New digital tool: Overseas allowance planning now easier

Check out the Overseas Allowances Reckoner (OAR), to get a fast, personalised estimate of what you’ll receive – if you’re in the Armed Forces and preparing for a posting abroad.

Reckon it’s worth a look…

A reckoner is ‘a table or device designed to help with calculations’ and that is exactly what our new Power BI OAR tool does. It puts financial clarity at your fingertips, transforming how you and our HR teams plan for postings abroad, by producing accurate values in minutes – rather than the hours it may previously have taken.

Fully integrated with JSP 752 policy rates, the OAR offers real-time figures for a range of products – including Local Overseas, Disturbance Expenses, and Get You Home Overseas allowances.

Simply input your personal details and posting information – such as assignment location, family status, and accommodation type – and you’ll receive an immediate breakdown of your overseas allowances, all in one place. There’s no need to wait for paperwork to be processed or complex policy details to be explained.

Ayios Nikolaos Uniform Swap

Thank you to everyone at Ay Nik who is leaving this summer and who have already donated school uniform to the HIVE Uniform Swap rail.

If you have any unused uniform in good condition, either for Queen Berengeria School or King Richard School, please consider donating it to the HIVE.

If you would like to get new uniform for your children, please come in and see what we have in stock. You can swap items for free or take items without swapping for a small donation (donations go to either SSAFA or Homestart, both of which put the money back into our community).

Increase to Early Years childcare funded hours for eligible working families assigned overseas

 

From September 2025 eligible working families assigned overseas will have access to up to 30 hours of funded Early Years childcare for their children aged from 9 months old.

Early Years funded childcare overseas.

To reflect the offer available in England, all families assigned overseas with children aged 3 to 4 years old, and 2-year-old children in receipt of additional government support, are entitled to 15 hours of funded childcare per week during term time (38 weeks per year).

Defence is expanding the childcare offer for working families assigned overseas with children aged 9 months to school starting age, to match the entitlement in England.

From September 2025 eligible working families can claim funding for up to 30 hours per week, per child aged 9 months old to school starting age, during term time (38 weeks per year).

This is an increase to the additional funded hours that became available in September 2024, in which 15 hours of Early Years childcare funding, per week, per child, during term time, became available for eligible working families with children aged 9 months to 3 years old.

For more information about the Early Years Childcare available in England, please go to Early Years childcare | Childcare Choices (GOV.UK).

NHS ‘Say You Served’: Why Declaring Your Military Affiliation Matters – For You and the Forces Community

 

Why Declaring Your Military Affiliation Matters – For You and the Forces Community

Whether you’re serving in the Armed Forces or supporting a loved one who is, one simple action can make a big difference: declaring your military connection when registering with your GP, local council, or other public services.

It may seem like a small tick in a box, but this information is crucial—not only for you and your family, but for the wider Armed Forces community.

Civvy Street Magazine – Jun/Jul 25 Issue out now

To view magazine please click here: https://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=6b09d14d-165d-4488-891f-7f1b5eb6edda

Little Troopers New Forest Reconnection Weekend – next events are Dorset, 25 to 27 July, and 26 to 28 Sept

‘Group of children photographed with Little Troopers Founder, Louise’.

Military families were brought together this week when Little Troopers, the children’s military charity, hosted a New Forest family reconnection weekend.

In January, the organisation revealed they were launching a series of four fully-funded family reconnection weekends for forces families to spend quality time together outdoors, funded by Team Forces.

The weekend was the second one to take place, with eight families taking part in action-packed activities at the New Forest Outdoor Centre in Lyndhurst, Dorset.

Families arrived on Friday (13th June), kicking off the weekend by taking part in an evening woodland nature walk, before staying in shepherd’s huts.

On the second day, families got to try out raft building and racing on Leominstead Lake, followed by archery and bushcraft, a BBQ cooked by the parents, and campfire games for the children in the evening. Families headed home on Sunday 15th June after a morning of trying out high and low ropes amongst the trees and enjoying some Father’s Day treats.

Stuart More, serving in the Royal Navy based in Portsmouth, attended with his daughter. He said: “My favourite thing from the reconnection weekend was the family time. Military families have come together as one, played different types of games, and interacted with each other with no use of technology, which is brilliant. It’s brought us all back to nature and it’s been really rewarding to be part of it.”

Office for Veterans’ Affairs: Analysis of responses to the Veterans’ Survey 2022 relating to family support for UK armed forces veterans

The Veterans’ Survey 2022 was the first survey of its kind in the UK and was a collaboration between the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the Office for Veterans’ Affairs and the devolved administrations.

Alongside the Veterans’ Survey, a smaller Veterans’ Family Survey was made available for immediate family members of UK veterans who resided in the UK and were aged 18 years or over. Family members could complete the survey if their veteran family member was living or deceased, and the survey was open to any immediate family member including stepparents and adult stepchildren. The survey was conducted through a voluntary self-select sample which relied on advertising and promotion primarily by veterans’ charities and organisations.

In total, 2,390 people responded to the Family Survey and response rates varied by question asked. This represents a small proportion of family members that would have been eligible to respond to the survey. These data are presented as unweighted data only.

