BFSWS - Want to become a registered childminder in BFC

Do you enjoy looking after children?

Why not turn your passion into a rewarding career as a registered childminder?

At BFSWS, we’ll support you every step of the way — from your application to arranging your training. Our aim is to help you go from application to registration in just 12 weeks!

Interested in finding out more or ready to apply?
Drop them an email or
Give them a call today!

Start your journey to making a difference in children’s lives — while working around your own family life.

7th Sept 2025: National emergency alert test and guidance for victims of domestic abuse

 

          

Milspo: FREE Business Launch Accelerator Course, Online from September

FREE MOD-funded, online business start-up course for spouses and partners of UK Regular and Reserve Armed Forces.

Want to turn your idea into a business that fits around this beautiful thing we call modern military life?

Then apply to join the Business Launch Accelerator Course.

Learn how to launch and grow a successful business around deployments, postings, childcare and all the unpredictability of UK Armed Forces life. It’s a course specifically created FOR military spouses BY military spouses, so flexibility is built in.

This 8-week online course is designed to take you from an initial idea to a full-fledged start-up business and provides a clear roadmap and the tools and support you need to succeed. Plus, you’ll get to know a group of other amazing military spouses and partners with similar goals.

It’s fully funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust and the MOD, which means it’s completely free for those taking part.

Find out more and apply to join the next course which starts on 15 September 2025:
https://milspo.co.uk/course/

Board Game Club - Last Tuesday of the month at the Black Knight

 

ERCAN AIRPORT STRICTLY PROHIBITED FOR USE BY Sovereign Base Areas (SBA) PERSONNEL

With effect from 26 August 2025 the use of Ercan Airport is prohibited to all Military Personnel and Civilians subject to Service Discipline within SBA. If you hold an SBA Status Card or are linked to the Sovereign Base Areas as an employee, contractor, or family member you are prohibited from using Ercan Airport.

This ruling does not apply to Locally Employed Civilians who, as residents of the Republic of Cyprus, are answerable directly to their authorities.
Those who enter via Ercan airport and attempt to cross into the Republic of Cyprus or Sovereign Base Areas will be considered as entering the island illegally. All Military Personnel and Civilians subject to Service Discipline found using the Ercan Airport as an entry point will be subject to formal disciplinary action. For the avoidance of doubt, UKFMs (less a minority who work for SBAA HQ) are categorised as Civilians subject to Service Discipline.
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Note - anyone with existing travel plans booked before publication of this order [26/08/25] may travel at own risk. They will still be subject to fines for illegal entry, and may be refused entry to the Republic of Cyprus. 

If anyone has pre-arranged travel they should inform their Chain of Command and BFC J1 (BFC-HQ-J1-GpMailbox (MULTIUSER) BFC-HQ-J1-GpMailbox@mod.gov.uk.)

Travel Update – EU Entry/Exit System (EES) from 12 Oct 25

Heads up for anyone travelling in Europe later this year!

• From 12 October 2025, the EU will bring in a new Entry/Exit System (EES). If you hold a UK passport, the first time you travel into the EU after this date you’ll need to register your passport details and give fingerprints/biometric data at the border.

• After that, UK passport holders can only spend 90 days in every 180-day period in the Schengen Area.

• In 2026, a second system called ETIAS will also start. You’ll need to apply online before travelling, provide personal/trip details, and pay a €20 fee.

• If you have a BFC Status Card:

· You won’t be affected by EES or ETIAS when travelling into/out of Cyprus, but you must keep showing your Status Card at RoC airports.
· If you go to other Schengen countries (from Cyprus or the UK), you’ll still need to do the EES process like everyone else.

• Cyprus is not in Schengen yet, but the government plans to join in 2026. We’ll share updates if that changes how travel works for BFC personnel.

No immediate change for Cyprus travel – but do keep this in mind for trips to other EU countries from October onwards.

Gov.uk Armed Forces Pensions Update: Pension Scams

Dhekelia Key Cinema listings - revised schedule

 Additional screening of Nobody 2, Thursday 04^th September.

