Royal Mail - reinventing stamps for future generations.

                                                       

Royal Mail stamps are changing, so what should you do with your old stamps?

We’re adding barcodes to all our regular ‘everyday’ stamps. These are the stamps that should be very familiar with you. They feature the profile of Her Majesty the Queen on a plain coloured background. The barcodes will enable exciting new services by connecting physical stamps to the digital world through the Royal Mail app which you can download here.

We’re giving you plenty of notice about this change and any non-barcoded stamps you have will still be valid until 31 July 2023. If you won’t be able to use all of your stamps by that date you can swap them out for new barcoded ones.

Special Stamps with pictures on and Christmas Stamps without a bar code will continue to be valid and don’t need to be swapped out.

For more information and how to ‘swap them out’ visit www.royalmail.com/sending/barcoded-stamps

DIO's Service Family Accommodation 'Families First' newsletter - issue 8.

                                          

To read DIO's Service Family Accommodation Newsletter: Families First - Issue 8, please CLICK HERE and click 'latest news for SFA residents'.

The Ripple Pond - latest newsletter.

 

Please click images to enlarge

Click here to visit The Ripple Pond website

Op RESTORE - The new name for the Veterans trauma network.

                                          

Op RESTORE is the new name for the Veterans Trauma Network.

CLICK HERE​ for full details

Update for Tax Free Childcare for Non-UK National Personnel and Families.

                             

For more information, visit the Defence Childcare portal ​(on MODnet), Discover My Benefits or dial in to one of the Wrap Around Childcare Webinars.

To view/listen to the update, please CLICK HERE

One month left to renew for more than 300,000 tax credits customers.

                                               

Tax credits customers have a month to renew their claim or risk having their payments stopped, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has warned.

The annual deadline is 31 July and more than 300,000 customers who received a renewal pack with a red line across the first page and the words 'reply now' still need to confirm their circumstances for the current tax year to continue receiving payments.​

Please visit this LINK for further information.

Looking for a new Career - Watch our Webinar

                                                 

To watch the Replay on Modnet click HERE

To watch the Replay on an external device click HERE

The presentation commences at 16 minutes, please fast forward.

Wraparound Childcare (WAC) - Last Monthly Q&A Session 12th July 2023 at 12.30pm

Want to know more about Wraparound Childcare?

Join the WAC team for a Q&A session.

Personnel and partners can join any session by using the link:​

12th July 2023 12:30 – 13:00​

Remember, you can find the WAC FAQs at Discover My Benefits: Army, RAF, Navy or Marines

Mission Motorsport's June newsletter.

 

Please click images to enlarge

To find out more about Mission Motorspot, click here

Veterans' Karting Championships - round 5 in Coventry Tue 4 Jul

                                                       

Please click image to enlarge

Open to all Veterans and the whole Armed Forces community, registration is free, quick and easy!

Click here to visit the website

ABF The Soldiers' Charity - Race The World challenge.

                                                     

July's race is just around the corner, but there's still time to sign up for this years virtual inter Army competition

1st Race: 3-9 July 2023
2nd Race: 23-29 October 2023
Choose one (or both) of the above races and sign up today for FREE here!

ABF The Soldiers Charity - For Soldiers, For Life

National Cyber Security Centre - Phishing: Spot and Report Scam Emails,, Texts, Websites and Calls.

                                          

'Phishing' is when criminals use scam emails, text messages or phone calls to trick their victims. The aim is often to make you visit a website, which may download a virus onto your computer, or steal bank details or other personal information.

This link explains how to report phishing attempts, and protect yourself from scammers - CLICK HERE​

Trains from Paderborn

For Route Maps 

Paderbron is not a major rail hub. There are two trains which connect with many useful points in the rail network. 

Trains to know from Paderborn 

RB11 - Dusseldorf (W) and Warburg (E) - Great for making ICE/IC connections or going on to Koln for Brussels  & Eurostar. 

NWB RB74 - Runs North to Bielefeld 

Regional Trains Route Map

ICE /IC Trains Route Map

How to Buy Your Own Home' Free Webinars - Sundays 2 Jul to 27 Aug

  Each Sunday from 2nd Jul to 27th Aug Join a military Mortgage advice webinar.

