11 new projects to help service families feel at home faster
New funding will help families settle faster after a posting - with welcome support, connections, and tools for children.
Moving house is hard. Doing it because of service life requirements - again and again - can be harder still.
That’s why the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust has funded 11 new projects through the Serving Families: On the Move programme, helping families feel welcomed, informed and connected in the early weeks after a move.
Over £460,000 will help families settle with confidence - building on more than £1.5 million already funded through the programme.
Three ways this funding help
1. Offer a warm welcome early on through practical guidance, local information and tailored support.
2. Reduce loneliness and isolation through home visits, workshops, group activities and trained volunteers (many with military backgrounds).
3. Help children and young people keep continuity with digital tools that help families discover activities and prepare for moves.
Anna Wright, Chief Executive of the Trust, said:
“It’s important that military families feel valued, connected and supported wherever service life takes them. I remember my own experiences as a military family of relocating to a new area and anything that makes you feel welcome and settled more quickly is so important.”
Find out more.
Full list of all projects funded under the Serving Families: On the Move programme are available on the Trust’s website here.
The new 26 reg plate has arrived! Fancy owning one for less? Forces Cars Direct has you covered this March, including the Chery Tiggo 7, saving you £5,038 or the new Toyota C-HR+, with savings of £7,827.
With access to over 28 leading brands, exclusive new car discounts, mainland UK delivery and part exchange welcome, the Forces Cars Direct team is here and ready to help you make the right decision on your next car.
Find out more at: Military Car Sales | Forces Cars Discount | Veterans | Tax Free Cars - Forces Cars Direct
Click here Families First Issue 35 for the latest issue of the Families First newsletter, featuring the latest Defence housing news and updates, is now available. This issue and previous newsletters can be viewed online on the Defence Homes website.
The Forces Additional Needs and Disability Forum (FANDF) is a tri-service group for Serving personnel, reservists and their families who have a child or adult immediate family member with an additional need and/or disability. FANDF is a unique group as it is run by a committee of members whose vision is ‘to ensure that all Forces families with additional needs and disabilities receive the support they need’ and aims to be the voice of Forces families with additional needs and disabilities.
FANDF invites you to complete their short survey which explores your experiences of accessing health and wellbeing services while navigating life as a Forces family with additional needs and/or disabilities. This includes access to mental health support, CAMHS, and the continuity of care across postings.
Findings will be analysed and used to develop evidence‑based recommendations that will be shared with policymakers and relevant subject matter experts across defence, health, and local government to ensure a clear and accurate understanding of need is reflected in policy and deliverable services.
Thank you for taking the time to support this important work and drive positive change.
The deadline for responses is Friday 27 March.
Should you have any questions please don't hesitate to reach out at: CS.ANDA@ssafa-fhs.org.uk
Has your child entered the Month of the Military Child competition yet? It is a great time for young people to share a poem or piece of artwork! All participants receive a beautiful, personalised certificate and winners will have their work published and be invited for a special award ceremony in London!
Visit neversuchinnocence.com/month-of-the-military-child to learn more or enter the competition.
HQ Regional Command
Regional Command Non-UK Support - RC-Pers-NUKNSp-0Mailbox@mod.gov.uk
Changes to Entering the UK as a Dual British National
Please upload both images with: To find out more please visit https://www.motorfinity.uk/military-discount-cars/
Mobile Jobcentres
Jobseekers are to benefit from the roll-out of mobile jobs vans across Great Britain.
Following hugely successful pilots in the Scottish Highlands, North and Mid Wales and Greater Manchester, the number of Jobcentres on Wheels will provide enhanced support in six new areas, with a view to explore rolling out the scheme more extensively after testing its impact.
The vans will take jobcentre staff on the road to communities with some of the highest rates of unemployment where support is needed most. Vans will park up outside family hubs, leisure centres, supermarkets, local events and football matches to make taking that first step towards work as easy as possible.
Once on board, people can meet with one of the DWP’s experienced work coaches who will who offer expert support with job searching and training opportunities.
They can also provide information to those with health conditions or disabilities and for accessing childcare costs.
As well as existing customers, the service is open and accessible to all members of the public and forms part of the government’s wider plans to Get Britain Working, kickstart economic growth and give more opportunities for people to get on in their career.
Read the full press release
