* A free online tracing service aims to repay thousands of bank customers who have money in unused accounts. Run by the banks, building societies and National Savings, the free service has already traced millions of pounds since it started in January 2008. Two of the biggest banks estimate that they still hold more than fifty million pounds in unclaimed balances which can be located through www.mylostaccount.org.uk

* The Sun Military Awards is a new event run by The Sun newspaper and the Ministry of Defence to recognise excellence in the service community. The ceremony will be televised in December and nominations for any of the twelve categories must be made by 22nd September 2008. Any individual, unit or organisation can be nominated by anyone for work done in the last year. More info here

* The MOD's GEMS Suggestion Scheme has been running since 1996 paying out cash prizes for the best ideas that save money, improve efficiency or even save lives. Last year GEMS saved the MOD around sixteen million pounds. Ideas and suggestions go to local awards groups in all parts of the services including operational areas.  More info here

* 2500 free holidays are being offered to service personnel through the official Forces Discount Scheme. Four day breaks at one of seven Pontins holiday centres are available through the Back in Britain offer at www.forcesdiscounts-mod.co.uk

* A fast track money advice service paid for by the Royal British Legion and the RAF Benevolent Fund is helping service personnel and veterans. In its first six months, the new service provided by Citizens Advice helped nearly seven hundred people and made estimated savings of around half a million pounds. It can be accessed directly through CAB or by a referral from either of the charities www.britishlegion.org.uk and www.raf-benfund.org.uk

* Service families are being asked for their views on school admissions in England. The consultation has three specific questions for service parents who can respond and comment on the Department for Education and Skills website click here by 2nd October 2008.

*The Royal British Legion is offering 300 free holidays this summer to children of service families. There’s more information on the free Poppy Breaks on the Legion website

* Advice on credit status, identity theft and links to the three main credit checking agencies are in the Service Community section of the MoD Website

* The new Service Complaints Commissioner is now online with independent advice and guidance at http://armedforcescomplaints.independent.gov.uk/

* Two new government backed house purchase schemes are now open to key workers including members of the armed forces. Full details of Own Home and My Choice Homebuy are on the Joint Service Housing Advice Office website here

* Under the Armed Forces Childcare Vouchers Scheme serving parents can convert up to £243 a month of their salary to vouchers that they can use to pay for registered childcare. They will not pay income tax or national insurance on the part of their salary taken as childcare vouchers. Application packs are available from www.modchildcare.co.uk.

* A new ex-service accommodation centre has been opened in Aldershot by SPACES (Single Persons Accommodation Centre for Ex-Services).

Mike Jackson House, named after General Sir Mike Jackson, has 25 self contained flats and offers advice and support to homeless service leavers on housing, training and employment. Further details are at www.spaces.org.uk.

* Armed Forces personnel in England and Wales now have Key Worker status that gives them access t a range of affordable housing options, including interest free equity loans of up to £65000 in some cases.

Full details of the Key Worker scheme are available from the Joint Service Housing Advice Office www.army.mod.uk/jshao

* A campaign to target TV Licence dodgers has been aimed at members of the armed forces who may also be missing out on refunds when they are posted or deployed overseas for more than three months.

Full details on payments and refunds are available from www.tvlicensing.co.uk

* Armed Forces personnel can now use the services of the new Service Complaints Commissioner if they think that they have been the victim of unacceptable treatment or behaviour in the course of their employment. Full details of the new complaints system are in JSP 831. Online and postal access to the Commissioner will be soon available and there is an e-mail address for enquiries helen.buckman486@mod.uk

* The Confidential Support Line for members of the armed forces and their families is open from 1000 till 2230 UK time, 365 days a year. Freephone numbers and other contact details are on the A-Z index under C and on the SSAFA Forces Help website at www.ssafa.org.uk

* More and more companies are now offering discounts to members of the armed forces through the MOD’s official discount scheme. Everyone in the service and ex-service community, including dependants and family members is eligible to register online www.forcesdiscounts-mod.co.uk

* A new families organisation for the Royal Air Force has been launched to provide an independent voice for RAF Families. Based at Wittering, a team of five will deal with enquiries from anyone in the RAF or related to someone serving in the RAF.
www.raf-families-federation.org.uk

* The community website for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines is attracting record numbers of users. Families of serving personnel can also use the site if they register with the serving person’s number and date of birth on www.rncom.mod.uk

* An army project called Storybook Soldiers links families in the UK and Germany to troops on operations. A parent about to deploy can record a child’s favourite story that can then be edited with music and sound effects by volunteer editors so that the child can listen to it while the parent is away from home.  Further details www.storybooksoldiers.co.uk

* A new educational website has been launched by the Ministry of Defence. Aimed at 14-16 year olds and their teachers, it is a free online resource including lesson plans linking defence based material to key curriculum areas. www.defencedynamics.mod.uk

* A new charity called Help for Heroes is aiming to build a new swimming pool and gymnasium for injured service personnel at the Headley Court Rehabilitation Centre.
Backed by the Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt, Help for Heroes also has support from the business community, from the national press and from a team of volunteers taking calls from members of the public. Contact details are online at www.helpforheroes.org.uk

* A new four day course for people leaving the armed forces has been launched by a former Army officer. The Remount Programme is not part of the official resettlement services but it is a not for profit initiative to help people come to terms with life after a military career. There is more information at www.remount.net

* The HM Forces BUPA scheme is now offering a forces discount of 47% off their standard premiums for private medical insurance. The scheme includes cover for MOD civilians, dependants, partners and people serving overseas. There is a dedicated BUPA HM Forces Office with a UK freephone on 0800 281 440. Overseas callers can call 0044 1929 477 300. Further information can be found at www.bupa.com/hmforces

* A new life insurance policy for members of the armed forces has been launched by the Ministry of Defence.

Service Life Insurance will be sold by Sterling Life, in association with the MOD and will guarantee cover for regulars and reserves up to a maximum of £200,000 with no exclusions for war risks or dangerous sports.

Full details are available from unit offices and from www.servicelifeinsurance.co.uk