East Anglia RFCA completed an upgrade of the Clacton-on-Sea Army Cadets’ hut for the Essex Army Cadet Force, creating a more welcoming space for the Army Cadets and adult volunteers who train there.
The East Anglia RFCA Estates team made improvements to the building, to make the space more functional, more practical and more welcoming. Inside the building, the flooring, lighting, fire alarm system and heating was replaced. We fitted new display screens in the classrooms and the drill hall. The kitchenette and the toilet facilities have been updated. We removed all asbestos, fitted new doors and repainted every wall to leave it looking fresh and new throughout.
As an energy-saving measure, the estates team installed new thermally-efficient double-glazed uPVC windows, and the new heaters are all fitted with timers. The timers enable the Army Cadet detachment commander to set the heating controls to warm up the building in time for when the cadets arrive, and then turn off automatically at the end of the evening, only on the days when they meet. The building’s exterior was fitted with fibre-cement weatherboarding to keep the building looking sharp for years to come. We added new fencing all around the site and replaced outside lighting with energy-efficient LED floodlights.
The funding for the refurbishment was raised by the Estates Team through leasing out spare capacity at our premises to businesses and government agencies. The RFCA Estates team manage over 500 buildings across East Anglia and deliver a year-round programme of improvements that sits alongside capital projects and maintenance workstreams. This is another great example of the work the RFCA team carries out throughout the year; adding energy-saving measures and adding in key features to make the buildings easy to run locally by detachment commanders.
Their work complements that of our staff embedded into the Essex Army Cadet Force, who provide the logistic and administrative support that enables the 1,000 Cadets and the 180 adults who train them to benefit from all the cadet experience has to offer.