www.royalnavy.mod.uk
JUNE 2014 FOR THE NAVAL & LOCAL COMMUNITY IN & AROUND HELENSBURGH
ASSAULT COURSE / LARGE INFLATABLE SLIDE / FIRE ENGINE + DEMONSTRATION / FARM ANIMALS WITH PONY RIDES / DJ WITH THE LATEST SOUNDS / CAR BOOT SALE / BEAT THE GOALIE / FARM SHOP / MARGARET ROSE SCHOOL OF DANCE / MILITARY WIVES CHOIR / THE FAMOUS BABCOCK BBQ / COCONUT SHY / DONNA’S DAZZLERS / FUN FAMILY SPORTSDAY INCLUDING, EGG AND SPOON RACE, THREE LEGGED RACE, WHEELBARROW RACE / ACTIVITY STALLS INCLUDING FACEPAINTING, TATTOOS, TOMBOLA, HOOK-A-DUCK, HOME BAKING, PICK A BOTTLE, TOY STALL, SWEETIE STALL, HIGHER/LOWER CARD GAME, HUMAN FRUIT MACHINE, ROLL A TENPENCE AND LOTS LOTS MORE
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Following the successful launch of the innovative Joining Forces mental health awareness app for serving military personnel, a similar app is now also available for veterans. The Veterans Mental Heath app includes help and guidance on key mental conditions, much like the Joining Forces app. It also features videos of veterans telling their own stories. One veteran who has used the app said: "It really helped me to know I am not alone." Launched in mid May during Mental Health Awareness Week, there is no better time for armed forces personnel and veterans to download the apps for free on Apple or Android devices to receive guidance and identify with those in similar situations. The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing access to mental health services to members of the armed forces, their families and veterans. This includes access to the Combat Stress 24-hour helpline (0800 138 1619), e-learning packages for GPs, and the Big White Wall (www.bigwhitewall.com), an online service providing help 24/7.
111 is the new, free telephone number for contacting NHS 24 from 29 April 2014. You will no longer be charged for calling NHS 24 from a landline or mobile.
Community News
Since December 2013, the MOD is encouraging all tenderers bidding for MOD contracts to support the employment of the spouses and partners of Service personnel. This is a good news story; it means that MOD Invitations to Tender will include a section that encourages supporting the employment of partners of serving personnel. This addition is outside of the tender evaluation itself, it is non contractual, but it encourages those bidding for MOD contracts to consider how they can support spouse employment. Other personnel objectives the MOD are encouraging bidders to consider include:
· · · · ·
Employment of Service leavers Employment of wounded, injured or sick Veterans Helping local Cadet units Supporting Reservist employees Encouraging Reserve Service
The NFF will be monitoring the progress of this initiative.
Every Tues – Brew @ Rhu meet from 1-3 pm at The Cornerhouse for tea, biscuits and a chat. £1 per adult, 50p per child. Every Thurs – Breakfast Brew @ Rhu meet from 0930-1200 at The Cornerhouse for Bacon and Egg rolls, tea and a chat. £2 per adult, 50p per child. Why not try our new – Stitch and Blether, a friendly craft session over a cup of tea. Ring for details. For more information about The Cornerhouse contact Sophia McArdle at the Families Centre. 01436 675496
Community News
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The new responsive/ enhanced RN website went live on Wednesday evening, the site we have built is designed to deliver on the Royal Navy’s need to influence, recruit and retain our personnel by meeting their needs online to be informed, inspired and connected. There is more work to do and we will be listening to feedback, improving and refining what we do in the digital space at every stage. It will work on your mobile devices; your smartphone, your tablets, and your desktop computers at home. The new site has a distinctly different look and feel to the previous version, that reflects the need to reach out to our supporting audiences on the digital devices that they use all the time – the growth of use of smartphones is commonly reported in the media. This does however mean that there will be some limitations in how it appears to the internal user accessing through the DII system; however this will be compensated by the massive improvement in viewing through an individual’s mobile or personal devices. Why did we make this move? Some broad figures from the industry – 189 million people use facebook solely on mobile devices; 80% of twitter users in the UK are mobile based. We are always looking to push out our messages and engage our audiences; and the best way to do that is on a site that can shift and flex according to user need and their access device. The newly invigorated website will give you and the wider public a much more vibrant understanding of the Royal Navy.
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Community News
UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS 2014 ·
Friday 6 June—Ben Nevis Fundraiser
For further info or to sign up contact Jan McKerrow on 01436 672537 or Sophia McArdle on 01436 675496
Kicking off festivities will be an impressive parade of tri-Service personnel, supported by bands, marching from ancient Stirling Castle, making its way through the streets of the city down to the events field below the Castle. Joining the colourful parade will be veterans of all ages, association Standards, and members of the Cadet Forces from across the United Kingdom.
