The Unit's recent 2022 Summer Camp was a great success. More than 40 cadets and volunteers camped out under the stars and for many the literal highlight was the high ropes course.
SUMMER CAMP SUCCESS
SKILLS, CONFIDENCE AND EDGE OVER OTHERS!
One of the core elements of the experience offered by Poole Sea Cadets is the opportunity to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.
Under the expert coordination of Chris Bonfield and his volunteer instructors, all three levels, Bronze, Silver, and Gold, can be undertaken. If our cadets wish, they can even do all the individual sections with us.
Many Cadets leave the unit with all three of these Awards under their belt.
Chris says, “I always hope they will do this, but only 10% have the motivation and possibly the time to.” But those that do are rewarded with an invitation to Buckingham Palace.”
Why is a Duke of Edinburgh Award so well received? In the wider world of education and employment such a qualification illustrates in an individual a willingness to undertake extra-curricular activities which bestow skills such as communication, commitment, leadership, and teamwork.
If a Cadet is going on to either colleges, universities, or employment a Duke of Edinburgh Award gives them an edge over others as well as confidence. It is said that many employers will guarantee an interview to a Gold Award holder.
In recent months Poole Sea Cadets undertaking their Gold Award have been out on the river Thames rowing from Henley to Reading and back to Hambledon. Others, taking part in their Silver and Bronze Awards, undertook an overnight expedition in the New Forest. Sleeping under the stars and then cooking breakfast the next morning was a totally novel experience for most.
“My team and I,” Chris says, “derive great pleasure in guiding young people through the different stages of the award, including the expedition section. We try to take them to different locations which they wouldn’t normally visit. Hence rowing on the Thames and previously expeditions on Dartmoor, the Brecon Beacons, and Peaks.
Covid restrictions saw a new initiative from the award scheme to ensure the participants were able to continue with the award.
Being a little inventive, cadets could for the first time, undertake most of the award at home. Naturally the expedition had to wait for Covid restrictions to be lifted. If it hadn’t been for this, cadets would never have caught up.
Since Covid, interest in the DofE award has gone from strength to strength, not just in Poole, but amongst Sea Cadets generally throughout the Southern Area.
Chris makes the point that, “the biggest challenge ahead to enable completions is to provide sufficient expedition opportunities. Here in the Sea Cadet’s Wessex District, we have trained a great team of staff who are qualified to supervise expeditions, but elsewhere this expertise can be lacking. We do try to help, and our most recent July expedition attracted cadets from as far away as Banbury, Milton Keynes, Ashford Kent, Medway, and Crawley, and as an additional gesture, Poole Unit accommodated most of them the night before.”
WELCOME ABOARD
CONGRATULATIONS
We would like to formally congratulate Cllr Tony Trent on being elected by the Charter Trustees of Poole as the new Mayor and Admiral of the Port for the Civic Year 2022/3 at the annual mayor-making ceremony in historic Poole Civic Centre.
Cllr Trent is no stranger to Poole Sea Cadets having attended our 2021 AGM as Sheriff of Poole.
Born and bred in Poole Cllr Trent has ambitions during his term of office to highlight youth organisations throughout the town, which we applaud.
We very much look forward to welcoming him on board at TS Drax and continuing our strong links with the office of the Mayor.
CONGRATULATIONS
Many Congratulations to our Patron from everyone at Poole Sea Cadets
OUR BAND PLAYS ITS JUBILEE PART
Poole Sea Cadet’s marching band was proudly in the vanguard of the massive Platinum Jubilee Youth Celebration parade at Winchester Cathedral.
Hundreds of young people from across Hampshire attended the parade and subsequent service to mark 70 years of the Queen’s reign as she is the first British Monarch to reach this impressive milestone.
The half a mile long parade was comprised of young people from schools, Hampshire Youth Parliament, Scouts, Army Cadets, Sea Cadets, Royal Air Force Cadets and Police Cadets amongst many others.
The event, which attracted a huge number of onlookers, was organised by Winchester Cathedral in conjunction with Hampshire Youth Network.
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