Support resources, including during Block Leave: Stay Connected

The following guidance applies during both leave periods and working periods:
Make time for people – Stay connected with family, friends and colleagues. Checking in on a friend, spending quality time with loved ones or reaching out to someone you have not spoken to for a while can make a real difference.Look out for yourself and others – Resilience is strengthened through connection, belonging and support. Encourage people to reach out when they need help and take the time to check in on those who may be spending leave alone.Alongside the resources on the poster, for additional sources of support please also see the HIVE Health & Wellbeing information sheet, which can be downloaded HERE from a personal device.

Please contact HIVE if further information may assist.

MOD’s Families Hub is now in its second year – have you used it yet?

 

Discover My Benefits - Families

Give Us Time: Summer/Autumn update 2026 & last-minute France break

Give Us Time have published their latest welfare update, covering the remainder of the summer and autumn breaks.

They also have a last-minute break to France available 22 - 29 August. The gite sleeps up to 4 people, but is not pet friendly unfortunately.

Families will be required to cover the costs of their travel, food, entertainment etc, as well as taking their own bedding for the stay. Full details of the property are in the attached brochure.

As always

- breaks are booked on a first come first served basis
- families must be signed up on the Give Us Time website to make a booking

Find out more at www.giveustime.org.uk

MOD Veterans Services: An overview of the support available to Service personnel, veterans and their family members.

To find out more about the MOD Veterans Services support available to Service personnel, Service leavers, veterans - and their family members - please go to: Get help from Veterans Services - GOV.UK

Also, a reminder that there is now an online Veterans Services referral form in place, which can be used by the Chain of Command/internal MOD organisations, external stakeholders and for self-referrals: Make a referral to Veterans Services - GOV.UK

Cessation of the Service Police Confidential Crime Line

The Service Police Confidential Crimeline (0800 085 0658) has been permanently disconnected and will not be replaced. As a part of Defence switch to digital communications all analogue telephone lines in the host location, including the Confidential Crimeline, have been disconnected. HQ PM(A) have therefore decided to retire the Service Police Confidential Crimeline.
Crimes can still be reported through any of the following telephone helplines:

New employment and careers digital support for citizens 

 

The Department for Work and Pensions’ employment and careers digital support for citizens has now gone live. The tools aim to support people to explore careers options, search for work and prepare for job applications, and can be found on GOV.UK.  

These include a new Find a Job service, a CV Builder, an Action Planning Tool and an AI Work Assistant, supporting people at different stages of their employment journey. The tools offer a more joined up job search experience and provide personalised support.  

They are designed to complement the valuable support provided by partner organisations and advisers. 

NAAFI Fund 2026: Opens Today (1 July)

The NAAFI Fund portal is open for applications again!

Since their launch in 2020, they have supported 541 projects totalling £4,844,227.

📅 Mark Your CalendarsTwo-month window: Applications open on Wednesday 1st July and close on Friday 4th September, meaning you have the whole summer to get your project ideas in.
One-Stage Application: No complicated stages, just one straightforward application to complete.

🚀 Get Ready to Apply

You can find the link to apply on the Giving Back page: NAAFI | The NAAFI Fund, there is also some application guidance and FAQ’s to help with your submission, if you get stuck. If you have any questions, please send to funding@naafi.co.uk.

The Ripple Pond Newsletter Summer 2026: Together, We're Shaping Better Support for Families

To read the newsletter in full, please go to:
THINKING FAMILY Summer Edition

To find out more, please visit:
Thinking Family Resources | The Ripple Pond

BRUNEI: New Defence Dads Network

All Services • All Ranks • All Grades • All Locations

Calling all dads, stepdads, single dads, adoptive dads, foster dads, non-custodial dads, granddads, and other male carers.

Give Us Time: Last Chance to Book - France and Florida

Give Us Time wanted to let you know about two amazing breaks available over the summer holidays:

Orlando, Florida
14 - 28 August
Spacious townhouse sleeping up to 4 people, on a family-friendly resort near Disney, with on-site pools and lakeside views.

Brittany, N France
25 July - 1 August
Beautiful gite which sleeps up to 4 people, stunning rural locations, but easy access to beaches and local attractions.

Families will be required to cover the costs of TRAVEL, TRANSFERS, FOOD, ENTERTAINMENT ETC as part of their trip.

