STATION WELFARE OFFICE CORE FUNCTIONS

Station Welfare Officer: 02894455213

Deputy Station Welfare Officer: 02894455091

Office Manager: 02894455585

The Station Welfare Office is normally the first point of contact for service personnel and their families when seeking advice on any welfare related matters. The Welfare staff can either seek to resolve the issue internally or signpost the customer to the relevant agency (Army Welfare Services (AWS), Padre, medical etc). The Welfare office is located in building 55, directly opposite the Station administration office and is open Mon-Fri 08:00hrs until 16:45hrs.

In addition to first line welfare support to service personnel and their families, the Station welfare office carries out numerous administrative functions in support of welfare as listed below:

Housing

The removal of Defence housing admin staff has led the Station welfare office to become more involved in housing matters, in particular the request to maintain a family’s address list, which, prior to its removal was a core function of the Station Housing Office. In addition, this office has seen a significant increase in disgruntled families with housing problems, an area in which we had very little contact with prior to DHE restructuring.

Housing applications

Application form’s to request Service Families Accommodation (SFA), MOD Form 1132 are now issued, checked and actioned by this office to the relevant agencies as required however,1132 forms are available on the MOD website.

Removals

Application forms for unaccompanied baggage/removals service or requests for storage are held in the welfare office, all forms are issued, checked and actioned by this office.

Community Support

The Station welfare office directly supports the majority of Welfare Facilities on Station, either through management, administrative or financial control.

ABC Nursery

The ABC Nursery is a pre school nursery and day care facility located in JHC FS Aldergrove. For information regarding child places, facilities and management please visit the ABC Nursery web site at http://www.abcnurseryaldergrove.com/

After Schools Club

The After Schools Club (ASC) is a Station facility, located in the Youth Club building (ALEX 2) and provides after school support from 1430hrs until 1700hrs with two members of staff and the cost for one session is £4 per child. The CDW is responsible for the management and control of this facility. For booking of places and information on fees please contact the Community Support Worker on 02894455450.

Bumps and Babes

Bumps and Babes is a self-run facility, by mums, for mums, located in the Community Centre Lounge every Wednesday between 09:30hrs and 11:30hrs. It caters for expectant mothers and babies up to 12 months old; its primary role is to give advice and support to expectant mothers and those with very young babies.

Community Centre

The Station Community Centre is located in Building 647 (behind the SPAR shop) within the building is BFBS radio, Community Lounge, Thrift shop and Station Hairdressers. The Community Lounge can be booked by all personnel on the station for children’s parties etc (at a cost of £5) and is used by station agencies for meetings and conferences. In addition the lounge is used for arrivals briefs for newly arrived families to Aldergrove.

Gazette

The Aldergrove Gazette is a monthly issue Station magazine that communicates information and events to everyone on the Station. Station units and departments can publish in the Gazette to inform personnel of important issues and events within their unit. The Gazette has a cut off date when the editor must receive entries on disk to ensure inclusion. The Gazette Editor is located above the learning support department and can be contacted on 02894455487. (Create shortcut to monthly gazette).

HIVE

The HIVE Information Centre offers an extensive range of information on relocation, the local unit and civilian facilities, places of interest, schools and further education, housing, healthcare facilities, employment and training opportunities. All of our staff are professionally trained to fulfill their role as HIVE Information Officers. For more information click on Hive

Hobbies

The Hobbies Building is located behind the Station gymnasium and provides suitable accommodation for those wishing to run a hobby. At present there is Judo, War games, Cycling, Live Music, Windsurfing and Fishing. Individuals who have the skills to run a hobby should contact the welfare officer, when a suitable room will be allocated.

Launderette

The Station launderette is located directly behind the Station Main Guard room and is open Mon – Fri 09:00hrs until 13:00hrs. The cost of washing is £4 per load. The launderette no longer has the facility to do dry-cleaning. The launderette can be contacted on 02894455013.

Jumping Jimmy’s

Jumping Jimmy’s is a toddlers support group located in the Youth Club building (ALEX 2), the group works on a parental help basis, with parents using the rooms provided to bring together their toddlers to interact and socialise. Childcare is a parental responsibility, the opening hours are Mon – Fri 09:30hrs until 11:30hrs and Wed 14:30hrs until 16:30hrs. The cost is 50p per person over 6 months old. For more information contact 02894453635.

Thrift Shop

The Thrift Shop is a place where you can bring your unwanted goods to be sold (less a 20% cost charge) rather than throwing them away. Located in the community centre and opened Mon and Thu 10:00hrs until 12:30hrs and Wed 18:00 until 19:30hrs. The thrift shop can be contacted on 02894455420.

Welfare Houses

The welfare office runs two contact/welfare houses located at 7 & 8 Spittalgate Square. These are two fully functional 2 and 3 bedroom houses that are used by service personnel for family and friends, unaccompanied parents for family access and allocation for welfare purposes. Booking, move in and move out is carried out by the welfare staff. Please read the terms and conditions of use regarding furnishing and booking (create link to terms and conditions page)

Youth Club

The Youth Club is located in ALEX 2 and is coordinated and controlled by the Army Welfare Services (AWS). The Youth Club caters for age groups 5 – 7 years (juniors), 8 – 11 years (inters) and 12 – 18 years (seniors). click here for information on timings, cost and facilities (create link to gazette page). The AWS coordinator can be contacted on 02894455450.

Miscellaneous

CRB Clearance

Applications for CRB clearance for all station personnel with working or voluntary access to minors are held in the welfare office, these forms are issued, checked and actioned by the office.

Bouncy Castle

The welfare office has a Bouncy Castle for hire at a cost of £20, however, it can be allowed out free of charge for charities or for individuals where there is need for payment free use. Hirers are responsible for the safety of users (as laid down in the rental instruction) and for the dry, clean and undamaged return of the equipment.