Forces Pension Society Brief (AFPS 75/05/15) - Online on 11 Jul 0930

This FPS brief will help you to better understand:

• The benefits of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme and what it means for you and your family
• The latest information on key pension policy issues including the AFPS15 remedy (McCloud)
• How to access information on pension entitlements
• Tips to enable you plan your financial future

To Join via Microsoft Teams:
​Click here to join the meeting
Meeting ID: 385 589 375 59
Passcode: ngZa6o
Download Teams| Join on the web

Holi Festival Germany

 HOLI Festival 

The Holi Festival events are back on in Germany this year. Our nearest events will be Dortmund (5th August) for Sennelager and the Messeglande Nordpark in Monchengladbach (29th July) for our MG families. 

Taking inspiration from the Indian Holi festival you can find the event across Germany and Europe this year.  

Use this link above to check locations and book tickets.

The Holi Festival of Colors is Germany's first and largest color festival. 

The interaction with the audience and the connection to Indian Holi make it a unique experience. 

The experience and professionalism of the organizers also ensure the best standards in terms of location, organization and security.

Wraparound Childcare (WAC) Next Q&A session 26th June

Want to know more about Wraparound Childcare?
Join the WAC team for a Q&A session.

Personnel and partners can join any session by using the links:


26th June 2023 10:30 – 11:00


Remember, you can find the WAC FAQs at Discover My Benefits: Army, RAF, Navy or Marines.

Gambling Related Harms Awareness Webinars by GamCare - free

 

Mission Motorsport: Best of British at Bicester Heritage 28 June

 

Tom Harrison House, Liverpool: Female Veterans Workshop on 28 Jun

Tom Harrison House is a Liverpool-based addiction recovery project for military veterans, reservists, emergency services personnel, and their families. The centre opened in June 2014 as a response to the fact that there was no military-specific addiction service in the country for veterans. 

Anchored in the principles of honour, hope and healing, an evidence based sensory and wellbeing model of care, support, therapy and education creates a highly effective restorative environment for beneficiaries.  

To view the Tom Harrison House information booklet, please click HERE 

Armed Forces Covenant Trust Fund Consultation

 

How to Handle the Green Bins in the Hot Weather

Now that Summer has started and the temperatures are getting hotter. ASP is asking customers to take a little extra care with the Green / Bio bins. 

Armed Forces Pay Review Body Would Like to Speak to You!

We are seeking 10 – 15 spouses of Sennelager Garrison based Military personnel to inform the Army Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB) visit about the issues that matter to them.

The body are independent and impartial, looking to gather evidence and information about serving Personnel and their families to support and influence their recommendations on future pay and charges.

Some of the topics will include spousal employment, X-Factor, lived experience, service pay.

It is a fantastic opportunity to be the voice of your community and help to enact change for our families.

The discussion will take place at Normandy Conference Centre at 1000 on Thursday 29^th June and will last for approximately 1 hour.

If you are interested in taking part in the focus group please complete the below registration form.

https://forms.office.com/e/JxZ1MCsXsM

Registration closes on Thursday 22^nd June.

All applicants will be contacted after the closing date to inform them if they have been selected.

Sauerland-Herbst International Brass Festival 2023

The Festival offers all variaties that brass music can offer. from a duo-concert of trombone and organ in a church to a full symphonic orchestra.

On July 29th the Whitburn Band who are ther Scottish Brass Band Champions and muiltiple participant of the European brass band championships.

The open-air-concert will take place at Freilichtbühne Herdringen in 59757 Arnsberg, just about 1 hour from sennelager.

Altonale Street Festival Hamburg

This Altona-based street festival combines theatre performances, arts, flea markets, live music and parties.

17 days a year, the district of Altona is transformed into a bustling culture hub. More than 200 music, theatre, dance, art, film and literature events make up the programme of altonale: the largest culture and street festival in Hamburg.

Food Music & International Entertainment in Scholss Neuhaus

 The international festival at Schloss Neuhaus is on the 18th June.

The event opens at 12pm and runs until 5pm. A special closing concert starts at 5pm.

Paderborn Sports Day 11th June

 

June 11th, 2023 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The castle park in Neuhaus Castle will be transformed into a sports club parade.

This is an excellent opportunity to meet many of the sports clubs in the paderborn region. Find out what they do and how children can join the clubs.

Paderborn sports clubs present themselves and their sports and invite you to join in and try them out.

Paderborn Free Swimming for Under 14's

Children can look forward to summer holidays with free admission to the Rolandsbad Paderborn and Waldbad Schloß Neuhaus.

All children who have not yet reached the age of 14 have free entry to the outdoor pool during the summer holidays. No application is necessary to use the offer. However, older children must carry proof of age, such as a student ID card, with them.

