WELFARE – HOUSING
Services Cotswold Centre ( SCC )
The Services Cotswold Centre ( SCC ) is a tri-service facility for entitled Service Personnel , MOD Civil Servants and family members . It provides short term housing for welfare purposes to members of the military community for a variety of reasons such as experiencing estrangement , needing accommodation between assignments or on leaving the Service , and it is also available for those who just need a short break in the country .
The SCC facility , provided by the Army Welfare Service , is set in 25 acres of countryside in Neston near Corsham , Wiltshire . SCC staff are supported by trained Army Welfare Workers who are able to advise and support on marital and personal welfare matters , and Community Development Workers are on hand to provide activities for resident children . Nursery , primary and secondary schools are nearby and storage facilities can be made available for personal effects .
Within the SCC estate there are 41 selfcontained chalet style homes and 19 singlestorey semi-detached units , all of which provide a refrigerator , freezer , cooker , microwave , TV , Free- Sat Box , crockery , cutlery , towels and bedding .
An information leaflet is available at www . gov . uk / government / publications / services-cotswoldcentre . Full details of eligibility and terms of SCC residency are provided in Defence Instruction Notice ( DIN ) 2019DIN01-159 which can be obtained from the local Unit Welfare Officer or from SCC .
Patch Watch
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 .
Insurance cover
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
• personal property and that of any spouse / Civil partner and child / children
• liability to third parties in respect to injury to them and damage to their property .
Standard home insurance policy may not cover all of this , and a specialist policy may be required .
24 SPRING 2021 the imjin