Forces' Action Latest News

Families’ Activity Breaks (FAB) is a non-public funded, tri-Service initiative in partnership with the Youth Hostel Association of England and Wales, providing fun and challenging activity holidays around the UK for bereaved Armed Forces families.

An Army officer who served in Iraq has published a book to support fathers and their children forced to spend long periods of time apart.

www.mydaddysgoingaway.com

Telecommunications company TKS, who provide phone and internet packages for the English-speaking community in Germany, have launched a raft of Surf’n’Talk services for British Forces based in the country.

www.tkscable.com

Winston’s Wish is the leading childhood bereavement charity and the largest provider of services to bereaved children, young people and their families in the UK.

www.winstonswish.org.uk

The Armed Forces Home Ownership Scheme is a pilot scheme designed to help you buy a home to suit your needs, with some extra help to top up your mortgage. The scheme is designed specifically to provide assistance for qualifying Service personnel, to purchase a home best suited to their needs, on the open market.

A leading UK-based psychologist is offering Forces personnel a Fear of Flying course free of charge.

If you are about to deploy to Afghanistan, make sure you sign up your partner or next of kin (mum, dad, brother or sister) as a guest user on ArmyNet.  They'll then have access to useful information with only a few clicks of the mouse.  Your loved ones will benefit enormously by being kept informed via this website.

www.armynet.mod.uk

Twenty-five percent discounted rail travel will be available to all British Armed Forces, wherever based, BFG personnel, dependents and other veterans from 1^st October.

The offer has been agreed between BFG and DB BAHN, the German rail network.  The 'BFG25' deal will run as a pilot scheme between 1^st October 2009 and 30^th September 2010.  It is open to all Service personnel wherever they are based, dependants, all BFG employees including DEL staff, and veterans, on production of a valid MOD 90, BFG issued ID card or BFG Installation Access Pass.

Full details of the offer are set out in the recently published DIN 2009DIN01-190, copies of which will be placed in HIVEs.

Are you understanding, flexible and tolerant? Do you have room in your home to care for children when their parents are unable to do so?
British Forces Social Work Service (BFSWS) currently need foster carers across BFG (British Forces Germany).

Foster carers provide stability, encouragement, support and a loving home to children who are temporarily unable to live with their own families.The majority of placements can last from an occasional overnight to several weeks, with very rare exceptions of several months. Carers are selected according to where they live, their availability and
their experience. If selected, the fostering assessment can take up to
six months before the family are approved.

Herford, Hameln, Hohne, Paderborn, Bielefeld, Fallingbostel and Gutersloh are key areas where volunteers are needed, especially those who feel that they could offer care to teenagers or children under five years of age.

If you feel you could be a foster carer, please contact Kate Heffernan
on (Germany) 05221-178366 or fsswp@ssafa.org.uk

You don't need to be married - just room in your life to help a vulnerable child or their family get through a crisis. Training and financial support is provided.

Britain's military servicemen and women are being offered special incentives to help them get to their feet on the property ladder.

Personnel employed by the Royal Navy, RAF or Army as well as anyone who served in Afghanistan or Iraq all qualify for Barratt Homes Armed Forces Discount Scheme.  Anyone set to retire from the forces this year will be eligible until the end of 2009.

They will be offered a £500 discount for every £25,000 or part thereof on the cost of the property they are buying.  For example, on a home costing £126,000 they would qualify for a reduction of £3,000.

http://www.barratthomes.co.uk/Offers/Armed-Forces-Discount/

The Victory Services Club is a Tri-Service, all ranks Members' Club for currently serving and retired members of the Armed Forces, ideally located at Marble Arch in the heart of London's West End.

Serving members of the Armed Forces can become members of the club; there are no subscription fees or annual charges.  And their partners can also join free of charge.

The VSC has recently undergone a multi-million pound overhaul and a new Centenary Wing boasts en suite rooms with triple glazing.  With over 190 rooms (nine of which are equipped for disabled guests), many providing wi-fi access and flat screen televisions, the hotel is open to members and offers competitive prices and discounts.  For example, in October if you book four nights accommodation (or more) you will receive one night's accommodation for free.

And as part of the club's support for British personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and to thank them for their commitment and bravery, the VSC offers substantial discounts to those returning on R&R or post-operational tour leave from those theatres.

For more information visit http://www.vsc.co.uk/