'the imjin' magazine Autumn 2019 | Page 24

WELFARE – HOUSING Patch Watch The Best Policy Ensure you’re insured in your Service Family Accommodation We all know that we should have insurance to cover our home contents and personal possessions. But are you aware that you also need specialist cover for you and your family while living in Service Family Accommodation (SFA)? Service personnel are required to have specific insurance for ‘SFA/Licence to Occupy’ liability, which needs to cover: • • potential liability up to a maximum of £20,000, to cover any damages to the SFA caused by themselves or their family A special ‘WhatsApp’ group called Patch Watch has been launched for personnel and families living in the Churchdown and Innsworth SFA areas – to help warn of any suspicious activity or persons in the area. The Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) from the ARRC Support Battalion runs the WhatsApp group. If you wish to be added, send a text message to the RSM on 07824 509492. You will need to have the ‘WhatsApp’ app on your mobile. Royal Mail Keepsafe • • their personal property and that of any spouse/Civil partner and child/children • • their liability to third parties in respect to injury to them and damage to their property. All Service personnel living in SFA are strongly advised to have insurance for themselves and their families, for ‘SFA/Licence to Occupy’ liability, and for their home contents and personal possessions. A standard home insurance policy may not cover all of this, and a specialist policy may be required. The Services Insurance & Investment Advisory Panel (SIIAP) can help and assist with finding companies that provide insurance for Service personnel that includes ‘SFA/Licence to Occupy’ cover. Information and details can be found at their website www.siiap.org SFA occupants meeting Regular SFA occupants’ meetings are held to bring up various issues, ranging from security matters, maintenance problems, street lighting, the cleanliness of houses at move-in, to hedge/grass cutting around the estate. Please do come along to these meetings to raise your concerns, problems and issues – both positive and negative – about your SFA or the SFA areas – with representatives from the Station, DIO, Amey, and the local police. Meetings are advertised on the Welfare Facebook site – and via posters in unit departments If you cannot attend but have an issue that you wish brought up, please e-mail Sue Miles (Secretary) at [email protected] If you have a housing issue between meetings, contact the Housing Officer Paul Wheable at the Welfare Office on 01452 362554 (extension 4554), or via e-mail [email protected] 24 AUTUMN 2019 the imjin Are you concerned about post/mail piling up in your home, whilst you are away on holiday, or other long period? If so, the Royal Mail has a service that holds onto your post/mail for the period you are away. The Service is called ‘Keepsafe’. You can ask for your post to be kept from 17 days to 66 days, at a relevant cost. You can apply for the service online, by post, or by phone. Full details are on the website: www.royalmail.com/ personal/receiving-msil/ keepsafe