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Join in the celebration for Sea Cadets' 9,000 volunteers. They’re absolutely essential to Sea Cadets, we couldn’t do it without them! Nominate your volunteer hero using #VolunteersWeek and @SeaCadetsUK.

This week you’ll meet the key worker heroes who also volunteer with Sea Cadets, as every day this week across our social media channels we’ll share a new story about our superhero volunteers. Today meet Sally. (pictured left)

Sally Smith, Officer in Charge, Bedford Sea Cadets

Day Job: Practice Development Nurse, Emergency Department

Sally became a senior nurse in the Emergency Department at Bedford Hospital earlier this year but has been a Specialist Nurse in Resuscitation and Trauma for almost a decade.

She says “This is my passion, I love my job and although working in this type of environment is very challenging at times we work as team, it’s a great team and we support one another.”

Sally also helps to run Bedford Sea Cadets and finds a similar level of teamwork there as in the NHS.

Our volunteers step up during the Pandemic

As many Sea Cadets volunteers are ensuring Sea Cadets continues as normal through digital parade nights, some are also playing their part in the in the battle against Covid-19! Sea Cadets volunteers continue to do their bit within all of the nation’s key services, including the NHS, care homes and the emergency services.

85% of Sea Cadets activities at unit level are taking place virtually, making up for the loss of hugely popular inshore and offshore boating programmes, competitions and International Exchange Programme. Sea Cadets remains a hugely vital part of cadets' lives and many say they are happy having tried the Virtual Sea Cadets programme, according to our recent survey.

With many across the country taking the time to volunteer during the crisis, new and returning volunteers will always be welcome within Sea Cadets. Find out more here.

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Celebrating Success – Virtually

On the afternoon of 21 May 2020, 19 of our Cadets and Staff were due to attend a Gold Award Presentation in the grounds of Buckingham Palace to celebrate the culmination of their DofE journey. They had all worked extremely hard to complete their Gold awards and were looking forward to a day in London and meet some members of the Royal family and many guest presenters. However, due to the Coronavirus lockdown measures this event had to be postponed. They will get an opportunity when the country returns to being able to meet again in groups. To mark theirs and others successes, HRH The Duke of Wessex has made a video congratulating those that should have been receiving their certificates. The link to this video is here and the names of those due to attend on the 21st May are:

London

Thomas B

Francis d. S H

Amber-Rose H

Jessica E

South West

Dakota L

Blake L

Oliver D

Thomas G

Emily G

James G

Oliver G

Holly G

Eastern

Lewis K

Chelsea B

Jack V

Isobel B

Lydia C

Thomas B

North West

James P

James B R

On behalf of whole of the Sea Cadets we send congratulations on your fantastic achievement. Many thanks must also go to the tireless commitment that the DofE leaders in all of these units and across all of our areas are giving to these and many thousands of participants still on their own journeys. Please stay safe but continue to enjoy your Sea Cadets and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

We have joined a group of 80 charities and bodies within the youth sector in writing an open letter to our Prime Minister, calling for a dedicated press conference for young people to answer their questions about the Coronavirus pandemic and to allow under-18s to submit questions to the daily press conference.

Young people across the UK are feeling the effects of the lockdown - mental health, education and so much more have been significantly impacted. However, young people across the country have been making a positive difference to so many communities, as well as supporting their own loved ones. This should be recognised, this should be encouraged.

After constructive initial engagement with Number 10,  #iWill campaign partners are ready to work with the Government to ensure that young people emerge from this crisis ready to continue their lives as active, positive citizens.

Join us online in promoting the campaign - share our posts and create your own (using artwork provided below) Let's get this campaign heard!

Get your artwork for social media here:

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Next Friday is VE day, celebrating when the guns fell silent across Europe marking the end of the Second World War.

We want you to celebrate it with us from home, especially as this year we mark 75 years since the day came about on 8 May 1945.There’s plenty going on across the country to celebrate the moment that the Second World War came to end.

From singalongs to baking, we’ve put together a pack for you to plan your day’s activities and join the national celebration - all from the comfort of your home. 

Download your pack here.

Make sure you share your family celebrations with us on Friday - use #SeaCadetsVEday to tag us in your posts!

