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The charity cooperated fully with the BBC Panorama investigation. We are appalled at what happened and unreservedly apologise for any hurt or anger felt. It is not reflective of our organisation today.

We have instituted wholesale, radical change. We have and continue to put in place substantial measures designed to educate and enforce in order to prevent repetition.

Sea Cadets has a zero-tolerance protocol and a specialist team to enforce our policies and provide support. We insist on compulsory training for volunteers, and DBS checks for all working directly with youngsters, supported by a 24/7 incident reporting line (displayed in all units), promotion of the NSPCC Childline number and a whistle blowing policy. We work closely with safeguarding experts to review and deliver training to support volunteers; we are accredited by the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services; and we report regularly to the Charity Commission.

Our culture encourages our employees, volunteers and cadets to speak up, disclose and confront any issues. We encourage anyone who is a victim to report it to the Police and anyone with any concerns can speak to our supporter care team (020 7654 7010).

The winner of the Sea Cadets category at the Royal Navy's Peregrine Trophy photgraphic competition has been named as AC Sally from Tenby Unit.

Sally said: “I took the winning photo when I was away in October on board TS Royalist. I was out on the dinghy and my job was to sort out the jib sheet, but we got told to wait for a bit. Our Boson took her GoPro out and started taking pictures so I decided to join her and wrapped my camera around my wrist and started taking shots. I then put my camera back in my pocket without looking at the pictures and carried on working on the jib sheet.

"When we came off the bowsprit and moored later that evening, I checked my camera and that was the only picture that wasn't blurry so I was really happy with that! I honestly would never have thought that I would win this amazing award, especially out of all the sea cadets throughout the UK. It's an honour.”

Sally wins a paid trip to London for the awards ceremony in July and an offshore voyage on TS Royalist. 

In second place, was MC Abigail from Blackburn Unit, who took a stunning image on TS Royalist with the sunset and mountain range in the background. In third place, with a commended photograph of her unit sailing a Quest in the sunset is AC Amy from Aberdeen Bridge of Don Unit.

Sea Cadets from London, Kent and Essex had an amazing opportunity to tour casualty ship RFA Argus at the start of Seafarers Awareness Week (24-30 June), the annual campaign coordinated by maritime charity Seafarers UK.

One-hundred young people and volunteers from Sea Cadets units in Beckenham and Penge, Bexley and Lewisham, Orpington, Southwark, Sutton, Chelmsford, Maldon and District and Thurrock visited the vessel moored at Greenwich on Monday 26 June.

Argus is the Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s ‘Primary Casualty Receiving Ship’ and those on board enjoyed a tour of all areas of the ship, including the bridge, flight deck and armoury, as well as learning about her role in delivering cutting-edge medical treatment while afloat.

The outing was one of a number of events promoted by Seafarers UK to mark Seafarers Awareness Week, which aims to raise public awareness of the UK’s ongoing dependence on seafarers and the contribution they make to the UK as an island nation. The week’s two themes this year are ‘Maritime Jobs at Sea and Ashore’ and ‘Sea Ports for Prosperity’.

Sea Cadets is another year older, having celebrated its 161st birthday on Sunday 25 June. And we would like to thank everyone who helps make the youth charity what it is, including our amazing cadets and volunteers.

Sea Cadets is committed to helping young people find confidence and self-belief through water-based and land-based adventure. We offer nationally-recognised qualifications and exciting opportunities, such as offshore voyages and an International Exchange Programme.

Founded in 1856, Sea Cadets dates back to the Crimean War when sailors returning home from the campaign formed Naval Lads’ Brigades to help orphans who ended up on the back streets of sea ports. By 1899, Sea Cadets received royal recognition when Queen Victoria presented the Windsor unit with £10 for uniforms, and in 1919 the Admiralty officially recognised the 34 brigades and changed the name to the Navy League Sea Cadet Corps.

Nowadays, the charity has 400 units - run entirely by volunteers - across the UK and 14,000 cadets, while our royal association continues with the Queen as our patron.

Sea cadets across the country represented their units at Armed Forces Day events on Saturday.

The annual awareness day is a chance for people to show their support for all that our forces do. Events to mark the occasion were held across the country, with sea cadets taking part in parades and displays.

In Liverpool, cadets were watched on by Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, as they performed a window ladder display, while others in the city met Prime Minister Theresa May.