ACCT UK 2022 Excellence Awards – 16th June 2023 at Carpenters’ Hall.

The annual ACCT UK Excellence Awards were presented by our Guest of Honour, Colonel Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam MBE Honorary Colonel for Medical Support in the Army Cadets and beacon for the ACF medical support officers, on the 16th of June at the Carpenters’ Hall.

It was a heart-warming, celebratory event and a great day for the recipients and their families, recognising the wonderful achievements of Army Cadet Force (ACF) cadets and adult volunteers in 2022. We are proud of them and grateful to our donors BAE Systems and Ammo & Co, for supporting the awards.

We are also proud of the ACF, because the awards show, yet again, that the ACF plays such an important role in nurturing the development of young people across the UK.

ACCT UK established the awards to recognise achievement of cadets and adult volunteers in the core non-military aspects of the ACF’s training syllabus which form the wider Cadet Experience. We want these inspiring stories to be heard to encourage the ACF community to keep delivering them and to show society that the ACF is a brilliant organisation for driving positive change.

Those activities are the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, First Aid, Music, Sport and Community Service. We recognise these achievements because the activities develop those skills and qualities that young people need when they go out into life, self-confidence, self-discipline, teamwork, resilience and so on, and as importantly they add breadth to the training syllabus and give cadets nationally recognised qualifications.

The Army Cadet Force community consistently go above and beyond, selflessly dedicating themselves without seeking recognition for their achievements. As the ACF’s charity, we want to ensure that their inspiring stories are heard and that the ACF receives the acknowledgment it deserves as a driving force for positive change in society. Each award winner’s recognition stands as a testament to their personal character and dedication.

“We are so grateful to BAE Systems and Ammo & Co, because your generous donations enabled us to recognise those cadets and adult volunteers in a fitting and special ceremony.”

Lieutenant General Sir Andrew Graham Bt, CB, CBE, President ACCT UK

Among the attendees that day were the lucky recipients of tickets to the first King’s Birthday Parade for over 70 years, which took place on 17th June. ACCT UK wanted to give something to say “thank you” to the cadets and adult volunteers of the ACF. Having secured five pairs of tickets, we set up the prize draw asking the ACF community to nominate cadets and adult volunteers who they felt had done something special or achieved something extraordinary which deserved recognition.

Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAV), Staff Sergeant Colleen Chinnery from Cross Hands Detachment was one of the King’s Birthday Parade winner.

Colleen was nominated by a fellow volunteer who said:

“Even though Colleen is a single parent with two children, she has shown selfless commitment to the Army Cadets. Colleen has been a fully committed Detachment Commander and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Rep for 12 years, and has been instrumental in promoting the Army Cadets within her local community.

Colleen has always put The Cadet first, making sure they achieve all they can, as well as promoting their well-being and supporting them with their future endeavours.

Colleen has been a great support for her detachment staff, she is a supporter of the County Corps of Drums band and her peers are always grateful for her commitment and contribution.

She is the most positive person and laughs and smiles her way through every activity. The Cadets and fellow volunteers find her a joy to be around.”

The accomplishments acknowledged during the event serve as evidence of the outstanding contributions made by the young individuals and adult volunteers, who together form a resilient and influential community within the Army Cadet Force.