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This blog will be closing on 6th Oct 2025. To still view all the latest information from Sennelager HIVE (and other overseas HIVEs) please go to the: Army HIVE Overseas Info blog
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Thursday, December 5, 2024

Your Armed Forces Offer explained

The Defence Armed Forces Offer recognises the unique demands of Service life, and the vital work our people do to keep us safe at home and strong abroad.

​​Find out more about the range of benefits, opportunities, and support available to you: Discover My Benefits

Those with access to MODnet can also view the full article at: 





News from Winterberg - Could be good snow this weekend






The desire for snow and winter sports is growing week by week. And this news comes at just the right time: the weather services are predicting snowfall over the weekend. This week, the range of activities is growing slowly. But if the weather forecasts are correct, there could be a larger range of winter sports available for the first time on the third weekend of Advent.





A wintry white mountain world: This is what it will look like again this weekend, as shown in this archive photo. It is now becoming increasingly wintry and the range of winter sports on offer is growing.




Ski and snowboard

There are currently three lifts running in the Winterberg ski lift carousel. If possible, the Büre-Herrloh lift will create the connection between Poppenberg and Rauher Busch from Saturday. If the snowfall on Saturday is heavy enough, one or two more lifts could be added. The open slopes then promise good to very good winter sports conditions.

lift operation




Tobogganing /Sledging
The toboggan lift in the Ruhrquelle ski area is expected to be operational again from Saturday if possible and will then be open daily. If there is enough snowfall, a toboggan lift could be added on Saturday or Sunday at the Kappe and on the Astenstraße in the Winterberg ski lift carousel, one in the Neuastenberg ski village and possibly one in Olpe-Fahlenscheid. 

If the snowfall arrives in sufficient volume , tobogganing in the countryside will also be possible without a lift.

Tobogganing




Winter hiking
The weekend promises real snow experiences, albeit with unsettled weather. After a stormy Friday, the wind is easing. However, there is still a "decent breeze" blowing in the mountains. To warm up, we recommend visiting a hat. In Willingen, the walk up the mountain is particularly pleasant. There is a cable car for pedestrians. On the mountain peaks, it should also be possible to take a sledge with you on paths that are not pushed.

Winter hiking



Prospects
If the snowfall currently predicted for this weekend does happen, the first major winter sports offer of the new season could be available. 


Dec 2024 Event calendar
  • 14th or 21st Opening Party Ski Area Bödefeld Hunau
  • 12th, 20th 21st FIL Junior World Cup, LugeVeltins Ice Arena Winterberg
  • 12th & 30th: Torchlight hike from the valley station of the Ettelsberg cable car in Willingen
  • 31st: New Year's Eve floodlit skiing in Neuastenberg ski village




Please donate blood and save a life this Christmas!

 Facts and figures

  • 1 in 4 of us will need a blood transfusion in our lives yet only 3% of those eligible give blood.
  • In 2023, 1.44 million blood donations were made by 785,000 amazing individuals.
  • The NHS needs 140,000 new first-time donors this year.
  • Sickle cell is the UK's fastest-growing genetic disorder, and many patients require regular blood transfusions. For the best treatment, patients benefit from blood transfusions from donors of the same ethnicity.
  • To ensure the donor base reflects the diversity of patients, the NHS needs 12,000 new donors of Black heritage this year.
  • O negative is the universal blood type, crucial in emergencies or when a patient's blood type is unknown. Although only 8% of the population has O negative blood, it accounts for 15% of hospital orders.
  • There are 25 permanent blood donation centres across the country, with the most appointments for donors in Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield, and London.

Give the best gift this winter: give blood. You can register and book an appointment at blood.co.uk, by calling 0300 123 23 23 or on the NHS Give Blood app.​