September webinars from Serve and Protect Credit Union

This September, Serve and Protect Credit Union are delivering a range of free educational webinars on the following financial topics:

Thu 4th - Eco-Friendly Ways to Save Money

Mon 8th - Budgeting 101: Take Control of Your Money

Wed 10th - Harmful Effects of Gambling: Presented in Collaboration with GamCare

Tue 23rd - The Road to Financial Resilience: Preparing for the Unexpected

Thu 25th - Credit Score 101: Tips to Boost Your Score

Thu 25th - People Over Profit: The Credit Union Movement

Tue 30th - Before You Borrow: Key Things to Know

With actionable tips to prepare for financial emergencies, improve your credit score, and budget your money, don't miss out on these free webinars from Serve and Protect!

🔗 Register here: https://sandpcu.co.uk/hs-webinars

Outstanding GCSE Results at The Duke of York’s Royal Military School

Outstanding GCSE Results at The Duke of York’s Royal Military School

Students at The Duke of York’s Royal Military School are once again celebrating a year of exceptional success in their GCSE examinations, with nearly a third of all entries achieving a grade 9-7. 79% of students achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and Mathematics. This year’s results reflect the hard work, determination, and ambition of Dukies, with a significant number earning coveted academic and sports scholarships as they move into Sixth Form.

2025 Army Families Federation questionnaire on Service pay

The Army Families Federation (AFF), Naval Families Federation (NFF) and RAF Families Federation (RAFFF) are jointly running a questionnaire to hear from Regular Service Personnel and their families about satisfaction with pay and personal financial circumstances over the past 12 months.

The responses will help to:

• Better understand the financial challenges faced by service families.

• Identify any trends or issues specific to each of the single services.

• Provide robust, evidence-based feedback to the MOD, the Armed Forces Pay Review Body, and other key stakeholders.

To take part in this questionnaire, which is open to serving personnel, spouses and partners, please click the link below.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AFF2025_Pay_Questionnaire

The questionnaire should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete and every response helps strengthen the evidence that family federations can present on behalf of families.

Career Transition Partnership Employment Fairs – remaining 2025 dates

To view all CTP employment events, and to register to attend an event, please visit: https://www.modctp.co.uk/home/list-events

Serve and Protect Credit Union – Aug & Sept Financial Education Webinars

Serve & Protect Credit Union have the following upcoming financial education webinars:

Topic: Before You Borrow: Key Things to Know

• Date: 28 August 2025
• Time: 1200 - 1245
• Register:  Before You Borrow: Key Things to Know | Serve and Protect Credit Union

Going Forward into Employment (GFiE): Latest HMRC Vacancies in Newcastle, Belfast and Portsmouth - available exclusively to Service Leavers, Veterans and Military Spouses/Partners

The following vacancy is now open for applications under the GFiE Scheme:
GFIE-448 – HMRC Review Officer - Newcastle, Belfast and Portsmouth

Closing Date: 12 September 2025

GOV.UK: Updated guidance for Service personnel and their families on Early Years childcare and child welfare policies

The Gov.uk website has been updated today, with new information in the ‘Free Early Years Childcare entitlement for children aged 9 months to school starting age (including 15 or 30 hours’ free childcare)’ and ‘Overseas Nursery Authority (ONA)’ section.

To review the revised information please go to: Guidance for Service personnel and their families on child welfare policies

Department for Work and Pensions (including Jobcentre Plus) bank holiday arrangements for 25 August 2025

The Department for Work and Pensions (including Jobcentre Plus) office opening arrangements are different for the 25 August bank holiday.

England, Scotland and Wales:
On Monday 25 August offices and phone lines are closed.
To make sure people get their payment on a day when our offices are open, arrangements have been made to make some payments early.
If the expected payment date is Monday 25 August then benefits will be paid early on Friday 22 August.

If the expected payment date is not shown, customers will get their money on their usual payment date.  

The Duke of York's Royal Military School Celebrates Exceptional A Level and BTEC Results

The Duke of York's Royal Military School Celebrates Exceptional A Level and BTEC Results

Students at The Duke of York’s Royal Military School are celebrating another year of exceptional results in their A Level and BTEC examinations. This year, the average A Level grade achieved by students was a B, while BTEC students also performed impressively.

Stop Loan Sharks: Summer Newsletter

Stop Loan Sharks have published their summer newsletter. This jam packed edition features the latest arrests, a video for school children, a new campaign encouraging partners to support victims in making the call, and much more.