In general, children under the age of seven and those who cannot swim yet are only allowed to go to the pool with a paying adult.

The holiday campaign begins on the last day of school, June 21, and ends on Sunday, August 6, 2023.

The WAC Evaluation Survey is Live

 

To find out more about Wraparound Childcare you can go to: Discover my Benefits Army

Personnel and Service families can email the WAC team at PEOPLE-AFFS-WAC-FRO-mailbox@mod.gov.uk

Funding Available for Transformational Work with the Armed Forces Community

X-Forces Free Virtual Workshop

X-Forces Enterprise - Helping You Be The Best in Business

​

UK SFA Broadband Boost

Better broadband is on the way for military personnel and their families. Teams across Defence have already improved broadband speeds and reliability for Service Family Accommodation (SFA). 

Working hard with industry partners, they’re ensuring everyone has access to high quality broadband. 

How can SFAs report a slow download speed issue?
​
We’re still making improvements and need your help to deliver the best service. If you’re a resident in SFA and suffer from poor download speeds, we’d like to know.

 Please take a screenshot of your speedtest and let us know the time and day of the reading. Send this to ukstratcomdd-cis-fc-brdbnd@mod.gov.uk.

Become a Community Connection Champion

 #ConnectionMatters is the theme of this year's #LonelinessAwarenessWeek, and the wonderful groups and events that SSAFA's Community Connection Champions host are a chance to connect with others. 

Bowling, walking groups and art sessions - there's so much happening! 

If you are interested in becoming a Community Connection Champion, you can find out more here .

Mental Health Support for Men

​It’s #MensHealthWeek next week and 1 in 8 men has a common #mentalhealth problem such as #depression or #anxiety. @Togetherall and their partners @Movember share some interesting statistics.

​
✅ There is no waiting list to join

Togetherall and it is accessible 24/7.

✅ FREE to anyone in the UK Military,

Veterans & Family members aged 16+​

✅ Visit www.togetherall.com to join today.​

SchöneFerienTicket NRW 2023

Summer holidays are nearly here. From the 22nd June young people aged between 6- 20 can purchase the SchöneFerienTicket NRW ticket. It provides nearly two months unlimted local transport travel for €64.

Tickets can be purchased from Padersprinter ticket machines, direct from the busses and the paderborn travel centre. 

This promotion is aimed at younger people who want to make journies only in NRW during the summer. This is the difference from the €49 Deutschland ticket, which is valid across germany. 

More details here

"You will be Amazed! The Paderborn Sculptor Josef Rikus (1923-1989)"

On Sunday, June 11th,The City Museum and the Diocesan Museum invite you to visit the exhibition with free admission.

Armed Forces Continuous Attitude Survey 2023 Results

The Armed Forces Continuous Attitudes Survey (AFCAS) results for 2023 were published on 1 Jun 23.  To view the report please click HERE​.

Wraparound Childcare (WAC) Q&A sessions (UK)

Want to know more about Wraparound Childcare?

Every month you can join the WAC team for a Q&A session.

Personnel and partners can join any session by using the links:

26th June 2023 10:30 – 11:00

12th July 2023 12:30 – 13:00​

Remember, you can find the WAC FAQs at Discover My Benefits: Army, RAF, Navy or Marines

Togetherall: LGBTQ+ Pride Month – Military UK

Happy #PrideMonth. It's a time to celebrate and raise awareness of issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community. However, we know it's not always that simple for everyone.

Help into Employment for Service Personnel, Veterans and Families

If you’re looking for support with your CV, returning to work after a break or need advice on transferring skills and qualifications from the military, we can help!

New Policy & Guidance for Overseas Assignments: Assessment of Support Needs

Where Service/MOD Civilians and their families are considering an accompanied assignment/transfer overseas, the MOD needs to assess whether the services and support available/accessible in the overseas location can meet their individual needs. 

The purpose of this policy is to describe the framework under which those needs are assessed, how decisions on supportability should be made and to describe the key roles and responsibilities in the assessment and decision-making process.

 
To view the policy booklet, please click HERE​

Wraparound Childcare (WAC) Monthly Q&A sessions May, June & July 2023

Want to know more about Wraparound Childcare?
Join the WAC team for a Q&A session.

Personnel and partners can join any session by using the links:

18th May 2023 14:30 – 15:00

26th June 2023 10:30 – 11:00

12th July 2023 12:30 – 13:00​

Remember, you can find the WAC FAQs at Discover My Benefits: Army, RAF, Navy or Marines.