Station Facilities

Community and Support Facilities

The Station has a comprehensive range of facilities. If you have a view on how the Station could improve or increase the facilities available to Personnel and their families, contact the Community Development Worker on Ext 7068.

Community Support Centre

Located on Station in Building 539, to the rear of the Arena Club, the Community Support Centre was opened in July 2004 and houses a range of specialist services available to all Station personnel.

Station HIVE Information Centre

The HIVE Information Centre offers an extensive range of information on the local unit and civilian facilities, schools and further education, childcare, housing, healthcare facilities, employment and training opportunities, relocation and local interest and welfare referral support.

The following services are held in the Community Support Centre and appointments can be made through the HIVE:

* Solicitor Service: A free 45-minute consultation with a local solicitor is available to all Station personnel and dependants. The service is operated fortnightly.

* Child Support Agency: The CSA Forces Focal Point visits RAF Brize Norton monthly and appointments to discuss new and existing cases can be made through the HIVE.

* Citizens Advice Bureau Outreach Service: Available at the Community Support Centre on Tuesdays 1000-1300 hrs. A confidential, impartial, free and independent service is available during opening hours to assist with a wide range of queries or problems. Call in or ring for an appointment on 01993 708492. (Witney CAB Office)

SSAFA Forces Help

SSAFA Forces Help is located at 11, Ely Close, Carterton, OXON OX18 3UJ.

POC: Emmanuel Walcott & Fiona McClenaghan (01993 841497 or Mil 95461 7251)

Personal & Family Support Workers, Social Work Service RAF.

Service Community Support Officer (SCSO)

The SCSO is located within the Community Support Centre and provides welfare assistance and community support to Service personnel and their families. Additionally, the SCSO can act as an interface with both Defence Estates and Modern Housing Solutions when it is felt that a third party assistance may be of benefit. You may reach the SCSO on ext 5350 or 01993 895350.

Community Development Officer (CDO)

The CDO undertakes short, mid and long term planning, initiation, development and review of Community Support provision for the Station. This involves forging links and generating better communication between RAF Brize Norton and the local community, be it with school, youth, council or neighbourhood groups, whilst delivering real time community support as the chairperson of the Families Consultative Group and as a member of the Community Support Team.

Community Police Station

The Station has an MOD Unit Beat Officer who deals with policing matters concerning Service Personnel, their families and MOD employees in the Carterton Area. This officer works closely with both the RAF Police and Thames Valley Police and can be contacted on 01993 845448. For local non-emergency policing matters, Thames Valley Police can also be contacted on
0845 8 505 505.

The Families Centre

Situated at 10-18 Ely Close, opposite the NAAFI Car Park, the Families Centre contains the Families HIVE, Thrift Shop and SSAFA Offices.

Further information on the Hive and SSAFA can be found below the Community Support link at the left of this page.

Thrift Shop

The Station Thrift Shop is located in three flats above the Families HIVE and is staffed by volunteers. Only Service personnel, family members and MOD civilians may submit items for sale, although anyone from the the Station or local community may purchase items on selling days. Up to 20 items may be submitted per week to the Thrift Shop, which has the following opening hours:

Each week: Tuesday 0930-1200 hrs – Taking in goods

Thursday 0930-1200 hrs – Selling and paying out
Every month: First Wednesday 1800-1930 hrs – Selling only

Last Wednesday 1800-1900 hrs – Taking in only (max 10 items)

Citizens Advice Bureau Outreach Service

Available at the Families Centre in Ely Close on Thursday 0930-1230. A confidential, impartial, free and independent service is available during opening hours to assist with a wide range of queries or problems. Call in or ring for an appointment on 01993 708492. (Witney CAB Office)

Welfare Houses

RAF Brize Norton has eight welfare houses on Station. There are four three bedroom properties with six beds costing £25 per night and four two bedroom properties with three beds costing £20 per night. Each property is fully furnished including TV, DVD player, games console and all the kitchen appliances you need.

Work has recently been carried out on all of the properties and they have been fully refurbished with money donated by The Royal British Legion, RAF Benevolent Fund and RAFA. A refundable deposit of £50 is required to cover any damages.

All bookings can be made through MOSS on RAF Brize Norton Homepage or via the Community Support Team on 95461 Ext 7072 or Ext 5956 (01993 897072 or 895956).

The Millennium Activities Centre

The Millennium Activities Centre, or ‘MAC’ as it is known, is located next to ‘Jaggers’ and opposite the NAAFI on Stanmore Crescent. Built in 2001 with Millennium funding, it is a modern hall with full facilities including disabled access and toilets.

The primary aim of the centre is to provide a safe, well maintained and affordable venue for use by local Service and civilian community groups. The MAC currently provides facilities for the RAF Brize Norton Guides, Brownies and Rainbows, St John Ambulance and RAF Brize Norton Parent & Toddler Group. It is available to all Service personnel, RAF Brize Norton based MOD civilians, MOD contractors, dependants and also local civilians, subject to committee approval. Users are invited to make a modest contribution to the Development Fund. Please contact the committee Chairman with any enquiries on Ext 7886.

The Station Families’ Club

“Jaggers”: The Station Families’ Club is located off base, adjacent to the Millennium Centre in Stanmore Crescent. The Club offers a fully licensed bar with good prices and is open regular week night and weekend evenings as follows;

• Tuesday 1900-2230 hrs
• Friday 1800-2330 hrs
• Sunday 1300-1800 hrs

Regular entertainment is provided, from adult only events to children’s discos. Details of events are advertised by posters and flyers distributed throughout the Families Quarters and in Gateway Magazine. The facility is available for hire for private functions to all entitled personnel at very competitive rates. Please contact the Families Club on ext 7022 with any enquiries, or go to http://www.jaggersbar.com/

The SIF Minibus

The SIF Peugeot 17-seat diesel minibus is available for hire by all Station military and civilian/MOD personnel and dependants. Cost of hire at time of publication is £35 for 24 hrs or £25 for 12 hrs. The vehicle may be used for overseas travel and hire fees include fully comprehensive insurance and breakdown/recovery service. Please note that certain restrictions apply and that all drivers must be over 21 years old and hold D1. For further information and bookings contact SNCO IC Oxy Sup Sect Ext 7512 or 01993897512.

Car Hire

Car hire services are available from the following companies:

• Avis: Contact 01865 727631 from 0800-1800 Mon-Fri and 0800-1300 Sat.
• Brize Self Drive: Contact 01993 867366 or 07980 001421.
• Europe Car: Contact 01793 496351.
• Hertz: 01993 846190. Desk staffed Mon-Fri 0800-1230. All other times call 01865 856555.
• National: 01993 846118. Desk staffed from 0800-1800 Mon-Fri and 0800-1300 Sat.

Shopping, Postal and Internet facilities

Internet Terminals

Free Internet access is available on two terminals at the Station HIVE for welfare use, such as keeping in touch with friends and family stationed elsewhere, or for information searches.

Cash Machine

There are cash machines at all three banks in Carterton and at the petrol station just outside the main Station entrance.

Local Shopping Facilities

A reasonable range of shops are available in the adjacent town of Carterton. These include banks, chemists, supermarkets, sports goods, toys and clothing. Other towns within easy reach of the Station include Witney – 6 miles, Oxford – 17 miles and Swindon – 18 miles. There is a small open-air market in Witney on Thursdays and Saturdays. An open-air market is also held in Carterton town centre on Thursdays. Regular bus services operate to all these towns and further information on service routes and timings is available from HIVE.