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Saturday 21 June, Fair in the Square 11 – 3pm Churchill Sq. Helensburgh
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Wednesday 25 June, Astute Families Trip to Edinburgh Zoo
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Saturday 28 June, Armed Forces Day—Stirling See details on the left of this page
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Thursday 10 July FAFDU Day Trip to Safari Park. List for the Bus is in the Families Centre Churchill Square 01436 675496 / 01436 679526 £10 per adult—Children Free
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Thursday 24 July Astute Families Theatre Trip
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Sunday 31 August Astute Families Day Trip to Heads of Ayr Farm Park.
Further details from Sophia, Community Development Worker on 01436 675496
Visitors can view the live and static displays, including aircraft on site, Military Working Dogs demonstrations, Royal Navy, Army, RAF marquees and a veterans village, and a model of super-carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, the brand new Royal Navy ship soon to be official named by HM The Queen at Rosyth.
Please monitor the Community Section of the Royal Navy Website to check for Team Around the Ship Events which will be updated regularly.
As well as the ground displays, visitors will be treated to parachute drops from the Red Devils – the Parachute Regiment Display Team and the RAF Falcons. Drawing a close to the memorable day will be an impressive flypast of current and historic aircraft in the skies above Stirling.
The date of the next Base Welcome and Tour of the Base is soon to be announced.
Stirling City Centre will be buzzing with family fun on Saturday 28 June with open air performances from musicians, comedians and entertainers throughout the afternoon and early evening, as well as a wide range of later music events in the City's many bars and cafes, to round off a jam packed day.
This is your opportunity to get a Base Pass and enjoy a windscreen tour of the facilities available on the Base For further info or to book a place, please contact Sophia McArdle on 01436 675496
Community News
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Our Mission
‘To provide accessible support services that strengthen and enhance the resilience and resourcefulness of Naval Service personnel, their families and communities in order to contribute to the Moral Component and optimise Operational Capability.’ After a comprehensive review over the past two years of the way the Navy delivers welfare and other services the new RN/RM Welfare Organisation came into force on 3rd March 2014. Major staff restructuring and a flattened management chain gives us better national coverage and a greater ability to focus our resources where and when they are needed. We now have a single point of contact called the RN/RM Portal which will mean one telephone number and one email address to gain access to our trained welfare staff The contact details for the RNRM Portal are:
RN/RM Welfare Portal Team, Swiftsure Block HMS NELSON, Portsmouth, PO1 3HH Tel: (Mil): 9380 28777 (Civ): 0044 (0)2392 728777 Fax: (Mil): 9380 25082 (Civ): 0044 (0)2392 725082 DII: NAVY PERS-welfare (MULTIUSER)
The 1% pay increase has been in place since April; how it is affecting you? Is your grocery basket a little heavier these days or are you struggling to fill it? We are seeing the Armed Forces Pay Review Body in October and would like to take your feedback forward. E-mail:
[email protected]
Child Rescue Alert has been launched to alert the public, as quickly as possible, if a child disappears and is thought to be in serious danger. If you register you will receive an alert, by text message or email, to tell you that a child is in danger in your local area. Child Rescue Alert can be used by the police if all the following apply · a child under 18 years old is missing
·
the child is thought to be in danger of serious harm or death
·
there is enough information to enable the public to help police to find the child.
Alerts are likely to be used on very few occasions. It is expected that there will be about 6 each year and most will only be issued locally. So, if you register, you are likely to receive very few. You can find more information, and you can register for alerts, on the Child Rescue Alert website at www.childrescuealert.org.uk.
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Some lucky Astute ladies enjoyed a luxury break in May as part of a Team around the Ship Event. Their morning started with a lovely breakfast at Braeholm where the food was first class as usual. It was then on to the Spa at the Loch Lomond Golf Club. Nestled in the historic walled garden, it’s claimed that the Spa at Loch Lomond provides a rare sense of leaving one world and entering another. Sophia McArdle (RNRM Welfare Community Development Worker) who organised the event said, “Everyone enjoyed their day of relaxation, the staff, as always, went the extra mile to ensure everyone had an extra special day.
As the pictures clearly show, everyone had an amazing day at the Cruin on Loch Lomond in mid May. A fantastic dinner and singalong with Wayne the Vocalist ( what a job he done keeping everybody amused). Big thanks to Lainey Forbes for painting so many faces, always a big hit with the kids, and some of the adults. Again, Sophia McArdle (RNRM Welfare CDW and Team around the Ship organiser) would like to thank all the staff at the Cruin for their support and efforts during deployment.
