Whitehaven Sea Cadets - TS BEE

The Sea Cadet Corps is open to all youngsters, male and female, between 12 and 18 years of age. We are not a pre-service organisation, but more of a youth service run on Royal Navy lines, using Naval values, discipline and activities. The aim of the Sea Cadet Corps is to help young people towards responsible adulthood by encouraging valuable personal attributes and high standards of conduct based on the customs of the Royal Navy. By taking part in various activities Cadets become self reliant and through teamwork they develop consideration and respect for others. The Corps encourages high personal standards and a sense of purpose and provides a sound foundation for future careers.

Whitehaven is just one of around 400 units all over England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland (there are also Cadet units abroad, in places such as Bermuda), each with it's own name and identity - just like a naval ship - and each with it's own uniformed Sea Cadet Officers. All have a common aim: to enable the cadets to take part in activities in which self-discipline, leadership, and a sense of responsibility to the community are encouraged. The emphasis of course tends to be on the sea and most units, even those inland, have access to water and boats.

Joining the Sea Cadets gives the opportunity to sail, canoe, shoot, take part in various sports, play in a band and even spend time at sea on board RN ships or the Corps' own flagship, the square-rigged tall ship TS Royalist. Through the International Sea Cadet Association, and our own affiliation with a Canadian Sea Cadet Corps, international exchanges are also possible.

Organisation

The Sea Cadet Corps has its Headquarters in London. This deals with policy, Sea Cadet Regulations and Standing Orders, insurance and funding, central publicity and similar matters. Nationally, the Corps is organised into six Areas: London, North Western, Northern, Southern, South Western and Eastern. Each area has a small staff who give more localised help and advice to the 70 or so Sea Cadet units under its control and also carry out an annual inspection. Within each Area is a network of Districts, each responsible for about seven units.

Whitehaven unit is in the North West Area's Cumbria District.

Junior Cadets

Whitehaven, along with many other Sea Cadet units, has a Junior section (ours is nicknamed 'The Bumbles') open to children aged 10 and 11. There is currently a short waiting list of children wishing to join The Bumbles. At age 12, Bumbles move up to become fully enrolled Sea cadets. The Bumbles parade every Tuesday evening, plus the first Friday each month, between 1830 and 2000. For further information, please contact us.

Marine Cadets

Nationally, there are only around 90 units that have a Marine Cadet Detachment. Whitehaven received formal approval to start its own probationary MCD in late May 2007 which was approved as a fully-fledged MCD - Whitehaven Marine Cadet Detachment, Number 1 Troop, Bravo Company - following an inspection at the end of January 2008. We welcome enquiries from any young person - male or female - interested in joining.

Marine Cadets must be aged at least 13 years old and follow the same broad training programme as our Sea Cadets. There are, however, a number of differences - for example, only Marine Cadets take part in training programmes with the Royal Marines. The MCD parades every Wednesday and Friday evening between 1830 and 2130. As always, for further information, please contact us.