To view the full survey analysis, please go to: Family support analysis of UK armed forces veterans

Akrotiri: Cinema listings - July 2025

Invitation to attend Financial Literacy Focus Groups

Introduction

Financial literacy is a key life skill and is critical to the development of our personal and collective resilience.  The Financial Times charity FLIC is has funding to expand financial literacy into the Armed Forces and they are running 2 online focus groups in June and one face to face focus group in July (details below).  20-30 Service personnel and family members across a mix of ranks, ethnicity and gender are being sought for each focus group, to help FLIC understand the financial challenges that the Armed Forces face, and the information that would be useful.  

 

The three focus groups will take place on the following dates/times:

 

19 Jun 25 (1130-1230 tbc) – Online focus group delivered by via MS TEAMS  (25 pers)

 

24 Jun 25 (0900-1000 tbc) – Online focus group delivered via MS TEAMS (25 pers)

 

17 Jul 25 0900-1200 – Face to face focus group delivered by FLIC, Buller Conference Centre, St Omer, Aldershot. (35 pers). Civilian attire, lunch at PAYD facility.

 

Register interest here: https://forms.office.com/e/at8DSE3evc

 

Volunteers will be asked to take part in a discussion to help shape a package that informs our Service community in a way that is relevant, engaging and accessible.  The discussion will explore their topics of interest, financial challenges and how they want to receive the information.  The session will also include the opportunity to test video and e-learning platform capabilities. 

 

Forces Pension Society Online Armed Forces Pension Update

25 JUNE 12:30-13:30 - SAVE THE DATE!

The FPS will deliver an online Armed Forces Pensions update for Serving Personnel, Veterans and Dependants at 12:30 on Wednesday 25 June via MS Teams.

It will cover:

The latest on the 2015 Remedy (McCloud) implementation
A reminder of how pension benefits are/were earned during service and the ages that deferred pensions are paid
When and how the pension benefits increase
How to obtain a pension forecasts whilst serving or as a Veteran
Dependants Benefits
When and how to claim a deferred pension
The benefits of membership of the Forces Pension Society

For more information, click here.

Female Veterans' Transformation Programme

Question: What have Plymouth, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Cannock and Winchester got in common?

Answer: We will be in those locations next month with Agora Photography taking photographs of female veterans!

We are creating a toolkit to aid services who support female veterans. Additional funding has been sought from the Office for Veterans' Affairs & Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust to raise the profile of Female Veterans. Part of this funding will be spent on a photoshoot and we are touring the UK with Agora Photography

We want Female Veterans from the breadth of the UK to be involved in this photoshoot, regardless of age, rank, time served, ethnicity, religion, disability, socioeconomic background, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other characteristic. The more diverse the better!

To sign up for a photoshoot click this link: https://forms.office.com/e/SmuxuxW6EQ

To find out more here.

Akrotiri: Save the date! The next market is coming on 5th July!

Please pop into Akrotiri HIVE to book your table!

Solihull online parenting courses from SSAFA

SSAFA are pleased to share that our service now has access to the Solihull Approach Online Parenting Courses via InOurPlace, fully funded by us for our military families. These high-quality, evidence-based courses are designed to support parenting confidence, strengthen relationships, and promote emotional wellbeing for children and families.

For access details, please contact your local HIVE or Unit Welfare Officer

There are a wide range of courses available, including:

• Understanding your baby
• Understanding your child
• Teen brain development
• Parenting children with additional needs

These courses are self-directed, available in many languages, accessible 24/7, and suitable for all stages of parenting from bump, birth and beyond.

For more information please see our dedicated page on our website.

Pinnacle Virtual Outreach Day – 11 Jun

 Website to register

For more Information

Queen Berengaria Primary School, Dhekelia PTFA volunteers

 QBS PTFA are looking for volunteers to organise the Summer Fayre.

If you can offer some time or expertise, please contact the school reception or pop into one of the HIVEs and we can point you in the right direction.

Akrotiri: Sunrise Stand Up Paddle Boarding. Tuesday and Thursday mornings

REMINDER!

There’s still spaces for tomorrow’s Sunrise SUP session. A little reminder of the details are listed below :

Where: The Snug Beach Club

When: Thursday 5th June 2025

Time: 05:00am (Sunrise will be at 05:35 Thursday morning, you will need to arrive 30 minutes prior)

There will be a sign up sheet available at the club, please speak with our Beach Masters for further details regarding sign up and equipment hire.

All are welcome!

Akrotiri Rugby Club - Whats on this week!

 

Akrotiri Community newsletter.

 

Akrotiri. FA Referee course in September.

 

Quest Magazine - June Edition now available

To view online please click this link: https://www.questonline.co.uk/pages/magazine-archive

To view the Quest news update, including a summary of topics covered in the June magazine, please click this link: June Quest Magazine is Out Now.💂

Akrotiri Community Group - Fathers Day Craft Workshop

 

DIO Families First Newsletter - 2 Jun 25 Edition now available

 

To view online please click this link to the Defence Homes website