Sea Cadets makes exploring the world, and who you want to be, feel safe and exciting at the same time.
Sea Cadets is different from school. There's a lot of learning. But it's done through activities – on the water, on land and in the unit – and our volunteers leading by example.
It's also different from home, a break from screens and being cooped up inside. The platform we offer youngsters is built on the foundations of a Royal Navy ethos. Their customs and traditions inspire our work and focus our commitment to supporting teenagers today.
Teenagers meet other cadets at events around the UK, and on trips abroad. They become comfortable with people from different places and backgrounds, which can make going out into the world so much easier later on.
Our friendly, committed volunteers – some from a naval background, many not – look after our cadets, and help to draw out anyone who's shy.
If you think Sea Cadets sounds like having orders barked at you, think again. Many cadets do want to learn to be a bit more self-disciplined, and our volunteers will help with that and make it fun. But they also help young people to try things they've never done before, safely, and to support them until they achieve it.
Friendships are born out of working together and playing together. Everyone looks after each other at Sea Cadets. There's a lot of respect in the air. And many teenagers and volunteers say it's like belonging to a second family.
We take this responsibility extremely seriously and have robust, active safeguarding practices in place to ensure all young people feel secure and protected in Sea Cadets today.
At Sea Cadets you’ll see teenagers who cycle miles to us because they can’t afford the bus fare, greeting their friend dropped off in a new car, and young people of all races and religions, of all abilities, chatting together, striving together, and cheering each other on.
But the world is also changing in tough ways. And too many young people out there are going into an adult world under-equipped with the resilience, self-belief and social confidence they need to make a decent life for themselves. Sea Cadets has the skills to change this.
Many teenagers arrive at Sea Cadets excited at the prospect of all the adventures and activities they can have with us. And they’re brilliant fun. But quickly they see the depth of what they can gain here for their future and they grab it with both hands!
Sea Cadets leaves us like this:
