A Sea Cadets success story

To be a successful charity, we need to grow – so that more young people can enjoy and benefit from everything that Sea Cadets offers. Therefore, on 1 December 2024, we set an ambitious goal: to grow our membership by 901 cadets by 31 March 2025, supported by targeted social media campaigns from the National Support Centre. As the challenge has now come to a close, we’re thrilled to reflect on the progress made and look to the announcement of the winners!

A journey of growth

Like everything sea cadets set their minds to, units embraced the challenge with enthusiasm and determination right from the start. By 1 February, just two months in, 91 units had already achieved growth of at least 5%, earning ballot entries for the incredible prizes on offer. Overall, 107 units had recorded growth – a testament to the dedication and hard work of cadet teams nationwide.

While we don’t have the final numbers just yet, the collective effort has been inspiring. Every new cadet represents not just growth in numbers, but growth in opportunity, diversity and the vibrant spirit of Sea Cadets.

A collective achievement

To every unit that participated, thank you for making the Growth Challenge a success. Whether your unit grew by one cadet or 20, every effort has contributed to a stronger Sea Cadets. Together, we’ve shown what can be achieved when we work as one.

Let’s continue this spirit of growth and teamwork as we move forward into an exciting future for Sea Cadets!

Why growth matters

This challenge has been about more than just meeting targets – it’s been about strengthening our units and communities. Every new cadet brings fresh ideas, energy and opportunities. Together, we’ve demonstrated that Sea Cadets can bounce back stronger than ever, matching the growth seen in other cadet forces and securing a sustainable future. 

Celebrating the Winners!

The winners are about to be announced. Be sure to check the Sea Cadets website and your unit comms for updates. We can’t wait to celebrate the success of the units that have gone above and beyond to grow and thrive during this challenge.

Exciting prizes

The Growth Challenge offered an amazing incentive for units to get involved. Each 5% growth milestone earned ballot entries for prizes, with additional entries for opening new sections or supporting new units. 

Prizes include:

1st Place: A week-long voyage on TS Royalist for 24 cadets and two volunteers.

2nd Place (x2): A week-long voyage on a power vessel for 12 cadets and two volunteers.

Top District: A weekend of boating for 30 cadets and six volunteers at a boat station.

What units are saying about the Growth Challenge

“The ‘Growth Challenge’ has been a welcome incentive for the growth of our unit. It’s important for us to allow more local young people to experience what we offer. Taking part in community events helps to attract new recruits; as do our current cadets, when they tell their friends about our activities and the qualifications they’ve gained. Our motivated and approachable volunteers – many of whom are former cadets – have also been vital in supporting our growth.” 
PO (SCC) John Davies, Officer in Charge, Exeter Unit

“Growth is a key theme for our unit as it enables us to provide more young people with opportunities to develop confidence, skills, and friendships. Expanding through our new Junior Section has been a key milestone as we’ve worked hard to rebuild after the pandemic. With regular encouragement from the Growth and Development Team we have felt more supported to plan and implement changes effectively.” 
SLt (SCC) Alleisha Lewin RNR, CO at Malvern Unit

“My brother is a sea cadet and it always looked like fun so I couldn’t wait to join.”
JSC Emilija, a new starter at Malvern Unit

“Being part of a growing unit increases the cadets available to attend competitions, giving us a better chance to compete and win against other units!”
Senior Cadet Coby, Exeter Unit

Photos: Sea Cadets