AFF Northern Ireland - Useful Information
On this page:
06 Feb - Tips on sourcing funding for play areas
Heating Oil - find out your usage
SFA Charges 2011
Citizens Advice Bureau extend service to help Forces personnel in Northern Ireland
SSAFA Driving Lessons Initiative
Repairs to SFAs
Housing Clinics
Condensation/Damp in SFA
Security advice for families in NI
Your Child's Education
SSAFA Community Volunteers
There's no time like the present to improve the future!
Royal mail deliveries
Tips on sourcing funding for play areas
AFF recognises that access to good play facilities for children is vital for their well-being (and your sanity). Liz Murray was disappointed when she found local play facilities in Larkhill were insufficient. She launched an excellent campaign to raise funds for a new play park. Liz has kindly given an overview as to how you can source funding for your play area.
So if play is central to patch life, why isn’t the provision any better?
- Financial constraints: In 2009, DIO/MHS’s budget from the MOD for new play parks was limited to £300,000 - for more than 400 play parks across the UK. To put this into context, a decent, well thought-out play park for 100 homes for a wide age range costs anything from £40,000 upwards although a project on the patch in Wimbish, Essex is aiming to raise £100,000 for 250 quarters and the Larkhill project raised more than £155,000..
- The budget for play spaces is now combined with that for housing upgrades and repairs. So if a piece of equipment breaks, such as a swing, the cost of a replacement part and the labour, this is considered against kitchen upgrades. MHS’ obligation is to keep play spaces safe, so where the cost is too great, this will and often results in equipment being removed. Over time his has left many of the 400 withering on the vine with little or no usable equipment.
- Local authorities do not consider play spaces within garrisons in their ‘scope’ despite all Service families paying CILOCT (Contribution In Lieu of Council Tax).
So what are the options?
- The easy answer is to lobby the MOD to prioritise more funding
- Ignore the issue
- Raise funds yourself
Remember that working with the council to buy the playpark equipment will save on all VAT costs.
Click here for a useful ten point plan.
Useful places to find funding:
- Local Parish or Town Council
- County Council (your local councillor can advise on who to talk to about possible sources of money)
- Organisations such as ‘Community First’ - there are many of these across the country - they have funds and funding advice for grassroots projects across the country.
- Garrison Welfare Funds
- Annington Homes (typically give a few hundred pounds but will give more if the project is significant)
- SSAFA Local Committee
- ABF The Soldiers’ Charity (they are keen to show support for the families of serving soldiers not just those who are injured)
- Armed Forces Covenant Scheme
Heating Oil - find out your usage
Do you know exactly how much your heating oil is costing you per day or per month?
If you would like to find out use the Heating Oil Calculator to work this out. If you need any help using this please contact Nickie Moreno on 02892 266875.
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SFA Charges 2011
We have worked out the average monthly charge of unfurnished SFA including the garage and CILOCT elements. Click here to download.
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Citizens Advice Bureau extend service to help Forces personnel in Northern Ireland
Serving and ex-service personnel and their families are to benefit from a new telephone service launched by the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB). The Royal British Legion and Royal Air Force benefits and money advice helpline will extend the service to people who do not live near one of the four specialist regional advisers in Northern Ireland.
A spokesperson for CAB said the dedicated advisers offered "free, independent and impartial support". "Advisers are familiar with the complexities of life in the armed forces and with the specific concerns of individuals and families with military connections," the spokesperson said. "The secure service seeks to maximise clients' incomes and resolve outstanding financial issues, with referrals made to other sources of assistance if necessary. “This could include support from service charities, which can provide opportunities such as welfare breaks, help with accommodation or grants." The RBL/RAFBF debt and benefit advice service can be contacted by telephone on 08452 66 66 96 or by emailing rbl.rafbf@citizensadvice.co.uk.
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SSAFA Driving Lessons Initiative
Are you thinking of learning to drive? SSAFA can help with the cost of driving lessons!
