Some Ideas for Visiting Germany's UNESCO Sites

The German National Tourist Board has shared handy information and ideas for which of Germany's 51 UNESCO sites are must see attractions in 2023.

Frühlingsfest 2023

The German word, “Frühlingsfest”, means “Spring festival”. An annual family-friendly celebration of the spring season, Frühlingsfest takes place in towns and cities all over Germany.

You will be able to find events in the towns and villages near Sennelager.
Below are some of the largest city fairs this spring.

Dippemess

Frankfurt's  spring festival "Dippemess" is one of the largest folk festivals in the Rhine region. You can find the main fair on the Festplatz Am Ratsweg . 

This year the fair opens between 31st Mar -24th Apr.

Month Of The Military Child

 

Learn More

UK Emergency Alerts Service Test

On Sunday 23 April 2023, there will be a national test of the UK Emergency Alerts service.

Med Centre Reduced Service 3rd - 6th Apr

Sennelager Medical Centre will be operating a reduced service from 3 to 6 Apr 23 due to staff availability.

Routine appointments will take place via telephone consultation initially, where follow up face to face care is required patients will be invited in. 

Urgent appointments are to be booked using the normal medical centre number on 2414, all urgent appointments will be triaged by the practice nurse. 

The dispensary will be open between 1030 and 1100 hrs and 1530 and 1600 hrs for the collection of acute and repeat medications. 

Normal service will resume from 11 Apr 23. 

Survivors Of Berevement Support

 

https://uksobs.org/​ 

We exist to meet the needs and overcome the isolation experienced by people over 18 who have been bereaved by suicide.

Bad Lippspringe Forest lights

Hundreds of LED lamps will transform the Bad Lippspringe garden show from 31st March to April 23rd.

Zoo Lights at Osnabrück Zoo

Look forward to long spring evenings at Osnabrück Zoo: on March 11th and 12th and from March 16th to April 10th, 2023 we invite our visitors to the evening zoo to our "Zoo-Lights" (ticket office closes / last entry 8 p.m.).

Raccoon, Bear, Otter and Wolf Invite You to the Table!

If you've always wanted to know whether otters smack their lips? What a wolf eats for breakfast? Whether the bear licks honey in the morning and whether the raccoon really washes its paws before it comes to eat.

The predator breakfast  at the Wisentgehege Springe is the place for you. A family ticket for 2 adults with 2 own children up to 14 years is €36.

This family freindly animal park is best known for it's Buffalo enclosure. They also play an important role supporting european wide conservation efforts.

From March 27th to April 11th we invite our hungry fur friends to the table at 10.15 a.m. on weekdays. The wild feast begins at the otter's enclosure. 

There the animal keepers Heike Brömer and Birgit Othmer welcome you to the delicious tour and not only provide visitors with culinary knowledge about the individual animal species.

The predator breakfast is included in the price of admission . 

Predator breakfast runs from 27.03.23 – 11.04.23 on weekdays

The bison enclosure is open daily from 9.00 a.m.
Last entry 5pm (March/April)

ASDIC - Association of Service Drop-In Centres

The Association of Service Drop-In Centres (ASDIC) represents and links veterans’ Drop-Ins across the country.  ​​

Sometimes called Hubs or Centres, Drop-Ins offer a variety of welfare and mental health support, together with comradeship and a sense of well-being, to the ex-military community and their families, and ASDIC helps them to enhance the service they can provide and make them more accessible.​

Click here to find your nearest drop-in centre

Cherry Blossom in Germany

A gift of 9000 trees after the reunification of Germany has grown into a annual celebration.

To celebrate the reunification Japanese television channel TV-Ashai raised enough money from viewers for 9,000 Cherry blossom trees. 

Most trees went to Berlin. But as you can see below there are many places to see the blossoms.

Make sure to keep an eye on the weather so that you can plan ahead and see the blossoms in each location at their best. 

