Army Cadets in North Yorkshire have been celebrating their success at a recent competition thanks in part to new funding that enabled the purchase of vital training equipment.
Part of the Yorkshire (North and West) Army Cadets, the Thirsk unit includes young people aged between 12 and 18 who are given the opportunity to develop a range of skills.
As one of the largest youth organisations in the UK, the Army Cadets involve dedicated volunteers and permanent staff. Cadets receive training in personal skills such as confidence, self-reliance, and leadership, alongside practical skills like first aid, fieldcraft, and military training.
The cadets took part in the annual two-day Christmas camp competition event held at Queen Elizabeth Barracks in Strensall, where they won trophies for drill, command task completion and the champion cadet.
Two council members, Cllr Gareth Dadd and Cllr David Ireton, were so impressed with the cadets’ endeavours on a recent visit that they each donated £1,000 from their locality budgets to support the detachment.
Cllr Dadd, who represents the Thirsk division on North Yorkshire Council, said: “I am proud to support the Thirsk Army Cadets, it is a brilliant organisation that does so much to inspire and shape the future of our young people. The opportunities they provide are truly life changing.”
The funding has been used to purchase vital equipment, including a new laptop, a printer, computer accessories and trophies to recognise the cadets’ achievements.
Cllr Ireton, who represents the Bentham and Ingleton division, added: “Seeing the dedication of the adult volunteers who give their time so selflessly, and the enthusiasm of the cadets themselves, is incredibly heartwarming. It’s a privilege to contribute to their success and help to ensure they continue to thrive in serving our communities.”
The Thirsk detachment, established in 2013, currently has 26 recruits. They meet every Tuesday and Thursday evening between 6.45pm and 9pm providing a structured and supportive environment for young people to develop key skills.
One of the Army cadets, Bombardier Noah Rands, who won the Champion Cadet title said: “Our old equipment was very out of date. The new equipment we’ve received from the grant is modern and really helps with our training.
“It made a big difference in preparing us for a recent competition where we won several trophies. We’re so proud of what we have achieved.“
Detachment commander, Ian McIntosh, added: “This new funding will not only enhance training capabilities but also ensure the detachment can continue offering exceptional opportunities for its cadets, fostering future leaders and contributors to the community.
“We are very appreciative to the councillors for the grant we have been given.”
Each of the 90 members has a budget of £10,000 a year to respond to local needs by allocating small amounts of funding to support activities to promote social, economic, or environmental well-being in the communities which they represent.
Funding can be used for projects undertaken by external organisations or for additional services provided by the council. Each member is responsible for determining how they wish to seek approval to use the money from their locality budget.
The council’s Armed Forces champion, Cllr Kevin Foster, said: “It’s great that Cllr Dadd and Cllr Ireton have supported the cadets using their locality funds.
“Cadets provide great experiences for our young people that they will benefit from during their life, and some will go onto have great careers in the regular Armed Forces.”