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) bulk recruitment – Child Maintenance Group Caseworker, Falkirk

The Department of Work and Pensions has 30 new Service Excellence - Child Maintenance Group - Caseworker Executive Officer opportunities in Falkirk. These are now open for applications until 08 Sept 2025.

Recruit for Spouses latest newsletter: Career Support Events and more!

The latest Recruit for Spouses newsletter has been published, and is available to read online at: Recruit for spouses

2025 Women’s International Defence Rugby Competition Today Launches At Sandhurst

BFBS to Broadcast as Official Media Partner

BFBS (British Forces Broadcasting Service) will deliver exclusive livestream coverage of the 2025 Women’s International Defence Rugby Competition (IDRC), bringing forces audiences around the world closer to the action.

Hosted in the UK by the British Army, the tournament today launched with an Opening Ceremony at the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Berkshire. Fixtures will take place over three weeks at venues across the UK, culminating in the final at Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester, on 3 September.

NAAFI: 2025 Welfare Returns figures

NAAFI are excited to share that they’ve announced their 2025 Welfare Returns figures - when people shop at NAAFI facilities, any surplus they earn is given back directly to the communities they serve.

This year alone, they’ve generated £110,435 for local garrisons and communities across seven of their locations:

Ascension Island
Brunei
The Falkland Islands
Germany
Poland
Bahrain
Royal Navy Ships

You can read more in NAAFI’s latest blog post here: https://naafi.co.uk/a-year-of-giving-back-welfare-returns-2025/

And find out more on the NAAFI website: https://naafi.co.uk/

How satisfied are you with family life while serving overseas?

As the Overseas Survey draws to a close on 30 August 2025, MOD are making one final call to hear from Armed Forces families living overseas. These insights are vital in shaping the support, services, and policies that matter most to them.

Whether it’s childcare, education, employment or military life in general — your voice makes a difference!

MOD would like to say a big thank you to everyone who’s already shared their experiences. Your contribution will help the MOD to build a clearer, stronger picture of life overseas.

Also a reminder to everyone that, for anyone who hasn’t had a chance to take part yet, there’s still time. It only takes a few minutes, and feedback is invaluable.

Every response counts. - Survey

As the Overseas Survey draws to a close on 30 August 2025, MOD are making one final call to hear from Armed Forces families living overseas. These insights are vital in shaping the support, services, and policies that matter most to them.

Whether it’s childcare, education, employment or military life in general—their voice makes a difference https://surveys.mod.uk/index.php/458476?lang=en (link to survey).

Also a reminder to everyone that, for anyone who hasn’t had a chance to take part yet, there’s still time. It only takes a few minutes, and feedback is invaluable.

MOD would like to say a big thank you to everyone who’s already shared their experiences. Their contribution will help the MOD to build a clearer, stronger picture of life overseas.

Every response counts.

Wherever you are in the world, Defence is here to support you and your family to navigate various aspects of Service life, including:

· spousal / partner employment
· education and childcare
· communications
· Safeguarding.

If you’re serving overseas, it’s important that Defence understands your positive experiences and any challenges. Your feedback will help to improve Defence’s policies and initiatives to better meet your family’s needs.

Take the Overseas Families Survey.

Shape your future

Your feedback will help to enhance Defence’s support for overseas personnel and families, and will build on recent progress:
Global Mobility Allowance (GMA) trial an overseas allowance that offers an easier claims process and greater flexibility on spending.
New Overseas Allowances Reckoner tool – providing personalised allowance calculation estimates, for those preparing for overseas assignments.

· Extending the Get You Home (Travel to Europe) trial scheme – contributing towards up to two return journeys per month, to an eligible Service person’s family home in Europe.
Disturbance Expenses rate uplift – enabling eligible Service personnel moving to the UK from overseas to claim the same, higher ‘overseas rate’ as those moving overseas from the UK.
Wraparound Childcare (WAC) Overseas – helping Service families with up to 80% of costs for before and after school childcare.

Find out more on how Defence is simplifying overseas service finances.

What should I know?

· All Regular and Reserve Service personnel and their spouses / partners are encouraged to      take part.
· All feedback is anonymous.
· You can use a personal device to complete the survey.
· You have until 11.59 pm, Saturday 30 August 2025 to make your voice heard.
· It should take you no more than 20 minutes to compete the survey.

The more people we hear from, the better able we are to make informed choices on how to improve your experience of Service life.

