TAX FREE CHILDCARE
In April 2017 , HM Government started rollout of Tax-Free Childcare ( TFC ) across the UK ; the scheme was fully rolled out by the end of 2017 . TFC is a savings account which parents can use to pay for childcare . For every £ 8 parents pay in , HM Government adds another £ 2 . Parents can save up to £ 2,000 per year (£ 4,000 where children are registered as disabled ). To qualify for TFC , both parents have to be in paid employment , each working a minimum of 16 hours per week at the National Minimum / Living Wage ( approx . £ 130 per week ).
Sign-up to TFC across the Service community has been relatively low . This may be because parents are still making use of the Childcare Voucher scheme ( CVS ), which closed to new entrants in Oct 18 , or because parents are unsure whether they are eligible for TFC . Parents can check eligibility for TFC by visiting www . childcarechoices . gov . uk . A stepby-step guide can be found at www . childcarechoices . gov . uk / how-to-use-tax-free-childcare . Parents leaving the CVS to join TFC will not be able to re-join the CVS .
Eligible parents posted overseas can access TFC as long as they use MOD approved childcare providers . This includes childcare offered by MOD schools and nurseries , and Ofsted regulated and inspected childminders . Parents in non-MOD school areas can access TFC only when the provider is regulated , registered and inspected by the relevant host nation and both the parent and provider have access to a UK bank account .
The TFC DIN was updated in May 20 and can be accessed via defnet – 2020DIN01-054
Discounted tickets for local attractions available from the Welfare Office
The Welfare Office ’ s discounted ticket scheme for local attractions is still temporarily on hold , but is expected to be back again May-June 2021 . This will be advertised on The Imjin Station Community Facebook page as soon as tickets are available .
At the moment , all of the attractions are offering on-line content to keep families entertained until they are open to visitors again .
The live webcam at Slimbridge Wetland Centre looks out over the Rushy lake , filled with waders and waterbirds bit . ly / SlimCam
The zoo keepers at ‘ Noah ’ s Ark ’ in Bristol are posting videos from behind the scenes , including updates from their various animal enclosures facebook . com / noahsarkzoo
Meanwhile the sheep at Cattle Country Adventure Park have been given free-rein to enjoy the grass around the various children ’ s playgrounds facebook . com / CattleCountryAdventurePark
Bristol Zoo Clifton , BS8 3HA www . bristolzoo . org . uk
Noah ’ s Ark Zoo Farm Wraxall , Bristol , BS48 1PG www . noahsarkzoofarm . co . uk
All Things Wild near Evesham , WR11 7QZ www . allthingswild . co . uk
Cattle Country Adventure Park Berkeley , GL13 9EW www . cattlecountry . co . uk
WWT Slimbridge Slimbridge , GL2 7BT wwt . wwt . org . uk / wetlands-centres / slimbridge
Innsworth Station Welfare Office has discounted tickets for the above local attractions , at £ 10 family ticket and £ 2.50 individual . Tickets are booked and paid for in advance , through the Welfare Office . TICKETS CANNOT BE RESERVED OR BOOKED OVER THE TELEPHONE Booked tickets are collected from the Welfare Office ( Monday - Friday ), or Station Guardroom ( weekends and Stand Downs ), on the morning of your visit , and returned to the Guardroom that evening . Do check the attraction website , for their latest events , as well as for any additional event costs and other information .
For further information contact Welfare Office 01452 362550 ( extension 4550 ) or welfarearrc @ hotmail . co . uk
the imjin SPRING 2021
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