Episkopi: Paid Volunteering Opportunity – International Cricket Event!

Be part of an exciting international sporting tournament this May! The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Europe Sub‑Regional Qualifier A is coming to Happy Valley, and we’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help make it a success.

Event Dates: 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22 & 23 May (No matches on 21 May)

Volunteer Roles Available:
* General Volunteers – help with marshalling, car parking, set‑up and clear‑down
* Match Officials Helpers – support match officials (no cricket knowledge needed!)

Key Details:
Minimum age: 17
Location: Happy Valley
Shift times: approx. 09:00–18:50 (with plenty of breaks)

What you get:
- €70 per day
- Lunch provided
- Event polo shirt & hat

Ideal for Duke of Edinburgh’s Award participants – recognised volunteering experience!

This is a fantastic chance to be part of an international event, gain experience, and enjoy a great atmosphere.

Interested? Apply by emailing: Laine.Millere100@mod.gov.uk 

Episkopi: Talking Tables

Episkopi: Quiz Night

BFBS - What's On

Movies This Week

BFBS Extra brings you an ape-solutely amazing line-up this week.

After getting used to life in life in London, Tarzan is called back to the jungle to investigate the activities at a mining encampment in The Legend of Tarzan.

Then we really go ape with Rise of the Planet of The Apes, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, War For the Planet of the Apes and finally Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. A substance designed to help the brain repair itself gives advanced intelligence to a chimpanzee who leads an ape uprising, war, peace and a quest to try and live together are all part of the journey.

As we approach the 40th anniversary of the nuclear disaster, the Chernobyl Diaries tells the tale of six tourists who hire an extreme tour guide to take them to the abandoned city Pripyat, the former home to the workers of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor. During their exploration, they soon discover they are not alone.

Mission Motorsport April Newsletter

 Highlights in April's Edition Include:

• A recent live podcast event with Smith and Sniff raised £10,000 in support of Mission Motorsport, thanks to ticket sales and a silent auction.
• There are expanding opportunities for Armed Forces personnel to take part in the 2026 BTCC Grid Person experience, offering access to the pit lane, grid walk, and a full race day.
• Our Banter, Brews & Cars track day at Three Sisters Circuit delivered a valuable mix of driving experiences and wellbeing impact for attendees.
• The Disabled Drivers Scholarship returns for 2026 with increased funded places and continued pathways into competitive motorsport.

The newsletter can be accessed here - Newsletter

Primary School Offer Day information and support for Service families

To support Service families with further information on Primary School place offers, Defence has provided this infographic.  A PDF version with accessible hyperlinks is at this PDF with links or please see links below:

Starting Reception website 

General Gov.uk guidance on school admissions and appeals

Defence Children Services (DCS)

Education Advisory Team email address: RC-DCS-HQ-EAT@mod.gov.uk

Defence’s Wraparound Childcare (WAC) scheme

BFBS Returns as Official Broadcast Partner for the 2026 Inter Services Rugby Championship

Credit: Alligin Photography

BFBS (British Forces Broadcasting Service) is proud to return as the official broadcast partner for the 2026 Inter Services Rugby Championship, delivering comprehensive coverage of both the men’s and women’s competitions this spring.

 

Celebrating one of the most historic rivalries in military sport, the annual event brings together the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force in a series of fiercely contested fixtures showcasing elite sport, service pride, and unrivalled atmosphere. BFBS will provide exclusive livestreamed coverage of all six games, ensuring audiences around the world can follow every moment of the action.

Give Us Time – welfare breaks for late April, May, and June

Please see our newest Spring update, highlighting our breaks for late April, May, and June.  All the breaks are available on the website, except for the Kidlandlee breaks which can only be booked via email

 

• All our breaks and days out are donated, so are usually off peak. We are unable to request alternative dates or locations from those donated
• Bookings are made on a first come first served basis
• Families must be signed up on our website before making a booking

We will be adding ‘Give Us A Moment’ days out shortly for the summer, and our September and October breaks will be added onto the website in the summer

Ministry of Defence’s survey for Armed Forces families - last chance!

