Community Starts With You

At the most basic level, community involvement might include attending your town or village’s annual Festival of Remembrance Parade or selling poppies for the Royal British Legion. However, there are countless ways to make a difference within your community. Beyond participating in parades, it includes practical contributions within your unit, such as sweeping the drill hall, organising litter-picking events, and engaging in local community initiatives.

As you progress through the training syllabus, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in bigger and better projects. This may involve refreshing local children’s play areas, clearing rubbish from riverbanks, planting trees, or visiting elderly residents in care homes to offer them company. In 2024, cadets from the Humberside and South Yorkshire Army Cadet Force partnered with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to clean and inspect war graves for signs of damage. This collaboration is a great example of the unique and meaningful experiences available to cadets. 

You will also have the opportunity to become an integral part of community activities. This begins with creating street plans to help participants locate essential services, such as the nearest police station, A&E hospital, and defibrillator, and culminates in planning and leading your own community-based activity over six months.