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/

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) bulk recruitment – EO Work Coach roles, Wales

The Department of Work and Pensions has 33 new DWP Work Coach Executive Officer opportunities in Wales. These are now open for applications until 11 Sept 2025.

Civil Service Jobs link: Universal Credit Job Centre - Work Coach - Wales (Ref: 744) - Civil Service Jobs - GOV.UK

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

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.)

Episkopi: Armed Forces & Veterans Breakfast Clubs

Please come and join us for our next Breakfast which will be on Saturday 6th
September 2025. At The 3 Keys Pub in Episkopi from 0930 hrs. Serving members of the UK Armed Forces and Veterans and guests are most welcome. 

They hope to see you there. If you are planning to attend please book in so admin can give the numbers to the PUB.

If not already a member and would like to join this group please apply through the facebook link below. Please let admin know your connections to the military.

http//www.facebook.com/groups/afvbc.episkopi
Email: episkopi.afvbc@gmail.com

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.

Episkopi: Important Notices – Party in the Park

To ensure the smooth running of our upcoming event, please take note of the following:

Tunnel Closure

The tunnel will be closed from 12:00 hrs until midnight on the event day. It will reopen at 06:30 hrs the following morning.

Traffic & Lighting
Expect significantly increased traffic and lighting in and around Happy Valley between 14:00 – 23:30 hrs.

Preparation Works

In the days leading up to the event, additional traffic and movement will be present in the Happy Valley area as setup takes place.

We kindly ask all clubs, members, and volunteers to plan accordingly and allow extra travel time where necessary.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in making Party in the Park a success!

Gov.uk Armed Forces Pensions Update: Pension Scams

Fasouri Watermania Waterpark: September's Operational Days & Hours!