Ministry of Defence’s survey for Armed Forces families closes soon…

The Ministry of Defence’s Families Continuous Attitude Survey closes soon, on 15 April 2026. Don’t miss the chance to have your say on life as an Armed Forces family.

Armed Forces families make extraordinary sacrifices and contributions to support serving personnel and keep Britain safe. Your dedication and support underpin the operational effectiveness of the UK Armed Forces.

At a time of rising global uncertainty, your support has never been more important. With increasing demands on serving personnel and families, it is essential that the Armed Forces community feels safe and supported at home.

The Ministry of Defence’s Families Continuous Attitude Survey is an opportunity to share thoughts and shape policies to enhance your family’s experiences, as valued members of the Armed forces community.

Share your views and experiences

Each year, the Ministry of Defence invites a random, representative sample of spouses and civil partners of Regular Armed Forces personnel to take part in their Families Continuous Attitude Survey (FamCAS).

This is an opportunity to share your experiences of, and attitudes towards various aspects of life as an Armed Forces family. This includes housing, employment, access to healthcare, welfare support, childcare and children’s education.

Your feedback helps Defence’s policy makers to understand how initiatives, support and policies can better meet your family’s needs.

To see if you can take part, use the online tool:

·         Enter your partner’s Service number for security reasons. All responses are anonymous and confidential.

• If you have been invited to participate, the tool will signpost to the survey. If you haven’t, you can still share some views.

This survey takes around 30 minutes to complete and closes on Wednesday 15 April 2026.

Putting families at the heart of change

Defence remains committed to improving the experiences of Armed Forces families, and has taken transformative steps to help achieve this, including:

Appointing the first Armed Forces Commissioner

Yesterday (1 April 2026) marked the first day of the brand new Armed Forces Commissioner – a direct point of contact for Service personnel and their families to raise welfare concerns that impact Service life.

Former Air Commodore Polly Miller-Perkins CBE brings extensive leadership experience and a deep, firsthand understanding of Service life and its challenges.

She said:

“My commitment is to build an independent, trusted and compassionate Commissioner’s Office — one that listens carefully, acts with integrity, and shines a light on the issues that truly affect Service life. I will work with Parliament and Defence leaders to highlight systemic concerns and help drive meaningful improvements…”

Hear from the new Armed Forces Commissioner, what they can do for you and how to contact them.

Building high-quality homes for Armed Forces families

 At the front is the Defence Secretary, John Healey MP (right) and Chair of the Defence Housing Strategy Review team, Natalie Elphicke-Ross OBE (left), visiting improved military accommodation. UK MOD © Crown copyright 2025

Over the coming weeks, Defence will start building the first forces family homes in nearly a decade. An additional 2,000 military properties across the UK will also be modernised in the next financial year. This includes 1,000 houses which were not previously available, giving more Armed Forces families access to a Defence home.

This work is part of the Defence Housing Strategy, which commits £9 bn towards modernising, refurbishing and rebuilding over 40,000 Service family homes over the next decade. Already, 1,250 of the worst-condition properties have been brought up to standard.

Making childcare support fairer for Service families across the UK

 Defence Secretary and a UK Armed Forces family. UK MOD Crown Copyright 2024

A new Defence scheme to transform support for forces families with young children will be rolled out across the UK from September 2026.

This new scheme will ensure that eligible working UK Armed Forces families receive the same Government funded childcare support as forces families in England – saving eligible families in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland up to £6,000 per year for each child. 

This scheme will help with the cost of living and reflects Defence’s commitment to support Armed Forces families, wherever they live and work. Further details will be set out for eligible families in the coming months.

If you have any questions about this year's FamCAS, please email: Analysis-Surveys-Enquiries@mod.gov.uk.

For useful signposting to information, support and organisations to help navigate Service family life, visit the Families Hub (www).

Episkopi: Swimming Pool Timetable