Work to expand the facilities at Ripley Army Cadet Centre in Derbyshire has been completed.
Two new offices and an additional storeroom have been added to the site on the grounds of The Ripley Academy to increase capacity and accommodate the Heanor and Codnor Park Detachments.
The completion of Ripley Cadet Centre’s expansion could hardly have come at a better time.
Second Lieutenant Bagworth, Ripley Detachment Commander, said the expanded facilities would help the Army Cadets grow as the units cater to local demand.
After taking part in this year’s Remembrance Sunday parade in Ripley, leading an Armistice Day commemoration at Ripley Academy and later presenting to schoolchildren, Ripley Detachment’s headcount has shot up from 14 to 31.
“When I did the presentation in assembly, I advertised everything we do – from camps to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards, adventurous training and fieldcraft. That sense of adventure really got people interested.
Ripley Detachment’s growth, combined with the expansion of the Ripley Joint Cadet Centre and the strong presence of 1401 (Alfreton & Ripley) Squadron Air Cadets, is a sign of the town’s strong support for the Forces.
Second Lieutenant Bagworth said: “There is demand for the Army Cadets here in Ripley and the surrounding areas.
“Previously, we had youngsters who couldn’t join because they had commitments that clashed with our Thursday parade nights, but now they will be able to join Heanor on Mondays or Codnor Park on Wednesdays.”
With more waiting in the wings, Ripley Detachment is rapidly heading for its maximum headcount.
Whereas they would previously have had to turn away youngsters, they can now direct them to other Detachments co-located at the expanded Joint Cadet Centre.
Reserve Estate Optimisation Programme
Before their move, the Heanor Detachment paraded at an old ‘Spooner Hut’ built in the 1960s, while Codnor Park hired facilities at a shared community venue.
The relocation will enable both to benefit from an additional classroom, a larger drill hall, and collaboration with The Ripley Academy on shared facilities and recruitment drives, all of which are expected to improve the Cadet experience.
Sergeant Turner, Heanor Detachment Commander, said: “I like the size of the facilities at Ripley, they’re large enough to take first and last parade, and the second classroom is useful for teaching different groups.”
The site in Ripley was developed as part of an initial phase of the Ministry of Defence’s Reserve Estate Optimisation Programme (REOP).
Acting as the delivery agent, East Midlands Reserve Forces and Cadets Association (RFCA) has invested millions of pounds into creating modern and fit-for-purpose Joint Cadet Centres for today and tomorrow.
Across the region, nearby RAF Air and Army Cadet units, which have traditionally occupied separate buildings and used their facilities only a few nights a week, have been brought together under REOP to deliver shared benefits.
In the East Midlands, facilities have been upgraded or overhauled in Boston, Eckington, Glenfield, Market Harborough, Market Rasen, Skegness, and Staveley.
Ripley’s expansion was all but completed in 2024, with minor works finalised in recent months marking the end of this tranche of REOP.
Ben Webster, Head of Estates at East Midlands RFCA, added: “The Reserves Estates Optimisation Programme has been a rewarding and transformative project.
“Seeing the Cadets’ faces light up at their new facilities has been a joy to see.
“As we bring a close to this chapter, I would like to thank everyone who has helped to make this programme a success, from local stakeholders to contractors and our former Project Officer, Adam Hammett, who was the project’s driving force.
“This programme has helped to improve the experience of Cadet and Cadet Volunteers, for today and tomorrow, supporting the Government’s ambition to grow the Cadet Forces by 30% by 2030.”
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