packed with actions you can take to help create a happier and kinder world. 

Click here to access the Action for Happiness Calendar.

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.”

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.

Give Us Time: March breaks for Forces families

Give Us Time have provided a round up of the breaks they have available for Forces families for March below:

NEW!
21 – 28 March
Bird’s Nest, Carrick Shore, SW Scotland – property is for 2 people only Airbnb link

AVAILABLE AGAIN DUE TO CANCELLATION
17 – 21 March
Letham Feus, Fife, Scotland – 2 bed lodge WITH HOT TUB!
https://largoleisure.co.uk/holiday-parks-scotland/letham-feus-park

STILL AVAILABLE – ALL SLEEP UP TO 6 PEOPLE
17 – 21 March
Braidhaugh, C Scotland
https://largoleisure.co.uk/holiday-parks-scotland/braidhaugh-holiday-park

24 – 28 March
Seawick, Essex
https://www.parkholidays.com/our-parks/essex/seawick/caravan-holidays

31 March – 4 April
Broadland Sands, Suffolk
https://www.parkholidays.com/our-parks/suffolk/broadland-sands/caravan-holidays
Sand Le Mere, East Yorkshire
https://www.parkholidays.com/our-parks/yorkshire/sand-le-mere/caravan-holidays

As always
Our breaks are accommodation only, we cannot cover the costs of food, entertainment, travel etc
Breaks are booked on a first come first served basis
All the breaks – except Bird’s Nest – are live on the website – the link to create an account/log in is here https://bookings.giveustime.org.uk/login
FAQs including criteria are here https://giveustime.org.uk/what-we-do/faqs/

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

Families First Newsletter - Issue 24

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This issue and previous issues can be read online at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/defence-infrastructure-organisation-service-family-accommodation

Recruit for Spouses: Online Workshop for Foreign & Commonwealth military spouses and partners, 4 March

Calling All Foreign & Commonwealth Military Spouses - Unlock Your Potential: Master Immigration, Visas, and Career Growth with Recruit for Spouses!

Are you navigating the complexities of life in the UK? Let RFS help you thrive! Join the exclusive workshop hosted by the Army Families Federation (AFF) and Recruit for Spouses (RFS), tailored specifically for Foreign & Commonwealth military spouses.

Date: 4th March 1930 – 2030 Location: Virtual

What’s in Store?
- Visa & Immigration Insights: Get crucial guidance from AFF on securing your family's legal residency and work eligibility in the UK.

- Career Advancement Tools: Discover RFS Career Academy’s unique programme, designed to help you recognise qualifications, develop your career path, and expand your professional network.

- Q&A session with AFF’s qualified immigration advisor

Register now! https://portal.recruitforspouses.co.uk/users/sign_in

This is more than a workshop - it's a lifeline to comprehensive support specially designed for Foreign & Commonwealth military families, covering everything from legal advice to career progression.

Connect with experts, access essential resources, and meet fellow spouses in similar situations. Take a giant leap toward personal growth and financial stability in the UK. Step into your power and pave the way for success! Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your life and career in the UK.

Recruit for Spouses Roadshow, Colchester – 25 March

Come and join Recruit for Spouses for a brew and a slice of cake 🍰☕ while learning all about what RFS has to offer.

One of our reps will be there to chat about our programmes and how we can help you thrive.

• Mental Health & Wellbeing
• Foreign & Commonwealth
• Coaching & Mentoring
• Recruitment
• Resources
• and Much more!

Don't miss out on this chance to connect and discover new opportunities!

Head over to the portal to sign up https://portal.recruitforspouses.co.uk/users/sign_in

The Families Continuous Attitude Survey 2025 is open!

The Families Continuous Attitude Survey 2025 – which hears from Service spouses and civil partners about their views on Service family life – is now open!

Take part in this year’s tri-Service Families Continuous Attitude Survey (FamCAS) and help Defence to understand your experiences and thoughts across a broad range of areas. Your feedback will help Defence to make changes and develop policies to better meet your needs.

The survey invites a random sample of civil partners and spouses of regular serving personnel to take part. To see if you’ve been invited to complete the survey, and to access the survey, please check the online eligibility tool.

The eligibility tool and survey work best with Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge and will ask for a token/access code. This refers to your partner’s Service number, which is required for security reasons only. Please be assured that all survey responses are anonymous.

The closing date for FamCAS is Monday 7 April 2025.

How can FamCAS benefit me and my loved ones?

FamCAS is one of the main ways that Defence hears from Service families on their attitudes and experiences about various aspects of Service family life. This includes childcare and children’s education, housing, deployment, employment and more.

Every response counts in providing crucial evidence to help Defence make decisions and changes that will better address your family’s challenges and needs.

Previous FamCAS feedback has contributed to the new Families Hub, which Defence launched yesterday. The Families Hub is a “one stop shop” platform – which signposts to a wealth of information, support, and guidance – to help you navigate Service family life. To explore your options – across childcare, housing, finance, health and wellbeing and partner support – visit the Families Hub.

Service families play a vital role in the Armed Forces, and your feedback will help to make sure that Defence’s “Armed Forces Offer” continues to reflect the needs of you and your family. To explore a range of allowances, opportunities, and benefits as part of Your Offer, visit the Discover My Benefits site.

If you have any questions about this year's FamCAS, please email: Analysis-Surveys-Enquiries@mod.gov.uk.