Speaker Noel Waterhouse said a few words about the Sea Cadets

Wed, Jun 26th 2019 at 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Noel attended with Josh Wallace who we have sponsored on one of the Ocean Youth Trust's Tall Ships Voyages. ---- Speaker Finder Barry Smith, Visitors Host, Grace and Banners: Volunteer OFFER needed, Cash Desk Alan Morrell


Commander Noel Waterhouse first told us a bit about the Sea Cadets. He said that there are over 400 units in the UK as well as units in Malta, The Falklands and The Channel Islands.

Noel, who is a psychiatric nurse, became involved in Sea Cadets 6 year ago because he was worried about the lack social of facilities for his son in Keighley. He had to leave after a while but then rejoined the Bradford unit. This unit is named after what had been Bradford's Navy ship the T.S. Aurora. In the unit there are 22 staff and 38 cadets. The number of cadets varies between 30 and 50.

The cadets parade twice per week and also do various training modules. As they complete modules they earn promotion in rank and take on more responsibility. Eventually they become sufficiently skilled to start doing peer education for the more junior cadets. The staff members have to do a 9 hour induction programme as well as the usual DBS check.

Josh then spoke about his time as a cadet. He joined aged 10 and is now 16. He said that his mother was keen for him to join a youth organisation. He chose the Sea Cadets because his uncle and grandfather had both been in the services. Since joining he has completed 230 qualifications. His favourite is Power Boating and he now has a licence to drive one on rivers, lakes and in the sea.

He said that he has just done his GCSE's and intends to go to college to study engineering. When he is 17 he will then apply to join the Navy. He will have to complete a 10 week training course and if he passes that will then join the Navy.

Noel was asked various questions: -
  1. Are the Sea Cadets a feeder organisation for the Navy? He said that in a way they were  but more in weeding out those that would not really want to join the service
  2. Do the cadets learn scuba diving?  Not any more because of Health and Safety regulations.
  3. How are you funded? The Army and Airforce cadets are funded by the government but the Sea Cadets are not. They do get a £1 million grant from the Navy to be spread over all the units. But each unit is it's own charity and has to raise the rest of the funds itself.
  4. 22 staff seems a high number? 16 are uniformed instructors who specialise in particular areas and give the training for the modules. The other 6 are trustees of the charity whose job is to run the charitable side raising money and ensuring that the administration side runs smoothly.
  5. What's the Commander's job?  To use the funds wisely and make sure that the staff are properly trained to undertake their duties.
  6. What's the subscription for cadets? £12 per month but then there are other costs for travelling to the Regional centre in Peterborough where the main sailing experiences takes place and even down to the Navy centre in Portsmouth. To stop this being a barrier to poorer cadets the charity gives financial help where necessary.
  7. What's the main aim of the organisation? To build up the confidence of the young people over the time that they are a cadet.

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