Tri-service results from the annual families continuous attitude survey can be found HERE
Monday 24 July 2023
The Independent Review of UK Government Welfare Services for Veterans
On 2 March 2023, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA) jointly commissioned an Independent Review of UK Government welfare services for veterans. The review was to investigate the role, scope and breadth of UK Government welfare provision for veterans, including by the MOD under the Veterans UK banner.
The review can be read HERE
New programme to fund research into challenges facing Armed Forces families
The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (The Trust) are launching a brand new, exciting programme under the Armed Forces Families Fund. The Research Grants programme, now open for applications, is a new and innovative programme which seeks to fund high quality research that can help to develop understanding of the key challenges faced by Armed Forces families. Particular focus will be on educational attainment for Service pupils, child welfare and the welfare needs of Service families.
What’s the aim of the programme?
The Research Grant programme aims to develop a stronger understanding of the specific needs and challenges facing Armed Forces families.
The Trust will award up to six grants towards research that both adds to the wider understanding of complex educational or welfare issues affecting Armed Forces families, and proposes solutions.
This is a targeted and strategic programme that aims to develop a stronger understanding of the specific needs and challenges faced by Armed Forces families. Applications under the programme must address at least one of 6 key challenges. These challenges include Service children with SEND, impact on education and welfare considerations; and how service families access information.
The Trust are interested in your ideas about how you would approach and explore each research challenge and would encourage collaborative approaches.
Successful applications will need to demonstrate how their research project will contribute to wider understanding of these complex issues and be able to show that any data gathered would be robust.
What’s available and who can apply?
Grants of up to £60,000 are available for projects being delivered over a period of up to 18 months. UK based charities and UK based universities can apply.
Applications must be submitted by 6 October 2023.
Full details of this Fund are available on the Trust’s dedicated programme page alongside useful guidance and further information on eligibility.
Keep up to date with funding opportunities
For the latest updates and announcements on Covenant Fund programmes, and any other funding opportunities the Trust has available throughout the year, sign up to their e-newsletter via their website www.covenantfund.org.uk
Wraparound Childcare (WAC) eligibility criteria has been expanded from Autumn term 2023
Great news from WAC!!
FTRS (all commitment types) and personnel Serving overseas unaccompanied voluntarily with family remaining in the UK will be eligible to claim from autumn 23 (so long as other criteria are met).
Friday 7 July 2023
Department of Work & Pensions (DWP) Update
Guidance on getting extra payments to help with the cost of living if you’re entitled to certain benefits or tax credits.
5 July 2023 - Added guidance on how to report a missing £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment.
New law to ensure domestic abuse victims receive child maintenance gets Royal Assent
A Bill ensuring victims of domestic abuse can receive child maintenance without contact from their abuser has received Royal Assent on Thursday, 29 June 2023.
DWP launches new Midlife MOT website
A new online Midlife MOT has been launched to help older workers with financial planning, health guidance, and to assess what their skills mean for their careers and futures.
The free Midlife MOT website encourages people to review their skills and help to break down barriers to the labour market, in turn delivering on the Government’s priority to grow the economy. It brings together trusted services, help such as a jobseeker toolkit and charity resources. It will allow people to identify job opportunities across the UK as well as better preparing them for later life and their retirement.
AFCFT - Veterans' Mobility Fund
The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust are pleased to announce a brand new, highly specialist grant programme – the Veterans’ Mobility Fund. This fund is for an experienced Charity who will act as a Lead Organisation, providing onwards grants to veterans with physical disabilities via an externally delegated grant scheme.
Full details can be found HERE
Thursday 6 July 2023
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Wednesday 5 July 2023
Defence Transition Services: Civilian Housing Briefs Sept to Dec 23
The Poppy Factory - New Families Employment Programme
HM Prison & Probation Service ‘Advance Into Justice’ Armed Forces Recruitment – Now Open for Applications
HM Prison & Probation Service ‘Advance Into Justice’ Armed Forces Recruitment - Applicant Webinars
The webinars are designed to give candidates an overview of the scheme, Prison & Probation roles and service as a whole and answer any questions from the floor and are therefore a good opportunity for anybody interested or thinking about applying.
AIJ Applicant Webinar - 29/06/23 - 10:00-11:00 am
AIJ Applicant Webinar - 13/07/23 - 10:00-11:00 am
AIJ Applicant Webinar - 20/07/23 - 10:00-11:00 am
For further information, please contact advance-into-justice@justice.gov.uk
Centrica Recruitment Webinar Replay
Catch up on the Centrica Recruitment Webinar to find out about their Armed Forces Pathway and vacancies on offer.
The presentation commences at 16 minutes, please fast forward.
Op RESTORE - The New Name for the Veterans Trauma Network
CLICK HERE for full details
Guidance: Armed forces access to Jobcentre Plus services Update
This includes having an armed forces champion in every Jobcentre Plus district who ensures that we provide support that meets your needs.
This page explains the role of the armed forces champion and the way you and your families can access our services.
CLICK HERE to read the guidance
People given even more time to pay National Insurance contributions towards their State Pension
Extending the voluntary NI contributions deadline for another two years also means people have more time to properly consider whether paying voluntary contributions is right for them.
As part of the transition to the new State Pension, people have been able to pay these contributions to make up any incomplete years between April 2006 and April 2016. Some of the people likely to be affected include those who may have been unemployed during this period, off work because of caring responsibilities or living abroad*.
Further information and guidance are available on GOV.UK.
*This includes those posted overseas; Service spouses can apply for NI credits for periods 1975 onwards where they accompanied their serving partner overseas. For full details and the application forms please see National Insurance credits for partners of armed forces personnel overseas - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Office For Veterans' Affairs - Op FORTITUDE (Homeless Veterans')
From today, vulnerable veterans across the country will have access to Op FORTITUDE, a new dedicated referral pathway for homeless veterans, including those sleeping on the streets.
Veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and the organisations working with them are encouraged to contact the Op FORTITUDE hotline on 0800 952 0774 or through a secure web portal at riv.org.uk/opfortitude.
Find out more HERE
Forces Employment Charity: Access to Higher Education Webinar - 13 Jul
Did you know that you can unlock a university education without traditional qualifications, with an Access to Higher Education Course?
Forces Employment Charity are partnering with Andover College and the University of Winchester to bring you a webinar which will unravel the ins and outs of accessing Higher Education. This event is aimed at military spouses who are looking to pursue a change in career.
A great opportunity to discover the types of courses on offer, from Social Work, Nursing and Health Care to Social Science.
From finance costs and support to the application process, we have you covered!
📅13th July 2023
⏰ 7.30pm -8.30pm
📋 register here https://streamyard.com/watch/Qa8WpFeArrit
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