If you have questions about the survey, contact the MOD Armed Forces Families and Safeguarding team: people-AFFS-data-research@mod.gov.uk.

To view previous survey results, visit GOV.UK.

Useful information and resources

To explore allowances, opportunities, and benefits for you and your family as part of Your Offer, visit Discover My Benefits.

For useful signposting to information, guidance and support to help navigate Service family life, visit the Families Hub.

To explore Defence’s plan to drive forward positive initiatives for Service families, read the Armed Forces Families Strategy 2022-2032.

For information and support on a wide variety of topics affecting your Service and personal life, including relocation and local area information, contact the relevant HIVE:

· Royal Navy Family and People Support

· Army HIVE

· Royal Air Force HIVE.

Considering an overseas posting? Already overseas and have a question?

You and your family can find information on overseas locations through the international HIVE (iHIVE) - explore the iHIVE.

Dhekelia: September Cinema listing 2025

 

Akrotiri - Cinema listings for September

 

Are you being posted overseas? Our Overseas and iHIVE Blogs hold information on your new location

You will find information, including comprehensive Location Guides – plus our local office’s contact details – on our Overseas Blogs at:

• Belgium (SHAPE)
• Brunei
• Brunssum
• Cyprus
• Gibraltar
• Naples
• Sennelager

For those posted elsewhere, anywhere in the rest of the World, our tri-Service iHIVE covers the area.

The iHIVE Blog hosts around 100 Overseas Location Guides that can be viewed or downloaded from our iHIVE Blog: https://internationalhive.blogspot.com/ with more being added routinely. These can also be accessed (by MODnet users) through the Army HIVE SharePoint site Overseas Postings area.

Most importantly, our iHIVE is also available to answer any enquiries about any overseas location worldwide, whether you are in the Royal Navy/RM, RAF, Army or civilian Service communities - please get in touch with any questions you may have.

iHIVE is listed in the Overseas Supportability Checklist as an action for any Service person/family assigned overseas, in order to check that local services, amenities and facilities meet each individual and family’s needs.

Our poster has iHIVE’s contact details, or get in touch by email: RC-Pers-HIVE-iHIVE-0Mailbox (MULTIUSER) RC-Pers-HIVE-iHIVE-0Mailbox@mod.gov.uk

Easy Resettlement Magazine: Subscribe for free and read online

To subscribe for free, please click this link: Subscription | Easy Resettlement Magazine

To read current and back issues of Easy Resettlement magazine, please visit: Back Issues | Easy Resettlement Magazine

Bondu Rats Summer Party - 15th August 2025

 

Lions Social Club Quiz Night - 15th August 2025

 

NAAFI Fund - NATO Shape's Community Spaces Are Officially Open

The NAAFI Fund recently awarded a £17,500 grant to NATO in Shape, Belgium to give their community spaces a much-needed makeover! This project was all about creating a centralised, welcoming space for the British Military Community. To read NAAFI Fund’s blog post on this project, please visit: https://naafi.co.uk/project/from-dream-to-reality/

NAAFI Fund said: “To gain some inspiration about how the NAAFI Fund could help in your unit or local community area, please take a look at our previously supported projects Completed Fund Projects - NAAFI

“For more information on the NAAFI Fund, the application process and what grants are available, please take a look at our website NAAFI Fund - NAAFI

“We anticipate the portal to re-open for applications in April 2026, however, we will announce the exact dates and links nearer the time via our social media and website, so please keep an eye on those @naafisocial. If you would like to be added to the mailing list, to receive communication nearer the time so you can start to prepare your bid, please email funding@naafi.co.uk”

NAAFI: https://naafi.co.uk/

DIO Service Family Accommodation (SFA) Communications Update - 11 August 25

 

SFA Consumer Charter – greater freedoms for families

Service Personnel and families deserve homes that reflect your unique needs and lifestyles. Outdated, lengthy policies are unhelpful in fostering a sense of belonging where you can make a house feel like your home. This is particularly important given the transient nature of military life, which we know can be disruptive.

DIO is committed to transforming this experience. By modernising our policies, we’re empowering families with greater freedom to personalise and enhance your homes. Defence Secretary Rt Hon John Healey MP announced the latest improvements, which include an update to policies making it easier for you to own pets and run businesses from home. In the future, you will also have more freedom to personalise and decorate your homes, the details of which will be confirmed in due course.

