7 Cadet Fundraising Ideas You Can Try: Lessons from 2nd NI Battalion’s £15,000 for ACCT UK

The cadets and adult volunteers of 2nd (Northern Ireland) Battalion, Army Cadet Force, spent 2025 finding creative ways to support ACCT UK… and ended the year by raising almost £15,000 for the charity. Today, they’re sharing these cadet fundraising ideas with you.

Captain Ernestina Giovannoli, Battalion Media Officer, said:

The battalion didn’t rely on one big event. Instead, they looked for ways to turn training and trips into fundraising opportunities.

Here are seven cadet fundraising ideas that worked for them, and could work for you too.

During their ski trip, Lieutenant John Cockburn braved an alpine cold water swim challenge as part of Exercise Snow Finn 25, raising around £1,000 through sponsorship. The battalion showed how easy it can be to link adventure training with charity support.

At annual camp, collection buckets were placed around the site. Cadets, CFAVs, and visitors dropped in spare change during the week, proving that small, simple actions can add up quickly.

With many people no longer carrying cash, we recommend setting up Givestar’s tap-to-donate app on your phone (find out how, here). You can also print a QR code to stick on collection buckets to link to ACCT UK’s fundraising page, enabling online donations

E (Ranger) Company attended three local football matches and collected donations from supporters, raising £1,530. Partnering with community events gives cadets visibility and helps spread the word about ACCT UK.

Again, Givestar’s tap-to-donate app and a clear QR code for online donations are helpful for people who don’t carry cash.

A group of cadets and adult volunteers jumped out of an aircraft at 4,000 feet at Netheravon, raising at least £250 each for ACCT UK. The parachute jump raised £7,800 overall and became one of the battalion’s standout moments of the year.

Cadets from Ballygowan Detachment, F Company turned their battlefield study tour into an opportunity to raise money. During Exercise Shamrock Remembrance, they completed the 15km Airborne Wandeltocht (Airborne March) at Oosterbeek while learning about the area’s history and sacrifice.

The battalion got involved in Northern Ireland’s version of the Edinburgh Tattoo: the St Patrick’s Concert. Ticket sales and donations were shared with 1st (NI) Battalion ACF, with their share going straight to ACCT UK.

An anonymous participant completed the Camino Walk, choosing to raise funds privately. Whether public or personal, every effort counts toward the bigger goal.

Captain Giovannoli summed it up perfectly:

And that’s the lesson. You don’t need one big event. Just lots of small, creative efforts that bring people together for a good cause.

Find more ideas, resources and inspiration on our fundraising page.