Starting in Bonn here, are some ideas for where you can find the blossoms this year.

Recruit for Spouses Job Vacancy: Talent Acquisition Support Consultant – UK, Europe, Africa 100% Remote

RFS have a job opportunity with a fast-growing company – open to any applicants based in the UK, Europe & Africa and must be SC cleared or left HM Forces in the last 12 months. 

This company is working with a major multi-national Defence organisation and it's a permanent contract, 100% remote, full time (UK hours).

Talent Acquisition Support Consultant – UK, Europe, Africa 100% Remote – Permanent Contract - £21,000 to £23,000 – to deliver a 'rock star service' to candidates & hiring managers. For full details

Veterans UK - Armed Forces Compensation Scheme Online Claim

A new online Armed Forces compensation service has gone live. Veterans UK, part of Defence Business Services (DBS), has launched a new online claim service to help people to access injury and illness compensation more easily. 

Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS)

Separation and Divorce Guide for Military Personnel Spouses and Partners

 

Ending a marriage or long-term relationship is usually stressful and emotional and there are often added complexities to consider if part of the Armed Forces family. 

The department is committed to ensuring that spouses, partners and families of Military Personnel have access to the support they need throughout this journey.  Learn more.

Month of the Military Child - Creative Competition

 

New Documentary Hearts and Minds: A Very British Tactic Now on Forces News YouTube

In this new documentary, Forces News takes an in-depth look at the unique tactic of 'Hearts and Minds', 20 years after it was used by the British Army during the Iraq War.

Returning Talent to the Workplace

 

Learn More

Free Residentials For Veterans 2023

 

Tots Of Fun Easter 2023

 

Ripple Pond - Latest Newsletter

Coronation Champions Awards Nominations Now Open

 

www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk​

MOD Domestic Abuse: Guidance and Support for the Armed Forces Community

 This Domestic Abuse site​ is for members of the armed forces community who are:

• ​male or female victims
• perpetrators looking to change their behaviour
• military or civilian practitioners
• chain of command
• concerned family and friends​

https://youtu.be/zt6cvtmy6pY

GMT Clock Change

 

Remember Time will be 2 am in Germany for the change 

Menden Spring 2023 - Medieval Market

A medieval market comlete with a cast of characters, Knights, Falcons and a fully working blacksmiths will be running on the 25th & 26th March. 

Venture out to Menden on the Saturday or Sunday. Free admission and lots of fun. 

• Sat: 11am-6pm
• Sun: 11am-6pm

58706 Menden - around the market square

Admission: free

Beginners German Course Apr 24th

 

Over £3.4 million Awarded to 38 Forces Projects

Over £3.4 million awarded to 38 Forces projects in the second round of the Reaching and Supporting Armed Forces Communities programme.

Families First Newsletter Nbr 4

DIO have published their Families First Newsletter - Issue 4
To read, please CLICK HERE.

​

Paderborn Easter Run 2023

Adults and children, runners, inliners and Nordic walkers start the Easter weekend in a sporty way when the Paderborn Easter Run takes place again. 

Further information and registration.

Little Troopers Ready to Celebrate the Month of the Military Child in April

 

Navigating Transitions With Military Families - Starting 25 April

Armed Forces families will face many times of transition throughout life. Change and uncertainty is something we can help you to navigate well.​

Find out more HERE​.

Trust Awards Almost £3M to 10 Transformational Projects

Positive change on the horizon as Trust awards almost £3M to 10 transformational projects

AWS Summer Residential 2023

 

13th -19th August 2023, book now. 

Spaces are limited. Cost €50 (Non refundable) per child ages 8 -16.

Contact RC-AWS-BFG-0mailbox@mod.gov.uk

Serve and Protect Credit Union - April 2023 Webinars

Serve and Protect CU have released their April dates for a series of online Financial, Wellbeing / Resilience events hosted on Eventbrite. 

These are on a first Served basis (numbers for each session are capped at 50). 

