Christmas came early for some of Southend-on-Sea’s young people earlier this month, when a new Joint Cadet Centre opened in the city, bringing Army Cadets and RAF Air Cadets together under one roof.
The new facility, built inside the grounds of Southend Army Reserve Centre, is now home to both 1312 (City of Southend-on-Sea) Squadron Air Cadets and the Southend-on-Sea Detachment of Essex Army Cadet Force (ACF). The cadets who use it can enjoy training, parade, study and leisure facilities all on a single site.
The £1.2 million project, funded through the nationwide Reserve Estate Optimisation Programme and overseen by East Anglia RFCA, was completed in just a few months. This is thanks to its landmark design. The building is one of the first in the UK to follow a nationally recognised shared design, purpose-built to support collaboration between cadet forces and offer them modern, sustainable premises where they can parade.
His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Essex, Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst, officially opened the centre by unveiling a commemorative plaque. She was joined by the Mayor and Mayoress of Southend, senior officers from Essex ACF and RAF Air Cadets (RAFAC), as well as representatives from East Anglia RFCA.
During the ceremony, the Lord-Lieutenant inspected Army and Air Cadets on parade and heard the RAFAC band perform. She and fellow dignitaries took a tour of the building, watching cadets demonstrate rifle drill and first air. The adults also took time to speak with young people about their training and aspirations, and even tried out some of the facilities including a flight simulator.
The Mayor of Southend, Councillor Nigel Folkard, was another of the officials to attend the opening ceremony. He said: “I’ve been very impressed with the energy and enthusiasm of the young people. They are smartly dressed, well drilled, and very disciplined. It’s a wonderful facility.”
Col Pete Mills, Commandant of Essex ACF, highlighted the benefits of the shared space, saying: “Essex Army Cadets and Essex RAFAC have always had a good working relationship. Being in the same building enables us to work closer together, sharing resources, instructors, and opportunities.”
Flight Lieutenant Joanne Busby is the RAFAC Officer Commanding 1312 Squadron. She said: “It’s a lovely new building, much more sustainable, and it’s really good to be able to share facilities. It gives us the best of both worlds.”
“It’s a lovely new building, much more sustainable, and it’s really good to be able to share facilities”
— Flt Lt Joanne Busby, Officer Commanding, 1312 (Southend-on-Sea) Squadron, RAFAC
The Joint Cadet Centre offers expanded classroom space, updated facilities, and a welcoming environment designed to support the development of young people for years to come.
Interested in joining the cadets or volunteering as an adult instructor? Visit the Army Cadet Force or RAF Air Cadets websites to find out more about the life-changing opportunities available to young people in your area.