Visit www.giveustime.org.uk for more info on Give Us Time breaks, and email enquiries@giveustime.org.uk for more info on the above breaks.

Army's Guide for Care Leavers.

The Directorate of Personnel in Army HQ have released a new Guide for Care Leavers, which will help both Care Leavers and their managers access the appropriate support. 

You can find it on the Pers Pol Conditions Defence Connect page at https://jive.defencegateway.mod.uk/docs/DOC-1150391.

GSO Chaplaincy Summer Newsletter

 

To read the latest GSO Chaplaincy Summer Newsletter, view here.

Defence Update: Blow the whistle - Domestic abuse support for Armed Forces families

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on 11 June, people are urged to: Stop, Notice, and Act against domestic abuse. Don’t look away.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup – which will take place from 11 June to 19 July – is a time for celebration, community and a shared love for the game. But for some people, this period is marked by increased domestic abuse.

Research shows that domestic abuse incidents rise by 38% when England loses, and by 26% when they win or draw.

Football itself does not cause domestic abuse, but major tournaments can bring factors that raise the risk. This includes emotional stress, alcohol and substance use, financial pressures and gambling.

When something isnʼt right – in relationships, at home, at work, or in our communities – “blow the whistle”. That means recognising abuse, signposting to support, and speaking up if you witness or experience abusive behaviour.

GamCare: World Cup & Gambling Support

GamCare has published new data (link) this week showing that the proportion of people contacting the National Gambling Helpline with online gambling concerns has reached its highest level in five years. They also saw an 11% rise in contacts following the last men's World Cup. 

This recent data from GamCare highlights a growing need for increased awareness and early support, especially during sporting tournaments.

If gambling is affecting you or someone you know, free and confidential support is available 24/7 through the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, via online chat or WhatsApp at www.gamcare.org.uk .

BRUNEI: Recruit for Spouses - Coaching and Mentoring Programme

Feeling stuck, unsure what’s next, or ready for a change? The RFS Coaching & Mentoring Programme connects you with an experienced coach or mentor who will support you to:

BRUNEI: Recruit for Spouses - Online Portal offers support for military spouses, partners, serving members and veterans

Recruit for Spouses (RFS) is a multi-award winning social enterprise which supports military families to overcome barriers to employment and wellbeing.

They have an Online Portal that holds wellbeing resources, offers CV Reviews & free career coaching and hosts workshops & masterclasses.

If you are seeking employment, training or support with your next step, why not check out the opportunities they offer?

EMAIL: info@recruitforspouses.co.uk

WEBSITE: https://www.recruitforspouses.co.uk/

Information provided by BRUNEI HIVE.

BRUNEI: Recruit For Forces - FREE support for military spouses, partners & veterans

Service Cotswold Centre

The Services Cotswold Centre (SCC) is a tri-Service facility, managed by Headquarters Army Welfare Service (AWS) and funded by Headquarters Regional Command on behalf of the MOD.

It provides short-term transit accommodation for Service Personnel (SP), family members and MOD civil servants. The key role of SCC is to accommodate varying numbers of vulnerable Service families, often with diverse and complex welfare needs.

The SCC accommodation consists of 60 self-contained chalet style homes and a 37 bed residential unit and is located in Neston, near Corsham Wiltshire.

The SCC is used for:Emergency accommodation for military families, spouses and civil partners who have been evacuated from assignments
Meeting a welfare need such as supporting injured personnel, their carers and/or immediate family members
Responding to family disruption such as marital breakdown
Provision of accommodation between assignments – both before taking up a post or repatriation back to the UK
Accommodation for discharging married personnel
Short Breaks
Contact Housing
Transit accommodation – both duty and welfare

The centre has recently changed its telephone number to TEL: 0331 1432730

FIND OUT MORE: Services Cotswold Centre - GOV.UK

EMAIL: RC-AWS-SCC-Bookings@mod.gov.uk

Army HQ: Family Welfare Matters Edition 03 now available

To read online with accessible links, please go to Welfare Matters May 2026

For those with access to MODnet, both this edition and the full internal Welfare Matters newsletter is uploaded onto our SharePoint site under the Welfare Latest News section. The link to access is: Welfare

Give Us Time: Summer 2026 Welfare Update

 

Click poster to enlarge.

To find out more please visit www.giveustime.org.uk