3rd April​


Credit and Borrowing
Improve your financial resilience with this Credit and Borrowing webinar.

Meet the Judges of the 2023 celebrating forces families awards — Celebrating Forces Families

New Little Troopers Saturday Morning Workshops

Little Troopers has announced new dates for its All Together online series of workshops. Over the next two months, the charity will be running free online sessions every second Saturday at 10am as part of its All Together deployment club to support military children from all three services.

Service Family Accommodation Newsletter

​​To read issue 3 of the Families First Newsletter, please CLICK HERE​.

Step Into Health - NHS as Your Next Career Path

Step Into Health is holding a ​​45 minute webinar for all members of the Armed Forces community including partners, spouses and first-degree adult family members who may be interested in a career in the NHS. The webinar is due to take place online on 28th March 2023 at 11:00hrs. Further information and registration can be found at the following link.

Step Into Health NHS webinar

Civilian Housing Briefs online April-July 2023

 

AWS Easter Half-Term Activities REGISTER NOW

Monday 3rd April - Thursday 6th April (9am-3pm)

AWS are organising Easter Half-Term Activities with

• Easter arts&crafts 
• Forest School and more 

Registration opensTODAY 16th March and closes Midday Monday 27th March 2023.Limited spaces available on first come first serve basis.Attendance fee is 40 euros per child (non-refundable). Payment needs to be made to secure a place.For ages 5 and above.    

Please email RC-AWS-BFG-0Mailbox@mod.gov.uk to book your child a place.

Families magazine March/April 2023

Please click here to read this issue online

 

Purple Pack Bereavement Guide For Families of Service Personnel

This extended Purple Pack provides guidance, information and support to those who have a lost a loved one whilst still in service.

​​CLICK HERE​ to read​

Self employment courses for th families of current SP and veterans

 

Visit the website

A range of courses designed to support different cohorts within the military community considering self-employment or business ownership.

• Self-Employment Awareness Workshop
• Start-Up Skills Workshop
• The Business and Enterprise Programme
• The Business Experience Programme

SFA Family Home Condition Assessment from DIO

While we continue to routinely collect information about the standard of Service Family Accommodation, it is important to us that we have the fullest possible picture of the condition of our Service family homes. This will help us to achieve maximum future investment in our SFA and ensure that spending can be targeted where most needed.

We would really welcome your view and experience of living in a Service family home. It is key to us gaining a more comprehensive understanding of our SFA. We would there appreciate if you would take the time to complete the following short survey - SFA family home condition assessment

Today Is The Day

It's never too late to quiet. From the moment you quit, your body starts to repair itself.

If you're trying to quit, you don't have to go it alone. If you do not feel able to quit right now, there are other steps you can take.

For ​information and support please click here

Inspirational Women in Defence - DDS - Nominations Open

 

Open to every woman who works in any area of defence - including those in the armed forces, reserve forces, MoD civil servants, cadet forces, NATO personnel serving in the UK and veterans - the award looks to mark the achievements of women who advocate for change and work to make the industry a better place for all.

Learn more here

Personal Assistant (PA) – Field Services, British Gas

Army FAMCAS 2023

Improving Life Skills in the UK Armed Forces Community

We are looking for volunteers to take part in an online anonymous survey.

We are seeking currently serving personnel and the spouses/partners of currently serving personnel (aged 18 and over) to take part in an online anonymous survey about Life Skills.

Have You Ever Served in the Womens Royal Army Corps (WRAC)

Mental Health Awareness Week 2023

It's two months today until the start of #MentalHealthAwaren​essWeek - when we all come together to talk about mental health, tackle stigma and create a world with good mental health for all. Find out more about the week and get involved.

ETS: Virtual Session:Discussing Doctrine: Information Advantage

When:  23rd March 1430-1600

Understanding doctrine is everyone’s business! Join Capt Kier Zhou for a discussion of this crucial and fascinating area of doctrine. All SP and CS welcome.