New digital tool: Overseas allowance planning now easier

Check out the Overseas Allowances Reckoner (OAR), to get a fast, personalised estimate of what you’ll receive – if you’re in the Armed Forces and preparing for a posting abroad.

Click on the link below to find out more -

New digital tool - Overseas allowance planning now easier

Welcome to International HIVE

Welcome to International HIVE, our mission is to provide you with the most up to date information, the Overseas Locations Guides are an in-depth collection of that information.

Buenos Aires - Click here for Overseas Location Guide.

If further information is required, please contact your nearest HIVE or the iHIVE, details below:


iHIVE Email: RC-Pers-HIVE-iHIVE-0Mailbox@mod.gov.uk

Call: +44 (0)797 669 8527

DIO Service Family Accommodation (SFA) Communications Update - 20 June 25

Prolonged dry weather and water conservation

Those living overseas will be well-accustomed to warmer weather, but for those living in the UK please note several areas across England and Wales have experienced the driest spring for over 60 years, and in some cases since records began. This has led to the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales declaring a combination of drought status and prolonged dry weather status for many regions

To help conserve water follow the recommended actions:
Consider taking a quick shower instead of a bath.
Be mindful not to keep taps running for longer than needed to avoid water wastage.
Try to run dishwashers and washing machines with a full load.
Check and report any leaks in toilets, faucets or pipes to Pinnacle by calling 0800 031 8628.
Collectively, these small actions can make a big difference to available water resources. Thank you for your support and co-operation.


Summer safety tips

Summer is upon us, and we want to share some Summer Safety Tips to keep you and your family safe during warmer weather.

For advice on summer safety including window restrictors, BBQs, and what to do if you find a wasp or bees nest inside your property, visit: https://www.pinnacleservicefamilies.co.uk/in-my-home/summer-tips/

NHS ‘Say You Served’: Why Declaring Your Military Affiliation Matters – For You and the Forces Community

Why Declaring Your Military Affiliation Matters – For You and the Forces Community

Whether you’re serving in the Armed Forces or supporting a loved one who is, one simple action can make a big difference: declaring your military connection when registering with your GP, local council, or other public services.

It may seem like a small tick in a box, but this information is crucial—not only for you and your family, but for the wider Armed Forces community.

Increase to Early Years childcare funded hours for eligible working families assigned overseas

From September 2025 eligible working families assigned overseas will have access to up to 30 hours of funded Early Years childcare for their children aged from 9 months old.

Early Years funded childcare overseas.

To reflect the offer available in England, all families assigned overseas with children aged 3 to 4 years old, and 2-year-old children in receipt of additional government support, are entitled to 15 hours of funded childcare per week during term time (38 weeks per year).

Defence is expanding the childcare offer for working families assigned overseas with children aged 9 months to school starting age, to match the entitlement in England.

From September 2025 eligible working families can claim funding for up to 30 hours per week, per child aged 9 months old to school starting age, during term time (38 weeks per year).

This is an increase to the additional funded hours that became available in September 2024, in which 15 hours of Early Years childcare funding, per week, per child, during term time, became available for eligible working families with children aged 9 months to 3 years old.

For more information about the Early Years Childcare available in England, please go to Early Years childcare | Childcare Choices (GOV.UK).

Office for Veterans’ Affairs: Analysis of responses to the Veterans’ Survey 2022 relating to family support for UK armed forces veterans

The Veterans’ Survey 2022 was the first survey of its kind in the UK and was a collaboration between the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the Office for Veterans’ Affairs and the devolved administrations.

Alongside the Veterans’ Survey, a smaller Veterans’ Family Survey was made available for immediate family members of UK veterans who resided in the UK and were aged 18 years or over. Family members could complete the survey if their veteran family member was living or deceased, and the survey was open to any immediate family member including stepparents and adult stepchildren. The survey was conducted through a voluntary self-select sample which relied on advertising and promotion primarily by veterans’ charities and organisations.

In total, 2,390 people responded to the Family Survey and response rates varied by question asked. This represents a small proportion of family members that would have been eligible to respond to the survey. These data are presented as unweighted data only.

To view the full survey analysis, please go to: Family support analysis of UK armed forces veterans

Little Troopers New Forest Reconnection Weekend – next events are Dorset, 25 to 27 July, and 26 to 28 Sept

'Group of children photographed with Little Troopers Founder, Louise’
Military families were brought together this week when Little Troopers, the children’s military charity, hosted a New Forest family reconnection weekend.

In January, the organisation revealed they were launching a series of four fully-funded family reconnection weekends for forces families to spend quality time together outdoors, funded by Team Forces.

