Top stories

The Defence Green Paper

The Defence Green Paper, “Adaptability and Partnership: Issues for a Strategic Defence Review” (Cm 7794), was published on 3 February 2010.

The Green Paper is the first part of the process leading to a new Strategic Defence Review, which will decide the future shape and role of the Armed Forces.

For more information visit the MOD website. Read the Defence Green Paper.

Tickets now available for the Royal Tattoo at Windsor Castle in May

The Royal Tattoo is a tri-Service military, musical event which features the Army, Navy and RAF. The Tattoo will take place from 2030 – 2230 hrs on Wed 12, Thu 13, Fri 14 and Sat 15 May 2010.

500 free tickets for Service personnel will be made available for the Thu 13 May performances. Applications should be made to Annette Dando on 0207 414 2364.

500 free tickets for Wed 12 May for Service personnel are also being given away by the Telegraph. Applications should be made to the Tattoo box office, 0871 230 5570, quoting ‘TELEGRAPH’ and give their name, rank, number and unit. Tickets are allocated at a maximum of 2 per person on a first come first served basis.

Once all complimentary tickets have been allocated, active Service personnel can qualify for a 20% discount on tickets for Wed 12 and Thu 13 May performances. Applications should be made to the Tattoo box office, 0871 230 5570, quoting ‘TRISERVICE’.

Further details, including the programme, news, and show information can be found at: www.windsortattoo.com  

ABF the Soldiers' Charity

The Army Benevolent Fund is now known as ABF the Soldiers' Charity. The new identity took place on the 1st Feb along with a new logo. For more information about the charity visit www.soldierscharity.org  

 Wattisham SSAFA Forces Help Triathlon 2010

A unique sprint triathlon, to be held entirely at Wattisham Airfield using Station facilities on 24th April 2010 at 1pm.  Click here for details. 

Send a Valentine-Bluey

With Valentine's Day coming up why not send your loved one a special Valentine-Bluey this year. The BFPO website has a range of images you can use along with full instructions on how to create and send your Valentine-Bluey. For details visit www.bfpo.mod.uk  

Does your family fit the shape of a standard family ticket?

 Kids in Museums has launched the Flexible Family Ticket campaign to help families of all shapes and sizes to feel welcome in museums and galleries across Britain. This campaign is to highlight and address the standard family ticket for 2 adults and 2 children which doesn’t reflect the reality and diversity of modern family life in Britain. This often leads to families being made to feel unwelcome when visiting museums and galleries, perhaps particularly upsetting if the mum or dad is away on tour of duty. They're kicking off the campaign with the Family Ticket Watch and they want you to tell them:

• What has been your experience of a family ticket?
• Did it fit your family?
• What would you like a family ticket to be?

To make sure your views as a Forces family are represented visit their website - www.familyticketwatch.org.uk, or email – yourview@familyticketwatch.org.uk or Twitter – www.twitter.com/familyticket  

New Home Ownership Scheme Moves Armed Forces Up The Property Ladder

Members of the Armed Forces looking to buy their own home could benefit from a new home ownership scheme launched by the MOD and DCLG.

Under the pilot scheme, the Government will provide members of the Armed Forces with up to 50 per cent of a property’s value. Unlike similar schemes, personnel will be allowed to purchase properties anywhere in England through a single service provider, in order to meet the needs of the Armed Forces’ mobile workforce.

In addition, applicants can sub-let their properties and will not normally pay any fees on the equity while they remain serving members of the Armed Forces.

The scheme builds on the good work that the Government has already undertaken to ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not disadvantaged by the demands of service life.

Defence Minister, Kevan Jones said: “Getting a first foot on the property ladder is an important step in any young person’s life. By providing the flexibility to live anywhere in England and giving applicants the opportunity to sub let when they are working away from home, we have delivered a scheme that is tailor-made to meet the unique needs of the Armed Forces. This is yet another example of the MOD working with other Government departments to ensure that service men and women get the best deal.”

The £20 million pilot will initially run until Spring 2013 and will be funded by the MOD and managed and delivered by the Homes and Communities Agency.

Junior Housing Minister, Ian Austin said: “We want to help our servicemen and women buy a home of their own that meets the needs of their unique situation. This new scheme, exclusively for the Armed Forces, will give them the chance to buy an affordable home on the open market anywhere across England. On top of this, service personnel will also continue to have priority status and be able to apply for other affordable housing schemes."

Regular members of the Armed Forces who have served between four to six years and could not otherwise afford to get their foot on the ladder will be eligible to apply.

Lindsay Todd, Chief Executive of Radian said: "We are delighted to be working with the Ministry of Defence to deliver this exciting new scheme. We have a strong track record in providing affordable homes, and a great deal of experience in successfully delivering Low Cost Home Ownership schemes to key workers, including Armed Forces personnel and others. We look forward to working with the Ministry of Defence to help even more members of the forces to buy their first home."

Swaythling Housing Society has set up a new website for the scheme at www.afhos.co.uk which includes further information and details of how to apply.

Back to top