Invitation to attend Financial Literacy Focus Groups

Financial literacy is a key life skill and is critical to the development of our personal and collective resilience.  

The Financial Times charity FLIC is has funding to expand financial literacy into the Armed Forces and they are running 2 online focus groups in June and one face to face focus group in July (details below). 

 20-30 Service personnel and family members across a mix of ranks, ethnicity and gender are being sought for each focus group, to help FLIC understand the financial challenges that the Armed Forces face, and the information that would be useful.  

DIO Service Family Accommodation (SFA) Communications Update

Revised move-in and move-out specification

We are pleased to update Service Personnel and families that the specification to which homes are prepared for move-in has now been revised. This follows changes to the specification that we had to make last year.   

One of the commitments of the Consumer Charter to improve SFA announced in April 2025, is to provide a more robust move-in standard so that families can have confidence that the home they are moving into will be ready on time and will be clean and functional. These commitments support the new Defence Housing Strategy, that will be published later this year.   

The revised move-in and move-out specification, effective immediately, returns to the previous standard with additional specifications including:  

1. Hard flooring being used in downstairs areas instead of carpet when replacement is required.  
2. The use of white paint to decorate inside homes.  

Vinyl flooring being used in all bathrooms, WC, kitchens and utility rooms if floor tiles, or hard flooring are not already installed when replacement is required.    

What's on this weekend?

Heidefest  Paderborn / Stadtheide 20th - 22nd Jun 

Hopefully a weekend of calm, warm weather is on the way. So why not enjoy a free festival in Stadtheide on  Friday & Saturday and then a family focused Kinderfest on the Sunday.

Located in Stadtheide Festplatz there is no charge to join in and watch the bands or for the kids entertainment on Sunday. Location has no address but is listed as the Festplatz on Schwabenweg. Schwabenweg is about a 10 min drive or 25 mins on bus service Nbr 5.

Outdoor concerts in the Spa park at Bad Driburg 

The Counts Park in Bad Driburg offers Gardens to enjoy and free music concerts at the bandstand each day. You will hear classical to modern pop instrumental music. Entry to the park is 7 euro pp but the concerts are free to enjoy.

Besim Mazhiqi, Gräflicher Park Health & Balance Resort

Home to a Spa hotel and public gardens, the park is a 35 mins drive from Sennelager. 

Friedas Tea Party - Rietberg Gartenschau 19th -21st

A two day dance party with world class DJ's not far from Sennelager. Tickets are available for Friday night from 15 Euro pp (Age restriction is over 16 yrs.) Parking fee 8 Euro per car.   Drive time to the park is 29 mins. 

Dortmund Beer & Culturefest 19th - 21st Jun

100 Breweries present 300 Beers on Friedensplatz. A relaxed event where you can meet the people behind the beer. 

You can also purchase a Hop travel pass for the event. This will give you vouchers for sampling the beer and some themed gifts from the event.