From June 2011, SSAFA are offering all spouses/partners of those serving with the Armed Forces in Northern Ireland the opportunity to learn to drive at a reduced cost.
SSAFA will fund 50% of the cost of 10 lessons with an approved driving instructor – the individual pays the balance.
To be eligible for this scheme, applicants must have:
- A provisional driving licence
- Have passed the Theory Test (at their own cost)
Further information can be obtained from your Unit Welfare Officer.
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Repairs to SFAs
To report a fault contact the Housing Repairs Helpdesk on 0800 030 4651.
0830 to 1600hrs Monday – Thursday
0830 to 1530hrs Friday
For out of hours emergency repairs contact:
Aldergrove – 028 944 55119
Ballykinlar – 028 446 10285
Holywood – 028 904 20163
Lisburn – 028 922 62133
Housing Clinics
Housing Officers hold weekly clinics where any issues regarding repairs, move in/move out and other housing related topics can be discussed.
You can find your Housing Officer at the following locations:
Holywood – every Wednesday 11.30am – 12.30pm in the HIVE
Ballykinlar – every Wednesday 10am - 10.30am in the Welfare Office.
Lisburn – every Tuesday 10.30am – 11.30am in the Community Centre
Condensation/Damp in SFA
We are aware that many families are experiencing high levels of condensation or damp within their SFA. AFF NI is currently working with families and DIO OPS Accommodation to ensure families are aware how to combat the problem.
For further advice on controlling condensation or on how to deal with mould, read page 29 of the Winter 2009 Journal or contact the Housing Repairs Helpdesk.
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Security advice for families in NI
AFF NI has asked the chain of command to provide regular security briefings for families on their arrival in the Province about the current security situation. Every family should now receive a security brief from their UWO upon arrival in NI. They will be given a form to sign to say they have received their brief and this form is used as confirmation by the pass office to enable a permanent dependants pass to be issued. Other security briefs are available from G2 who are responsible for intelligence and security matters at regular intervals in all stations. The Security advice for families in NI factsheet provides some background and will help families in NI understand what steps to take to make their lives as secure as possible.
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Your Child's Education
Do you live in NI and have a child in Primary 7? Would you like to send them to Grammar school?
The closing date for applications to sit the new Common Entrance Assessment has now passed. The Assessments will take place between 12th November 2011 and 3rd December 2011, and results will be sent to parents on 4th February 2012.
If you have recently moved to NI or are due to move to NI and would like your child to attend Grammar school please contact AFF Branch Office on 028 922 66875 for more information.
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SSAFA Community Volunteers
Being away from your family, and possibly away from home for the first time, can often be difficult. In such circumstances, SSAFA Community Volunteers may be able to help. Community Volunteers offer practical and emotional support to individuals and families during periods of difficulty such as isolation, and illness. Support may be provided in the following ways:
- Visiting isolated and lonely families when the spouse is away on duty
- Befriending those who need someone to listen, and putting them in touch with an appropriate agency, where necessary
- Supporting the bereaved
- Practical tasks such as transport to local hospitals, and other agencies as necessary
- Helping estranged families
- Advice and welcome to newly weds, who may be unfamiliar with service life
Volunteers are members of the local service community, including family members and service personnel, and may be either male or female. They are carefully selected, undertake mandatory training, and work to a clear code of confidentiality. If you would like to find out more about using the Community Volunteer Service, or becoming a volunteer, then please contact Margaret Dent on 07971 255079. Email: margaret.d@ssafa.org.uk
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There's no time like the present to improve the future!
Visit your local Army Learning Centre and check out the wide range of courses for dependants.
Courses range from FREE nationally recognised qualifications in Maths and English to IT qualifications for as little as £45.
Contact your local Army Learning Centre for details.
Aldergrove – 028 944 55241
Ballykinlar – 028 446 10472
Holywood – 028 904 20643
Lisburn – 028 922 66887
Royal mail deliveries
Service Families Accommodation (SFAs) on Thiepval Barracks, Lisburn will receive their mail by Royal Mail delivery through the door.
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