MOD’s Families Hub is now in its second year – have you used it yet?

Link to the Families Hub: https://discovermybenefits.mod.gov.uk/families/ 

Give Us Time: Summer/Autumn update 2026 & last-minute France break

Give Us Time have published their latest welfare update, covering the remainder of the summer and autumn breaks. [Give Us Time update Summer_Autumn 2026]

They also have a last-minute break to France available 22 – 29 August. The gite sleeps up to 4 people, but is not pet friendly unfortunately.

Families will be required to cover the costs of their travel, food, entertainment etc, as well as taking their own bedding for the stay. Full details of the property are in the attached brochure. [Le Goludic Brochure]

As always

- breaks are booked on a first come first served basis

- families must be signed up on the Give Us Time website to make a booking

Find out more at www.giveustime.org.uk

MOD Veterans Services: An overview of the support available to Service personnel, veterans and their family members

To find out more about the MOD Veterans Services support available to Service personnel, Service leavers, veterans - and their family members - please go to: Get help from Veterans Services - GOV.UK

Also, a reminder that there is now an online Veterans Services referral form in place, which can be used by the Chain of Command/internal MOD organisations, external stakeholders and for self-referrals: Make a referral to Veterans Services - GOV.UK

Cessation of the Service Police Confidential Crime Line

The Service Police Confidential Crimeline (0800 085 0658) has been permanently disconnected and will not be replaced. 

As a part of Defence switch to digital communications all analogue telephone lines in the host location, including the Confidential Crimeline, have been disconnected. 

HQ PM(A) have therefore decided to retire the Service Police Confidential Crimeline.

Crimes can still be reported through any of the following telephone helplines:

Department for Work & Pensions: Latest updates

 New employment and careers digital support for citizens 

 
The Department for Work and Pensions’ employment and careers digital support for citizens has now gone live. The tools aim to support people to explore careers options, search for work and prepare for job applications, and can be found on GOV.UK.  

These include a new Find a Job service, a CV Builder, an Action Planning Tool and an AI Work Assistant, supporting people at different stages of their employment journey. The tools offer a more joined up job search experience and provide personalised support.  

They are designed to complement the valuable support provided by partner organisations and advisers. 

Further information

NAAFI Fund 2026: Opens Today (1 July)

 

The NAAFI Fund portal is open for applications again!

 

Since their launch in 2020, they have supported 541 projects totalling £4,844,227.

The Ripple Pond Newsletter Summer 2026: Together, We're Shaping Better Support for Families

 

To read the newsletter in full, please go to:

THINKING FAMILY Summer Edition

 

To find out more, please visit:

Thinking Family Resources | The Ripple Pond

Give Us Time: Last Chance to Book – France and Florida

 

Give Us Time wanted to let you know about two amazing breaks available over the summer holidays:

Orlando, Florida

14 - 28 August

Spacious townhouse sleeping up to 4 people, on a family-friendly resort near Disney, with on-site pools and lakeside views.

Brittany, N France

25 July - 1 August

Beautiful gite which sleeps up to 4 people, stunning rural locations, but easy access to beaches and local attractions.

Families will be required to cover the costs of TRAVEL, TRANSFERS, FOOD, ENTERTAINMENT ETC as part of their trip.

Visit www.giveustime.org.uk for more info on Give Us Time breaks, and email enquiries@giveustime.org.uk for more info on the above breaks

MOD’s Families Hub is now in its second year – have you used it yet?

 

Defence Update: Blow the whistle - Domestic abuse support for Armed Forces families

 

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on 11 June, people are urged to: Stop, Notice, and Act against domestic abuse. Don’t look away.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup – which will take place from 11 June to 19 July – is a time for celebration, community and a shared love for the game. But for some people, this period is marked by increased domestic abuse.

Research shows that domestic abuse incidents rise by 38% when England loses, and by 26% when they win or draw.

GamCare: World Cup & Gambling Support

 

GamCare has published new data (link) this week showing that the proportion of people contacting the National Gambling Helpline with online gambling concerns has reached its highest level in five years. They also saw an 11% rise in contacts following the last men's World Cup.

 

This recent data from GamCare highlights a growing need for increased awareness and early support, especially during sporting tournaments. 

 

If gambling is affecting you or someone you know, free and confidential support is available 24/7 through the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, via online chat or WhatsApp at www.gamcare.org.uk .

Stop Loan Sharks: Spring Newsletter and Lived Experience Report published

Stop Loan Sharks have published their latest newsletter. To read this issue in full please go to this link: https://www.stoploansharks.co.uk/resources-newsletters/

Additionally they have recently launched a report following their lived experience research. This can be read online at: https://www.stoploansharks.co.uk/a-community-of-silence-the-lived-experience-of-people-borrowing-from-loan-sharks-in-england/

Mission Motorsport June Newsletter

This month's newsletter includes:

• Sign-up details for all upcoming events, including how to book onto the exclusive tour of Prodrive HQ
• Highlights of incredible donations and fundraising efforts supporting the charity
• Opportunities to get involved and support our work

To read the newsletter in full, please view it here.

Should you have any questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the team at team@missionmotorsport.org.

National County Lines and Child Exploitation Awareness Webinar – 26 June

The National County Lines Co-ordination Centre and Ivison Trust webinar on County Lines and Child Exploitation awareness for the military community has been confirmed as Friday 26th June, from 10:00 to 12:00.

You can book places via this link.

This online session will be available nationally and overseas and is intended to complement the recent Escapeline face-to-face sessions.

The webinar will include presentations on social media awareness for welfare teams, parents and all teaching staff. It will also feature shared lived experiences from military families impacted by County Lines.

Combat Stress: PTSD Awareness Day Webinars 22–26 June

 

For PTSD Awareness Day 2026, Combat Stress are offering a series of free webinars designed to increase understanding of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), its impact and that support is available to help with recovery.

PTSD can affect how someone thinks, feels, and reacts and it can look very different from person to person.

Between 22–26 June, these specialist webinars will explore topics including recovery, the difference between PTSD and complex PTSD, practical coping strategies, how data is improving treatment, and how organisations can support recovery.

These sessions are open to all members of the public, including veterans, families, carers and professionals, offering insight into the many faces of PTSD and the support available.

Learn more about the webinars and how they can support understanding of PTSD: https://combatstress.org.uk/ptsd-awareness-day-webinars

If you’d like to talk to someone, the Combat Stress free, confidential 24-hour Helpline is available on 0800 138 1619.

Army HQ: Family Welfare Matters Edition 03 now available

To read online with accessible links, please go to Family Welfare Matters

For those with access to MODnet, both this edition and the full internal Welfare Matters newsletter is uploaded onto our SharePoint site under the Welfare Latest News section. The link to access is: Welfare

Give Us Time: Summer 2026 Welfare Update

To find out more please visit www.giveustime.org.uk

Stop Loan Sharks Week 2026: 11 -17 May

 

Loan sharks don’t always look like villains. Sometimes, they change
character, switch tactics and reinvent themselves - just like players in an
online game. But this isn’t a game. And the consequences are real.

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

Hounds for Heroes: Latest Newsletters

 Hounds for Heroes latest newsletters are now available: 

Winter edition

Autumn 2025 edition

The Hounds for Heroes mission is to provide specially trained assistance dogs to injured or disabled service personnel and veterans, helping them to regain independence, confidence, and companionship.

To find out more about Hounds for Heroes please go to: Hounds for Heroes Assistance Dogs | Hounds for Heroes