Breaking News
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Living Abroad? Advice on Credit Checks – Click here to read a helpful factsheet from the Service Families Task Force. New Homeport Out Now – The Autumn 2010 edition of Homeport is now avaliable. Highlights include developments in the Submarine Service and a letter from the Defence Minister outlining his commitment to supporting Service families. Click this link to view the magazine online. You can request a copy to be delivered to your door, free of charge, by filling in our online request form or by calling the office on: 023 9265 4374. Happy reading!
The Millies – The Sun Newspaper has launched its third annual military awards – the Millies. Prince Charles is the founder and patron of the awards which commemorate the hard work and dedication of our Armed Forces. There are ten awards, each covering a different aspect, including Best Unit, Lifesaver Award and True Grit. Last year’s Awards honoured many members of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, and recognition by the public of their work is as important as ever. For more information, and to nominate, visit the Sun’s website. Nominations close: 30 September. The star-studded ceremony will take place in the run-up to Christmas and be aired on prime-time television. Boarding School Bursaries- The Headmaster of the Royal Hospital School in Ipswich is hosting an informal get-together for prospective and current parents at the Marriot Hotel, Portsmouth, on Thursday 9 September. The event starts at 6.30pm. There will be a general introduction on boarding schools and the parents of current pupils will be in attendance to talk about their experiences. The session will address the generous bursaries and discounts available for entry to the school in September 2011 and beyond. Bursaries are available for both serving and retired Royal Naval and Royal Marine families though the school’s parent charity, Greenwich Hospital. This means that even those families who cannot claim for Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) can access a boarding school education for their children at a highly discounted rate. The Royal Hospital School is unique in this respect.
If you are considering boarding school for your children this may prove a useful forum. There is no need to book places in advance. For further information on the school please visit their website: www.royalhospitalschool.org or call: 01473 326 294.
Supporting Children and Families during Deployment - Mobility and deployment are fundamental aspects of Service life, which can bring about unique challenges for families. The Service Children's Education (SCE) organisation has put together a number of resources to support families during these times. The SCE provide guidance which draws on the experiences of service families and a wide range of support organisations. Visit their website to access helpful resources including a ‘Parent Deployment Booklet’ and a presentation on ‘Guidance on Homecoming’. To access these sources you must take a moment to register for an account.
NFF Message Boards Notification -
Hello everyone,
We hope you are all well.
It is with regret that we have to inform you that on 1 September 2010 the NFF message boards will be closing down until further notice.
As the business of the NFF continues to grow the monitoring of the message boards is becoming unmanageable. The NFF team monitor the boards throughout the workday as well as in the evenings and at weekends so that questions are answered promptly and to ensure that secure information is not leaked, or the boards misused. Due to the constant checking and time taken to supervise the boards the decision has been made to close them down.
The NFF would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who use the boards. We understand that a mutually supportive network has developed and would like to direct you all to our Facebook page to continue your communication (www.facebook.com - search Naval Families Federation).
We wish you all the very best in your endeavours and hope to hear from you via the contact form on our website, or telephone (023 9265 4374), should you have any queries or issues with which we can assist.
Kindest regards,
Kim, Jackie, Jane, Emma, Sarah and Alison. The Big Brew Up is Back –  SSAFA Forces Help have launched their biggest fundraising event of the year – The Big Brew Up.
Between 4 – 10 October tea related events will be organised around the country and people will be getting together to raise funds for the forces charity. Last year there was a Big Brew Up held in nearly every British military base in the world, along with thousands of businesses and homes around the country, raising over £100,000. This year SSAFA celebrate their 125th birthday so the celebrations are going to be even bigger and better! The Big Brew Up is a great opportunity to raise funds whilst enjoying a good cuppa with friends, family or colleagues. SSAFA need you to put the kettle on and organise an event. There are loads of ideas to build your event around, from a "Big Breakfast" at work, to a "G&T" party with your friends. Visit their website for further details. Did you serve in Iraq between 2003 - 2009? The Iraq Inquiry will be holding an event in September to hear the views of military personnel (serving or retired, regular or reserve) who were deployed to Iraq between 2003 - 2009. The purpose of the event is to gain insights on how the campaign was conducted and the impact it had upon the lives of those deployed. Click here to read a letter from Sir John Chilcot, Chairman of the Iraq Inquiry. Dentistry Message from Second Sea Lord - The new Second Sea Lord, Vice Admiral Charles Montgomery CBE ADC, issued a message to Service personnel and their families regarding access to NHS dentists, in which he directs people to the NFF and our website. Click here for further details.
NFF in Navy News – The August edition of Navy News is now available and features the regular contribution from the NFF. Click here to read our article in the online magazine, or click on the Navy News button on the left hand side of our homepage which is updated monthly. Changes to Medal Eligibility – Council Tax Information - Council Tax can be a confusing subject for Serving personnel and their families. There are circumstances in which the standard rules do not apply to the Armed Forces community. The Serving person can be exempt from paying, or have to pay Contributions in Lieu of Council Tax (CILOCT). Here is a clear guide explaining when personnel can, and cannot, claim various council tax discounts such as the 50% second home discount, or single occupancy discount if the Service person is serving away from home. This document comes from the Parliament and Constitution Centre. Click here to visit our Money Section, and scroll to the bottom of the page to read about council tax discounts in Wales.
Royal Navy and Royal Marines families who are relocating to HMNB Clyde can claim a free 2 night stay at Braeholm in Helensburgh, Scotland. Click here for further details on the gesture by Royal Navy charity RSR. Heroes Concert - Robbie Williams will headline a huge concert at Twickenham Stadium on Sunday 12 September. The concert is in tribute to the UK Armed Forces and proceeds go to Help for Heroes. This is not only a fundraising concert, but a statement of appreciation from the UK ‘s entertainment community to our brave young service men and women. The guests of honour will include 150 injured service personnel and their carers who will receive free tickets as a small ‘thank you’ for the sacrifices they have made. Tri Service Fiji Support Network Launched -
It is the signpost for the Fijian community on policies, information and regulations that affect them as Foreign & Commonwealth (F&C) Servicemen. It is a social network for Fijian Servicemen and their families, providing a platform for communication within the community and offering advice on the way forward.
"The launch was a historic event in the sense it formalised the dream that some of us have in ensuring that Fijian Servicemen and their families are fully aware of what is made available to them and what is currently being planned for the future.”
The points of contact are: Major Maikali (Mike) Nawaqaliva RLC - Tel: 05241 732773 / e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Flight Lieutenant Toga Loco RAF - Tel: 01902 704636 – e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Changes to Rest and Recuperation (R&R) Policy -
Minister’s letter to the Families Federations - The Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, Andrew Robathan MP, has written to the three Families Federations. The letter comments on the Government’s commitment to supporting the Armed Forces and their families, and notes the Families Federations important contribution to this task. Click here to read the letter.
Changes to the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme -
The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) was recently reviewed by the former Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral the Lord Boyce. The Review found that whilst the scheme is fundamentally sound, there were several areas where recommendations were made for improvement.
The Spending Challenge - Following the Emergency Budget, Prime Minister David Cameron has launched the ‘Spending Challenge’, an engagement programme seeking ideas on how to save money and deliver more for less. The programme is open to all members of the public and is your chance to shape the way government works. The Government believes that the people who use our schools, hospitals, transport systems and other public services are the best people to comment on how to get more out of our services, while tackling the country’s record deficit. Your idea could be small-scale, but quick and easy to implement, or more radical, involving significant changes to the infrastructure. If you would like to submit an idea visit the Spending Challenge website which will run until the end of August.
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Relocating to HMNB Clyde?
