GO FOR GOLD
SSCE Cymru has launched Armed Forces Friendly Schools Cymru to recognise schools in Wales for their commitment to supporting service children and engaging with the armed forces community by achieving a bronze, silver or gold status.
Schools will be expected to identify service children and a key member of staff to become the Service Children School Champion, develop an understanding of service children’s needs by completing Continuing Professional Development and engage with SSCE Cymru and the armed forces community.
Regional School Liaison Officers will work closely with all schools to support them in achieving their status. Details of how to achieve each status can be found on sscecymru.co.uk
FOCUS ON CARERS
A new report from the Royal British Legion has revealed that urgent support is needed for carers in the armed forces community.
The study shows that 70 per cent of carers in the armed forces community say caring has negatively affected their mental health, with 50 per cent saying it has affected their physical health.
AFF was pleased to be given the opportunity to feed into this report to ensure that these families’ voices are heard.
The RBL is calling on the Government and the NHS to urgently provide more support – rbl.org.uk/carersreport
INFO… WHEREVER YOU ARE
Did you know you can tap into information from the chain of command covering deployment, resettlement and your local area at the Army HIVE? You can chat face-to-face through the network of HIVE Information Centres in the UK and overseas, or discover the HIVE blogs online.
Nikki Peterson, Head of Army HIVE, recently met with AFF’s Overseas Manager Esther Thomas to discuss the International HIVE (iHIVE), which provides information if you’re considering a posting abroad. Location guides are available to download at ihiveinfo.blogspot.com
“Recruitment is underway to appoint an individual to better assist those moving to or from overseas, and during their posting,” says Nikki.
BREAKFAST BANTER
If you, or anyone you know, are leaving the army soon, but would like to keep in touch with military life, why not join one of the Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Clubs which are springing up all around the country and overseas?
There are now more than 400 clubs in 15 countries, the majority of which welcome family members as well as veterans and serving soldiers. They provide an opportunity to meet and swap stories in a relaxed environment, and are a great way to combat loneliness.
To find your local club, search on afvbc.net