East Anglia RFCA is responsible for 14 Army Reserve Centres and 180 Cadet sites on behalf of the Minister of State across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. These properties are at the core of all Reservist and Cadet activity. It is therefore vital they are kept in good condition and meet the needs of their users.


Our Estate Advisory Committee (EAC), chaired by Colonel (Ret’d) Andrew Every, advises the EA RFCA Board on the development of the Association Building & Works programme. The EAC is comprised of designated voluntary RFCA members; one RFCA member from each county and the group prioritises work across counties as necessary.

A small team of employed staff, our Estate department, is based at the East Anglia RFCA headquarters in Chelmsford. Headed by David Routledge, the Estate team works closely with Vivo Defence Services, approved contractors and consultants to provide a professional service to the estate and its users.

Vivo Defence Services provides a 24/7 helpdesk for site users,  statutory maintenance, inspections and testing, design services and project works as of 1st August 2024 following an integration with the Ministry of Defence Built Estate supplier arrangements.

Our estate management services includes assurance, waste management, pest control, lease negotiations, disposals and acquisitions, grounds maintenance, kitchen deep cleaning as well as implementing a robust inspection regime at all of our locations ensuring that we meet our Health and Safety obligations. We have designed and project-managed multi-million pound builds and full refurbishments of both Reserve and Cadet buildings.

Contractors and site users are able to report faults by calling Vivo Defence Services on 0800 030 9320 or by emailing VEHelpdesk@vivodefence.com.

We place great priority on our role as custodians of important buildings. Our buildings can also be used as community resource, such as our Chelmsford Army Reserve Centre which provides a secure training space for Essex Police.

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The footprint of sites managed by East Anglia RFCA

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