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Community News
Community News
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“The 8th May saw the biggest Scottish Children’s Charity, Children’s 1st, visit the Neptune Special Needs Support Group. The charity has recently created two positions working from the Victoria Infirmary in partnership with the NHS. Fiona Punter and Regan Johnson, from Children’s 1st, spoke to the group about what services they offer and how these could be accessed. All who attended found it particularly beneficial to learn about the new service and a few hoped they could access it in the future. Also, a number of the families will be taking advantage of the Calvert Trust’s fantastic Armed Forces families offer to visit one of their 3 Outdoors Adventure Centres. The Calvert Trust are offering short breaks during the year funded by the Armed Forces Covenant (LIBOR) Fund. The offer is open to Serving, Reserve and Veteran armed forces families with a disabled Service person, partner or child in the family, from any part of the UK, for any weekend in 2014. The break is available to people of all abilities, including: physical or learning disabilities, ADHD, autism and challenging behaviour, visual or hearing impairment and post-traumatic stress disorder. To find out more about this great opportunity visit: http://www.calvert-trust.org.uk/home/unite. The Neptune Special Needs Support Group meets every other Thursday at Colgrain Community House and has a Facebook Peer Support Group Forum for group members only. For more information contact either WO2 David Wynne email –
[email protected] or Mrs Wendy Quinn email –
[email protected].”
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Community News
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Churchill Square, (behind the Shop) HELENSBURGH, G84 9HL Tel: 01436 679526 / 678029
Iain Mackenzie RN Com. Dev. (Social Media)
Sophia McArdle Community Dev. Worker
Amy Boulton Family Support Worker
Marie Drummond Ricardo Keller Lorna Austin HIVE Information Com News Editor Family Support Worker Business Support Officer
DINKY DOLPHINS CRÈCHE Families Centre, Churchill Sq. Monday – Friday 9:15 – 11:14 Birth - 5 Years
Louise McSporran Family Support Worker
Faslane HIVE Information Office The Families Centre Churchill Square Helensburgh 01436 678029
Monday - Thursday Friday
0800—1530 0800 – 1300
The HIVE Information Service is an information network available to all members of the Service community - serving personnel both married and single, together with their families and dependants as well as civilians employed by the Services.
Places available Only £7 per session Further info from Lee / Nic 07748 398059
The HIVE Friday 5 is a one page weekly newsletter giving brief details of the latest 5 national threads of interest to the Royal Navy & Royal Marine community, plus local news to your unit. To sign up for the Faslane HIVE Friday 5, email the HIVE Officer, Lorna Austin, at:
navy pers-pfcs hive
[email protected].
Community News
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Free funtime sessions for children 0 - 5ears with songs rhymes and stories. The children benefit by learning whilst they have fun. Unlike toddlers’ groups and nurseries, the children’s families stay and join in structured activities with the children therefore this also benefits the family as a whole. (except school holidays )
We’re a friendly Group who meet up every Thursday & Friday between 09-15 and 11.15 in the Hall in the Families Centre behind the shop in Churchill Square. On Thursday we have Arts & Crafts for the under 5’s and on Fridays we enjoy Hot Rolls, a cuppa and a chat.
· · · ·
Trips organised Short Courses Fundraising Activities Friendly Atmosphere
New members are always welcome. First visit is free, thereafter just £1
No, not Gavin Hastins OBE but the world famous Baxterbear. Baxterbear has been the mascot of the Military Tournament , formerly known as the Royal Tournament since it started in 2010. He also likes to help out at other military events and has kindly agreed to come along and meet everyone at the Fair in the Square Event in Churchill Square on Saturday the 21st of June. He says he’s treekled to come along to support us when we show our support for Armed Forces Day so why not bring the kids along to meet him on the big day. Treekled means Baxterbear is positively happy.
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Community News
With a group of Trenchant personnel and their families coming to visit Faslane and Helensburgh in early June prior to their move up, it would be good to get some views from you folk living here as to what it’s like. My experience is that the vast majority who come to live North of the Border grow to like it, fairly quickly, especially in the summer. What do you think? Any other items or articles of interest for the next edition (July/August) of Community News would be much appreciated to the editor at
[email protected] by the closing date of Wednesday 18 June.
