News

As part of the Cadet 150 celebrations cadets and volunteers joined John Bercow MP, Speaker of the House of Commons on Monday 12 July when he invited them for a reception in their honour at the Palace of Westminster.

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Cadets and volunteers from across the cadet movement mingled with Government Ministers and a host of Members of both Houses of Parliament. Also joining them was former Defence Minister, Rt Hon Bob Ainsworth MP.

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PO Cadet Kerry Szmidt, 17, from Southwark Unit was one of three cadets who had the chance to share her experience of being in cadets and what it has meant to her when she spoke to the assembly. It was an incredible opportunity to get across to key members of Parliament just how valuable the cadet movement is for young people and what it can offer them in terms of skills for life and unforgettable experiences.

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The host, Mr Speaker, explained how he decided to host the reception after one of his constituents impressed upon him how important it was to support the cadet movement.

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Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Reserves and Cadets), Major General Greg Smith QVRM TD DL, praised cadets and volunteers for the ongoing contribution they make to society.

150 Sea Cadets led 1500 cadets from across the cadet forces down the Mall on July 6 as they paraded past HRH Prince Charles, who took the salute, in a celebration of their achievements and 150 years of the Cadet Movement. Two Sea Cadets had the opportunity of a lifetime when they took part in the Red Arrows fly past over Buckingham Palace as part of the celebrations.

This year the UK’s cadet movement celebrates a century and a half of supporting young people with 150 events all over the country to promote the movement and encourage people of all ages to get involved.

The first truck carrying the new Trinity 500’s – the replacement pulling boat for Sea Cadets arrived ready for delivery to the first Units today.

The Trinity 500, designed by Olympic yachtsman, Jo Richards, creator of Laser dinghy series is a 5.5 metre molded plastic craft; robust, lightweight, maneuverable, stable and ergonomically sound with very little maintenance costs.  It replaces the old Admiralty Sailing Craft, a wooden and heavy boat that saw many a cadet hidden from view by its high sides.

Its been described by the Captain of the Sea Cadets, Captain Mark Windsor RN as; ‘the single most important development for 40 years’ and will transform competitive pulling within the Corps.  Trinity 500 has been made possible by the very generous donations of our supporters and takes its name from Trinity House which celebrates 500 years.

The aim over the next five years is for Sea Cadets to have a flotilla of 500 boats. Manufactures, AC Canoe are planning a 24hr production programme which should mean that Boats leave the factory at a rate of 18 a week. The charity hopes to have the first 110 Trinity 500s on the streets in the next six weeks.

Ahead of the 2012 Olympics, Sea Cadets opened  a new training centre in Weymouth for cadets across the country to enjoy.

Fifty local cadets aged between 10 and 18 met  Admiral Sir Jonathon Band GCB, as he arrived to cut the official ribbon to open the centre and preview the talents of the Sea Cadet band and Club Swinging team in the brand new sports hall.

This new purpose built residential training centre is open to young people from across the cadet forces (Army Cadet Force, Air Cadets and Combined Cadet Force) and this state-of-the-art building will principally offer sea training.

Sea Cadet and Navy Board Cadet Paul Huggett (18) from Hastings says; 

“I remember coming here when I was a young cadet at 13, it was the first training centre I had seen. It is great to be back and see just how amazing the new facilities are and I know that it will give cadets an excellent chance to learn first class sea training skills and have a brilliant time to boot!”  

The new centre also offers facilities to the local Weymouth Sea Cadet Unit, TS BOSCAWEN, 1606 Squadron Air Training Corps and the broader cadet community. The new building is funded by Defence Estates, the Royal Navy, MSSC, trusts and foundations and individual Members.$$ Ahead of the 2012 Olympics, Sea Cadets opened a new training centre in Weymouth.

The Marine Society & Sea Cadets has refreshed its image. The charity has been working to update its look and feel so that it can continue to appeal to its many audiences.

Mike Cornish CEO of the charity says;
“This fresh new direction is the result of looking at how the elements of the charity work together and how best to move the charity forward in these changing times, so that we can continue to offer the very best to the maritime sector in terms of promoting our maritime heritage, while supporting its future. By creating three new identities for each of the arms of the business, the MSSC believes it can champion that cause far more effectively.”

The Marine Society & Sea Cadets now becomes MSSC, to reflect its parental role in governing the two charities. The Marine Society moves to a dynamic representation that reflects its valued status as a provider of educational opportunities and professional seafarer support to those in all of the sea services. The Sea Cadets has received a modern and vibrant look with the purpose of appealing to new volunteers and young people and in keeping with its commitment to support young people via a range of nautical adventure activities.

The charity worked with London based design agency SEA Design to develop the three looks and conducted a staff survey into attitudes about the organisation to get a feel for the direction to go in.

The charity believes these new looks are a step towards establishing itself more firmly and raising the profile to continue to support professional seafarers and Britain’s youth as Sea Cadets.