News

Air Cadets make a difference in the name of charity

CSV Day is an annual event for the Swadlincote Squadron, which saw cadets taking part in a wide range of activities including a full litter-pick around Eureka Park, a 5 hour sponsored aerobics session to raise money for a teenage cancer trust and a Scottish Mountain rescue service as well as: Citizenship training for the new youngsters who have recently joined the Air Training Corps in the form of painting an outbuilding at a local primary school and helping with some gardening and raising funds for the Luke Hammond Bursary for Cadets to take part in an accredited activity throughout the year.

There were four main aims outlined for this event, which include: to effectively support as many charities as possible, make a difference for good within the community, to build a partnership with local charities and community groups and finally, to ensure the volunteers enjoy the day whilst supporting the community.

During the day, the cadets in attendance also found themselves taking part in tidying up and weeding the surrounds of our local parish church and collecting and cleaning graffiti off the Squadron building and the Bowls Hut on Eureka Park.

During this activity, Cadet Corporal Anna Maher, aged 16 years, said: “Working for so many organisations is enormously important to us and it gives us the opportunity to work to a satisfying climax on Make a Difference Day.”

Squadron Commander, Flight Lieutenant Alyn Thompson added: “For 2013, our cadet led team decided to widen the scope of our fundraising and volunteering with our chosen partners and are pleased to report that the cadets participated with great enthusiasm and our guests on the day appeared to be extremely impressed to be alongside young people who, in the words of one of our neighbours are: “polite, courteous and a credit to their generation.”

Prior to the event, it was agreed that the cadets and members of staff involved in the CSV Make a Difference Day were working and volunteering for the community and that any monies raised would not come to our Squadron, but all of it given to our partners.

Therefore, some of our chosen charities include: Royal British legion and Royal Air Forces Association, Vision Aid Overseas, St Giles Hospice, East Midlands Air Ambulance and the Burundi Restoration of Hope project. Our chosen community work projects include: St Johns Church in Newhall, Oakland Village and ATC Citizenship training which forms part of the ethos of the Air Training Corps.

In conclusion, CSV Make a Difference Day was deemed a success as everyone involved at 1211 (Swadlincote) Squadron was able to commit themselves to supporting up to 16 charities and work alongside 6 community projects, provide 100+ volunteers on the day itself and finally the prospect of over £1000 being raised to be shared out between our chosen charities.

Congratulations to all at 1211 (Swadlincote) Squadron for all your hard work and dedication for such a good cause!

1211 (Swadlincote) Squadron opens its doors four times a year to prospective new cadets, male and female aged between 13 – 17years.

For more information on joining the air cadet organisation in your area, please contact the Squadron Commander, Flight Lieutenant Alyn Thompson at oc.1211@aircadets.org or by phone on (01283) 212629.