7th Sept 2025: National emergency alert test and guidance for victims of domestic abuse

 

There will be a test of the national emergency alert system on 07 September. This will come through to all mobile phones across the country. SafeLives have issued the following guidance for those who are victims of domestic abuse:

📢 A UK-wide emergency alert test will take place on Sunday 7th September 2025 at 3pm. Mobile phones will emit a loud siren and vibrate — even if they’re on silent.

Whilst these alerts aim to protect the public in emergencies, they could put victim-survivors of domestic abuse at risk — especially those who rely on hidden phones as part of their safety plan.

Please know, you CAN opt out of this test.

If you need to disable alerts for safety reasons, follow the steps above or by visiting the gov.uk site: Opting out of emergency alerts - GOV.UK

New surveys for Service children aged 8-18 – share your experience of growing up in a military family

MCCYP are hoping to gather the views of children and young people aged 8–18 who have a parent serving in the Armed Forces.

These surveys aim to gather vital insights into their lived experiences - such as education, housing, community, and access to services. This will help ensure their voices are heard and help shape how Defence understands and responds to their needs.

Links for Survey:

Age 8 - 11
Age 12 - 15
Age 16 - 18

Second hand Uniform Swap at Ay Nik HIVE

Just moved to Ay Nik?

We have a second hand swap rail for school uniform (for both QBS and KRS) with summer dresses, cardigans and jumpers and polo and sports shirts. Items can be swapped for free or taken with a donation to SSAFA or Homestart.

If your children have grown out of their uniform, but it is still in good condition, please consider donating it to the HIVE to be used by other members of our community.

New BFBS Royal Air Force Documentary: Top Flight Fitness – Available to Watch Now

 

BFBS (British Forces Broadcasting Service) spent six months at RAF Cosford following trainee Physical Training Instructors (PTIs) on one of the Royal Air Force’s toughest and most demanding courses, in a brand-new programme, Top Flight Fitness.

BFBS Forces News had special access to this intense and demanding training journey, capturing the brutal workouts, military theory lessons, real-world teaching sessions, and relentless physical and mental assessments that push even the fittest to their limits.

From raw recruits straight off civvy street to experienced service personnel, the series reveals what it really takes to become a PTI, and it’s not just about six-packs and speed.

BFBS Forces News reporter Kirstie Chambers joins the course every step of the way, sharing insight into the teamwork, psychology, resilience and sheer determination it takes to earn the coveted PTI badge, she said: “They didn’t just train bodies, they built minds. The women matched the men, the competition drove camaraderie, and the real test? Just keeping up the pace.”

Expect sweat, setbacks and serious inspiration in this must-see look inside the RAF’s most physically demanding training ground.

Top Flight Fitness: What it takes to keep the RAF fighting fit, is available to watch now on BFBS Forces News 

Give Us Time: new donor in the NE of England

Give Us Time have a new donor in the North East of England – please see the poster for more details and for how to book.
 

Dept of Work and Pensions: WP Work Coach Vacancies

The following Executive Officer work coach vacancies are now open:

Civil Service Jobs link:

Decision Making Directorate - Decision Maker - Bangor, Ty Taf (Ref: 740)

Open from 07/08/2025 to 21/08/2025

More information on DWP, the roles available and the application process can be found on our EO Microsite

Reading Force’s memoir competition for adults, children and young people – closes end of August

There is less than a month left to enter Reading Force’s 2025 writing competition, which is open to adults AND children & young people.

The deadline for entries is end of August. 

There are book tokens to win – and three entries will be published in the family federation magazines. 😊.

Akrotiri Baby Clinic

 

Episkopi: Home Start Volunteering

We Need You! Become a Mini-Explorers Volunteer 

Our beloved Mini-Explorers group is looking for a new volunteer to help keep the adventure going! 

If you have a little one who’s walking and a couple of spare hours each week, this could be the perfect opportunity. It's a win-win — your child gets to play and explore, and you get to make new friends whilst giving something back to the community.

No professional training needed — you don’t need to be Forest School trained. Home-Start staff will take care of all the planning. We’re just looking for someone who enjoys the outdoors and is happy to show up, join in, and bring the fun!

Interested or want to know more?
Email us: homestartwsba@yahoo.com
Give them a call: +357 2596 3748
Or drop them a message on Facebook

Let’s keep this amazing group going — together!