Community pride award for dedicated sea cadets leader
A CADET leader has won a community pride award for her work.
Karen Black was awarded the Pride of Cheshire Award for her services as Commanding Officer of Bollington and Macclesfield Sea Cadets.
Karen is a full time medical secretary but works with the cadets in her spare time. She has been volunteering since August 1999 and took over the running of the unit in November 2012.
She joined the unit after her son Kyle joined, but when Kyle left to join Air Cadets, Karen stayed as a civilian instructor.
She became a uniformed adult volunteer and a provisional petty officer in 2000 before completing training courses to become a full Petty Officer in March 2002. In 2005 she decided to go for officer training and became a Sub Lieutenant in November 2006. Karen was promoted to Lieutenant in November 2012.
The cadets meet on Monday and Thursday nights but as Commanding Officer Karen also attends training and competitions, community events and completes health and safety paper work.
She said she was delighted to win the award, adding: “Sea cadets teaches young people the traditions of the royal navy but also life skills such as team work, leadership and time keeping.”
Julie Paisey, from the cadets group, said Karen is an excellent role model.
She said: “She’s hardworking, a good leader and a dedicated volunteer. Karen more than deserves recognition for volunteering within the community for more than 15 years and I hope she continues to do so for quite some time.”
Sea Cadets is a uniformed organisation ran as a charity for 10 to 18 year olds.