SHERINGHAM SHOAL

Wells Sea Cadets outside their ‘new home’
(Image courtesy of Noel Wheatley MBE)

A grant from the Sheringham Shoal Community Fund has made a significant contribution to Wells Sea Cadets being able to erect to erect and fit-out its own operational base, a modular building within the grounds of Alderman Peel High School in Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk.

The Wells Sea Cadet Unit, TS Eliza Adams, was established in late 2017 and was accepted as part of the Cadet Expansion Programme, a joint MoD and DfE initiative, in March 2019. This also resulted in a partnership with The Wensum Trust and a permanent home in Alderman Peel High School. Later that year the Unit successfully completed its trial period and was officially recognised by the MoD (Navy) and affiliated to the Marine Society and Sea Cadets (MSSC).

Although the Sea Cadets are able to use the halls and other areas within AHPS, storage and administration space within the school is at a premium, so it was decided that a dedicated Sea Cadet space would be beneficial and would promote the ‘Sea Cadet Experience’ within the school.

The funding for the building project (in excess of £50,000) was provided by the Sheringham Shoal Community Fund, MSSC Property Fund, local businesses, Unit funds and APHS. The purpose-built modular building has been supplied by local company Anglo-Scottish (Southern) Limited.

Wells Sea Cadets Chairman Noel Wheatley MBE is delighted with the outcome of the building project. He said: “The building, which was completed in time for the commencement of the APHS 2020/21 academic year, provides the Sea Cadets with two dedicated training areas with state-of-the-art IT and AV provision, a uniform store and administration space as well as providing some extra classroom space for our friends at APHS”

The aim of the Sea Cadet Corps (SCC) is to give young people the best possible head start in life through nautical adventure and fun based on the customs and traditions of the Royal Navy.

“Much of what is undertaken by the Sea Cadets is relevant to the grant criteria of the Sheringham Shoal Community Fund, particularly the focus on the marine environment and marine safety, so we were very pleased to provide grant funding for this project,” said Karl Butler, the Power Plant Manager of the Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm.

Alastair Ogle is the Principal at APHS, and he said: “The Sea Cadets have made excellent progress, with over 300 qualifications gained since the start of the trial period, including RYA sailing, power boating and windsurfing, British canoeing, British rowing, marine engineering, navigation, first aid, cyber security seamanship and communications.”

The Sea Cadets were kept ‘virtually’ engaged during the COVID-19 lockdown, and the Unit recently gained permission to restart training sessions under COVID-secure guidance.