COVID-19 update

We are living through exceptional times, thanks (actually, no thanks!) to the current coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic. We’ve created this page to help keep you abreast of what’s going on in terms of the Armed Forces’ involvement in crisis response operations, distance learning opportunities that can help you get through this without sacrificing your best-laid training plans, and any other information we feel is relevant to Quest readers. We hope you find it useful.

Reducing the cost of IT and cyber training for Service leavers and veterans

ELCAS Approved Provider BluescreenIT has launched its new BIT ELCAS Plus programme to enable Service leavers and MoD veterans to increase their learning weeks beyond their ELC resettlement credit limits…Read More

Double celebration for husband and wife online MBA graduates

Terez Rijkenberg and her husband Paul were always interested in completing an MBA, but time pressures of work and the costs associated with studying meant that a flexible and affordable structure was key. Fortunately, the online MBA at Edinburgh Business School provided the solution they’d been seeking.…Read More

Amey partners with OU to help disabled veterans

Amey is proud to have further strengthened links with the Armed Forces by partnering with the Open University (OU) to support its Disabled Veterans’ Scholarship Fund (DVSF). The scheme provides education and specialist tailored support to disabled individuals injured in or due to military service, and helps them to forge new careers in the civilian world.…Read More

MoD team to tackle COVID-19 scams and fake news

Amid the current coronavirus crisis, the government is working to combat the spread of misinformation, with the MOD sending a team to the Cabinet Office to help prevent the circulation of misinformation related to the pandemic…Read More

Team BRIT calls on motorsport industry to support disaster response charity

An all-disabled racing team has pledged its support for a major disaster response charity and is calling on the motorsport industry to do the same …Read More

Defence firm Babcock to make 10,000 ventilators

Defence firm Babcock International has said it will be manufacturing 10,000 ventilators to help deal with the coronavirus crisis.…Read More

Get creative at home with SSAFA’s VE Day 75 art competition

SSAFA is running an art competition that encourages the public to celebrate the 75th anniversary of VE Day in their own style …Read More

Financial support for military-owned smaller businesses

A partnership between X-Forces Enterprise (XFE), X-Emergency Services (XES) and AskIf is to provide a new coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), offering access to financial support for businesses needing to stabilise their operations..Read More

‘Being socially distanced does not mean that you are on your own

As the UK’s oldest, national, tri-service charity, we at SSAFA are no strangers to adapting to change. Having existed through six monarchies to date, weathered two world wars and countless conflicts, COVID-19 is just one more chapter in a legacy of resilience. The need to adapt swiftly is now more important than ever – as we know that vulnerable members of the military community need us....Read More

Easter cheer delivered to residents in SSAFA homes

Thorntons will be delivering Easter eggs to put a smile on the faces of residents and staff at SSAFA’s Royal Homes in Wimbledon and Fisher House in Birmingham...Read More

VE Day 75 concert at Royal Albert Hall and cinemas nationwide rescheduled

SSAFA, the UK’s oldest national tri-service military charity, has announced that its celebratory concert, VE Day 75 With The Daily Mail, has been rescheduled for 20 September...Read More

#VeteransListenIn – remote therapy service counters crisis of self-isolation

Self-isolation is causing a crisis among veterans who need therapy to resolve military trauma...Read More

How are BFPO services affected?

Due to the outbreak of coronavirus affecting many parts of the world, the British Forces Post Office (BFPO) has implemented a number of changes across its global mail network, which will be in effect for several weeks...Read More

Military sets up helicopter task force to support NHS

RAF helicopters have been put on standby as part of a UK-wide coronavirus aviation task force to help support our NHS. As well as helping with the movement of personnel and equipment, the task force will respond to requests for medical assistance....Read More

NHS Nightingale set to receive first patients

Armed Forces personnel have been instrumental in the conversion of the ExCel Centre in London to a temporary field hospital, ready to receive the expected large numbers of coronavirus patients....Read More

Accident Free, Avoid A&E

A new campaign aimed at keeping people accident and injury free, and out of hospital, has been launched to help ease pressure on the country’s frontline health workers during the coronavirus outbreak...Read More

Call for veterans to join Op RE:ACT relief efforts

International disaster response organisation Team Rubicon is calling on military veterans to volunteer in the fight against coronavirus. It is currently working with the government to mobilise thousands of former Service personnel..Read More

UK’s urgent quest for workers

From farms to supermarkets, here’s a brief rundown of the sectors seeking to hire more staff to meet rising demand for certain products and services during the coronavirus crisis …...Read More

Blackpool Armed Forces Week cancelled

Blackpool’s annual celebration of Britain’s Armed Forces has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic....Read More

How BFBS is supporting the Armed Forces and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic

Military charity and media organisation BFBS will continue to try to maintain delivery of its services to entertain, inform, connect and champion the UK Armed Forces for as long as possible during the current coronavirus crisis. …Read More

Britain could see biggest mobilisation of Army since Iraq War

Military units are looking at what contribution they could make during the current coronavirus crisis, with more than 20,000 Service men and women on standby, writes Deborah Haynes, Sky News foreign affairs editor …Read More

Military stands up COVID Support Force

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has announced new measures to put Service personnel and reservists on standby to support public services in response to the COVID-19 outbreak …Read More

Army to turn ExCel Centre into new hospital with space for 4,000 coronavirus patients

East London’s ExCel Centre (pictured above) will become a 4,000-bed field hospital in a bid to deal with the current coronavirus crisis..Read More

Birmingham NEC and stadiums being considered as massive temporary hospital locations

Birmingham conference centre, the NEC (pictured above), could soon follow in the footsteps of London’s ExCel Centre in being turned into an emergency field hospital to cope with casualties of the current COVID-19 outbreak..Read More

Studying for a PT qualification throughout the COVID-19 outbreak

Study Active’s James Luscombe shares his latest blog post with Quest readers …
With the COVID-19 outbreak, the country is facing one of its most difficult periods since the Second World War. Many of us now find ourselves having to stay at home and walk away from our usual daily routines. This is particularly frustrating to fitness enthusiasts, who are used to being active all the time. Read More

Study Active to continue to offer ELCAS-funded personal trainer courses throughout COVID-19 outbreak

Despite all that’s going on, you can still study online and stay on course to qualified personal trainer status thanks to Study Active’s innovative approach … Read More

In lockdown and thinking of a career in health and safety?

NEBOSH has launched a new health and safety career guide. Download it free of charge for valuable advice from 24 of the world’s leading health and safety thought leaders … Read More

Distance learning’s time has come!

If you’re among the thousands of people ‘confined to barracks’ by COVID-19, don’t let it knock your plans off course. Thanks to distance learning, even if you’re in isolation or quarantine, you don’t have to abandon your studies. In fact, the enforced restrictions could offer the perfect opportunity to focus on picking up new skills and qualifications – without distractions. … Read More

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