The weekend was the second one to take place, with eight families taking part in action-packed activities at the New Forest Outdoor Centre in Lyndhurst, Dorset.

Civvy Street Magazine – Jun/Jul 25 Issue out now

Please click the following link to view this latest edition online: Civvy Street - June/July

Forces Pension Society Online Armed Forces Pension Update - 25 June 25

25 JUNE 12:30-13:30 - SAVE THE DATE!

The FPS will deliver an online Armed Forces Pensions update for Serving Personnel, Veterans and Dependants at 12:30 on Wednesday 25 June via MS Teams.

It will cover:

The latest on the 2015 Remedy (McCloud) implementation.
A reminder of how pension benefits are/were earned during service and the ages that deferred pensions are paid.
When and how the pension benefits increase.
How to obtain a pension forecasts whilst serving or as a Veteran.
Dependants Benefits.
When and how to claim a deferred pension.
The benefits of membership of the Forces Pension Society.
For more information, click here.

DIO Service Family Accommodation (SFA) Communications Update - 16 June 25

Revised move-in and move-out specification.

We are pleased to update Service Personnel and families that the specification to which homes are prepared for move-in has now been revised. This follows changes to the specification that we had to make last year.  

One of the commitments of the Consumer Charter to improve SFA announced in April 2025, is to provide a more robust move-in standard so that families can have confidence that the home they are moving into will be ready on time and will be clean and functional. These commitments support the new Defence Housing Strategy, that will be published later this year. 

Female Veterans' Transformation Programme.

Question: What have Plymouth, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Cannock and Winchester got in common?

Answer: We will be in those locations next month with Agora Photography taking photographs of female veterans!

We are creating a toolkit to aid services who support female veterans. Additional funding has been sought from the Office for Veterans' Affairs & Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust to raise the profile of Female Veterans. Part of this funding will be spent on a photoshoot and we are touring the UK with Agora Photography

We want Female Veterans from the breadth of the UK to be involved in this photoshoot, regardless of age, rank, time served, ethnicity, religion, disability, socioeconomic background, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other characteristic. The more diverse the better!

To sign up for a photoshoot click this link: https://forms.office.com/e/SmuxuxW6EQ

To find out more here

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust: Improved support for serving families facing separation challenges.

The idea of not seeing your partner or parent for months at a time, often with limited contact, can be stressful and unsettling. But it’s a common experience for many armed forces families.

Deployment, training and exercises make separation a fundamental part of service for many, but this can have a significant impact on family life. Being apart can cause loneliness and a sense of isolation – whether you’re ‘weekending’ and adjusting to a constantly changing family dynamic or dealing with long separations.

Scotland: The Poppy Story, the story of the Poppy with special focus on Scotland.

Check out Poppyscotland book, The Poppy Story!

Perfect for children aged 6-12, this beautifully illustrated book narrates the story of the poppy and remembrance, with a special focus on Scotland.

Schools in Scotland can request a free copy, or you can order your own here: The Poppy Story

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust - Serving families: On the Move Programme now open to new applications.

The Support for Relocated Service Families - reopen for new applications!

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) are pleased to let you know that the Serving families: On the Move Programme under the Armed Forces Families Covenant Fund is now open and ready to welcome new applications!

Quest Magazine - June Edition now available.

To view online please click this link: https://www.questonline.co.uk/pages/magazine-archive

To view the Quest news update, including a summary of topics covered in the June magazine, please click this link: June Quest Magazine is Out Now.💂

DIO Service Family Accommodation (SFA) Communications Update - 2 Jun 25.

Defence Secretary announces £1.5bn investment in SFA

As you may have seen in the news over the weekend, the Defence Secretary Rt Hon John Healey MP announced an additional £1.5 billion of funding, over the next five years, to improve military accommodation across the UK.

Future Defence Housing questionnaire by the Families Federations, as part of the Defence Housing Strategy review

As part of the independent Defence Housing Strategy Review, the Families Federations are launching a questionnaire on Defence housing for the future.

They are looking for all Service Personnel of all ages, ranks, Pstat Cats and their families to complete this.

They are seeking views on current SFA, new builds and home ownership to help shape decisions on housing options for generations to come.

Click here to have your say online

You can also read the press release here

Scotland: Moving to Scotland? Need to know about Special Educational Needs and the support available?

Moving to a new country and education system can be a worrying and busy time for families with a child with additional support needs.

Enquire is the Scottish advice service for additional support for learning.


Providing easy to understand advice and information about additional support for learning legislation and guidance for families and professionals.

Enquire