Community News
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Community News
Are you new to the area & feeling lonely? then come into ‘Cosy’ Coffeehouse in Churchill Square (next to the Shop) & meet new friends in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. All are very welcome. We’re open Monday to Friday (see notice board for times) We have delicious Tchibo Coffee or Hot Chocolate, still only £1 and a selection of cakes to choose from. Take away service is available. On Mondays we have a morning weigh-in for those trying to lose weight. Also on Mondays we meet in Cosy at 1pm before going for a one hour walk which is to help as part of our training to climb Ben Nevis in June 2014.
free wi-fi
The Climb Ben Nevis Challenge on 6th June is open to all military Community Groups so if you’re interested in taking part with us call into Cosy Coffeehouse and sign up or speak to Jan (01436 672537) or Sophia (07753 577731) for more information. Tuesdays are now “Bacon Butty Tuesday” with a special price of only £2 for a Butty and a hot or cold drink. Wednesday’s we have crochet classes with Sharon and new on a Thursday we have Decoupage (pasting, for example, paper cutouts to an object) Classes. Come and join the fun.
Mondays 13.00—15.00 Group / Arts and Crafts Wednesdays 09.30—12.30 Group / Tea, Coffee & Roll Fantastic bespoke garden and children’s play area. Further info from Marie / Louise / Amy on 01436 679526 The House is also the meeting place for the Neptune Special Needs Support Group. Further details from David Wynne on 07740 828629
Community News
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www.royalnavy.mod.uk Numbers which may come in Useful
B.A.S.I.C. (Court Martial Suite)
01436 679666
MoD Police - Churchill Office
01436 678046
Braeholm
01436 671880
Naval Families Federation
02392 654374
Council Offices - Helensburgh
01436 658887
NHS 24
Freephone 111
Citizens Advice Bureau
01389 765345
RN RM Welfare
02392 728777
Defence Infrastructure - Allocations
0800 169 6322
Rape Crisis - for women
0800 121 4685
Defence Infrastructure Faults/Repairs 0800 328 6337
Rape Crisis - for men
0800 032 0399
Drumfork Club
01436 670910
Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley
0141 887 9111
Electrical Emergency
0845 2727 999
Royal Navy Police HQ
01436 673452
Families Centre, Churchill Square
01436 679526
Short Term Families Accommodation
01436 670910
FRANK - Drug related helpline
0800 77 66 00
SPVA - Veterans’ Welfare Service
0141 224 2709
Gas Emergency
0800 111 999
SSAFA Confidential Support Line
0800 731 4880
Helensburgh Library
01436 658833
SSAFA Office - Dumbarton
01389 730513
Helensburgh Police
101
Vale of Leven Hospital
01389 754121
HMNB Clyde
01436 674321
Veterans UK
0800 169 2277
Helensburgh Medical Centre
01436 672277 673366
Water Emergency
0845 601 8855
HIVE
01436 678029
Women’s Aid
01389 751036
* FUNCTION ROOMS AVAILABLE TO HIRE * PARTIES, CHARITY EVENTS, CHRISTENINGS GYM FACILITIES & MEMBERSHIP USER GROUP AVAILABILITY FUNCTION ROOM HIRE HALL HIRE BAR FACILITIES FOR FUNCTIONS BUFFET CATERING & DJ HIRE
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Britain's third £1 billion Astute Class nuclear submarine, Artful, was lowered into the water at Barrow-in-Furness on Saturday, 17 May. Moving the nuclear-powered attack submarine from the BAE Systems construction hall at Barrowin-Furness, in Cumbria, and into the water was a huge milestone in the Astute submarine programme. Weighing in at 7,400 tonnes and at 97 metres long, Artful is the third of 7 highly complex ASTUTE Class submarines being built for the Royal Navy. Two of the submarines, HMS Astute and HMS Ambush, have already been handed over to the Royal Navy, and construction of the remaining 5 continues. Now in the water, Artful will begin the next phase of her test and commissioning process ahead of sea trials next year.
Stuart Godden, Astute programme director for BAE Systems, said: "The launch of Artful is another significant step forward in the Astute programme. Witnessing a submarine move out of the hall and be readied for launch is truly inspiring and a source of great pride to all those who have played a part in getting Artful to this stage."
Community News
Community News
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Ar m BB ed F alo LAFD orces adv ng wi 01 in can r ec anc th t e o he t the pr eive an nlin ick o e ti ets f motio excl u cke or n t pu adm al bo sive 1 rch issi x. O 0% ase o n. n d s. Th entr y iscou eo t ffe o Ba nt wh r is e n ava nock n boo ilab bur k le u n L ed on i ntil ve, line 28 a va Jun lid — jus t e2 M 014 oD9 enter and 0 m the app ust b cod lies e p e onl rese y to nte d
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Community News