Our NHS and other well-known organisation promote 5 Ways to Wellbeing:

• Connect
• Be Active
• Take Notice
• Learn
• Give

Here’s our take on 5 Ways to Wellbeing for Cadets.

Connect

Staying connected is not just good for your wellbeing, but everyone around you.

At sea, ships communicate with each other across the world via the Bridge on marine radio with lots of dials and buttons.  Luckily, our friends are just one tap away on our phones. If you’ve not heard from a friend from school or sea cadets for a while why not reach out?

Equally, check in on your wider circle of friends and family, especially older relatives.  Why not give them a call, and let know what you have been up to too keep yourself busy and active.  Let them tell you about their day too really listen, lend an ear, not just your time.

Tip: It’s fantastic we can reach our loved ones at the touch of a button. But ensure you limit your screen time as you normally would around your routine. If Sailors chatted all day the ship would drift from its course.

Write a letter! Not only will this provide you with an activity, it’s a great way to stay in touch and letters are great keep sake.  Remember the COVID Codes when arranging to post your letter.

Be active

There are so many ways to keep active; exercise routines online you can do in your bedroom or with family in the living room, and walking or jogging on your daily exercise allowance. 

But cleaning your room, helping around the house with chores, and stretching throughout the day, are all great ways to maintain your exercise levels while indoors too.

Sailors at sea come together on deck for Physical Training, designed to be done in close quarters! Check out Sea Cadets Physical Training and learn the new routine. Once you’ve mastered it, get your family involved and teach it to them!

Take notice

Use a diary to make a to-do list of the things you hope achieve each day.  Lists are a good way to help keep you focused. As well as writing in your diary also use emojis, symbols, drawings and colours to make it more interesting and personal. 

Also use your diary to make a note of how you have been feeling each day, what has your mood been like?  For example, how was your mood in the morning compared to the evening? How have the diffident things you have been doing affected how you feel?  Or you could just add an overall mood or feeling for the day.  Using your diary in this way will help you to see more clearly which things make you happy and which things make you feel less happy.  Taking a moment to notice how you feel can help you understand yourself better.

If you’re struggling with your mood, it’s good to talk. Have a chat with someone you trust, and check out resources at Young Minds or The Mix for mental health support.

Other things to try are apps such as Headspace – offering free guided meditation and mindfulness.

When outside for your daily exercise hour, really take notice of your surroundings, and see how many different types of wildlife you spot. Leave technology at home!

You can also try creating a new recipe or making a dish you’ve never had before from your own personal Galley. When tucking in, really take note of the flavours, could it be a new favourite recipe?

Tip: Remember to add all of these things to your diary too!

Learn

Your parents will have been sent ways for you to get involved with Virtual Sea Cadets at home. Join the www.facebook.com/SeaCadetsVirtualTraining page for extra resources to #FallinatHome. (Don’t worry if you can’t join in – Virtual Sea Cadets is not compulsory!)

Is there a country you really want to visit? Take some steps to begin to learn a new language or learn about the culture. There are 6,500 different languages, including one you may not first think of - British Sign Language.

If you have seeds or if you are able to order online for safe and non-contact delivery, you could create your own herb garden.  Sailors are great at making efficient use of food resources to last months underwater. You can grow your own herbs indoors or outside. As long as it’s somewhere that gets plenty of light. Don’t forget to note in your diary your plants’ progress.

 Give

Here’s how you can take social action, and help your community through peer support during the lockdown: 

Giving back to your community, in any small way, is proven to boost your wellbeing. 

We can all get involved in Clap for Heroes, every Thursday at 8:00PM. If you are in uniform, tag @SeaCadetsUK so we can reshare.

Older cadets may want to get involved in peer support by running a virtual zoom session, get in touch with your unit for more info. 

Above all, remember our Sea Cadets value of Respect. Help in spreading kindness to your community and family during lockdown.  

At Sea Cadets, launching you for life to succeed in your future is our top priority.

If you feel you need extra wellbeing support please go to:

https://youngminds.org.uk/

https://www.themix.org.uk/mental-health

www.sea-cadets.org/safeguarding