Sea Cadets sail to Children in Need funding
CAMPBELTOWN Sea Cadets have the wind in their sails after securing Children in Need funding for the first time.
The group, which has been operating since 1955, has been awarded £3000 to help towards operational costs of the outfit, especially training courses for the young members.
Commanding officer Donnie Cameron said: ‘We help young people to become responsible adults via the navy tradition, and this funding will help us continue our training.
‘Offshore courses can cost £275 per cadet, so the need to raise funds is constant.
‘We currently have three cadets going onto the Royalist, a tall ship, and two on a motor training vessel, and, on a national level we have four cadets undertaking Royal Yacht Association training.’
It is not just children who benefit from the Sea Cadets, with several adults also taking advantage of the training it can offer.
Donnie added: ‘We have three adults who have gained safety boat qualifications. The group can be a stepping stone to vocational work that is fully funded.
‘We are always looking for more adult volunteers to make the unit stronger, but it can be beneficial for more than just the social aspect of the group.’
Emily Walker, secretary to the unit, said: ‘The funding is really important because we want to keep the cadets open to everyone. Our remit is all-inclusive.
‘We have a £2 a week donation from cadets, but no-one is forced to pay it so if people cannot afford that, they are still more than welcome to join.
‘Our unofficial motto is ‘serious fun’, and the youngsters here really enjoy meeting new people and it is good experience for them to travel away from the town and meet other cadets all over the country.’
The Sea Cadets meet for parade night every Monday at the Cadet Hall in Hazelburn Business Park.