We are a Bath based, small friendly unit in the Sea Cadet Corps. Offering fun,
activity based training for 10-18yr olds from all backgrounds.
Situated directly on the bank of the River Avon we are able to do
plenty of boating activities in the Summer and are also lucky enough
to have adequate facilities for classroom and indoor sporting
activities in the winter.
The Sea Cadet Corps is an uniformed youth organisation, that is not
para - military nor pre service. It is administered by the Sea Cadet
Association and sponsored by the Ministry of Defence.
There are about
four hundred Sea Cadet Units spread all over the Great Britain and
Northern Ireland. Units are grouped into Districts, containing six
to ten Units depending on distance: Each District has a name such as
Avon, Fens, NE Lancs, Grampian etc. Districts are grouped into Areas
of which there are six, South West, Eastern, London, Northern,
Northwest and Southern, each containing 60 to 85 Units. Each Area is
administered by serving Royal Navy or Royal Marine Officer and a
small civilian staff. The Areas are administered by the Sea Cadet
Headquarters in London under the Command of the Commodore of the Sea
Cadet Corps.
Corps' History The oldest and most enduring youth
organisation in the World and Great Britain, is the Sea Cadet Corps.
This Corps can trace its heritage back to the Crimean War, when, in
1856, sailors returning home from the campaign set up "Naval Lads
Brigades" to give disadvantaged youngsters a taste of self
discipline and leadership. From those early beginnings in the back
streets of Britain's seaports has grown the Sea Cadets, a 16,000
strong youth movement with 400 units the length and breadth of the
Country Based on maritime traditions the Corps, which first became
independent in 1910 under the auspices of the Navy League and then
the fully-fledged Navy League Sea Cadet Corps nine years later, is
pledged to uphold Britannia's naval heritage.
The Corps Today Although supported and partly funded by the
Royal Navy, the Sea Cadet Corps is not a pre-service organisation,
and the training programme the cadets undertake, whilst underpinned
by seamanship and nautical skills, also offers recognised
qualifications in subjects such as electrical and mechanical
engineering, computers, communications and catering which will stand
the cadets in good stead whatever career they pursue.
Each Sea Cadet Unit has developed close ties with the local
community, cemented through a Management Committee that works
alongside the Unit's Commanding Officer to provide a worthwhile
programme of activities and spearhead fund raising initiatives at
local level.
InTraining Activities The Sea Cadets training organisation, offer many activities which young people can become
involved in, these fall into three categories:
Firstly, a Cadet can specialise in any number of nine
specialisations; Seamanship, Communications, Mechanical and
Electrical Engineering, Cooks and Stewards, Writers and Stores,
Physical Training and First Aid. The Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme
is actively encouraged in Units.
Secondly, Cadets can become proficient in Meteorology, Expedition
Training, Target Shooting, Sub-aqua Diving and Music as a drummer,
bugler or instrumentalist.
Thirdly and probably the most popular is Canoeing and Boat work,
both Inshore and Offshore Power and Sail. The Corps follows the
British Canoe Unit (BCU) and Royal Yachting Association (RYA)
training schemes. Waterborne activity is conducted on rivers, lakes,
and reservoirs not forgetting in many cases around the United
Kingdom coastline.
Sea Cadets regularly take part in not only inter Unit/District/Area
Competitions but National Competitions as well as Inter-Cadet
Competitions.
The Royal Navy supports the Sea Cadet Corps in many of these
activities. RN Establishments around the country host many of the
training courses and provide resources, which Units cannot normally
find.