ACCT UK TRAINING TEAM
Meet the people who keep your favourite ACF programmes running behind the scenes
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Meet the people who keep your favourite ACF programmes running behind the scenes
ACCT UK employs staff to oversee and promote the Army Cadet Force’s non-military programmes including the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Music, Sport, and First Aid.
The non-military programme adds breadth to the ACF training syllabus, helps to form the wider cadet experience and gives cadets nationally recognised qualifications. It takes drive and determination to keep the non-military programme going. Adult volunteers are spread thin and already give so much of themselves in time and commitment. Running these wider activities in the ACF is not easy, but it’s very important. ACCT UK works hard to actively promote the diversity of activities and support them through our training support team and charitable grants for counties and individuals.
Mel assists with medical policy and is the centre manager for the Army Cadet Regulated Training Centre, which involves delivering first responder, first aid and teaching qualifications. She looks after the Healthy Minds programme and assists with the coordination of the Royal College of Nursing Cadet scheme. She’s also a CFAV and the National Training Adviser, which includes helping implement the Army Cadet syllabus. Outside of Cadets, Mel enjoys travelling, walking, paddleboarding and canicrossing with her two spaniels.
Jen is responsible for the internal quality assurance of all accredited first-aid courses delivered within Army Cadets. She also supports SO1 Med with administration and delivery of the national first-aid competition and all first-aid courses (including Healthy Minds) delivered at CTC Frimley Park. Jen has been a CFAV for 20 years and is an Area Commander with Merseyside ACF. Outside of Cadets she is a member of the National Trust and enjoys exploring new walking routes in and around the North West – ‘especially ones that finish near a nice country pub’.
Tex’s responsibilities include cadet bands and corps of drums including bugle platoons. He ensures that the new music syllabus and curriculum is followed and arranges performances at high-profile events and national training weekends. This year, he celebrates 25 years of Army Cadets Music. His first camp was Beckingham in 1997 with 40 on parade; this year he hopes there’ll be over 600. When not on Cadets duties, Tex enjoys playing jazz and painting.
Richard finds and books Army Cadets Music camp locations, which includes managing stores and transport, Westminster administration, funding, and ensuring communication and coordination take place. He’s also Army Cadets Music Adviser for the North East. Outside of Cadets, Richard likes to ride his motorcycle throughout the UK. He’s also ridden in Gibraltar and Spain and even shipped his bike to the USA to tour. In the winter, he enjoys game shooting and indulging in his passion for history – he’s currently researching the Knights Templar.
Liz is responsible for ensuring that adults and cadets are fully supported in accessing the DofE Award. She also looks after the expedition element of the syllabus, which is now fully aligned to DofE. She organises training, conferences, support, funding and resources to enable DofE across the ACF and CCF (Army) and works alongside a team of enthusiastic adult volunteers who are members of the DofE Advisory Panel. Liz is also a CFAV with the RAF Air Cadets, where she works as Wing Media Comms Officer and Wing DofE Officer. Outside of Cadets, she loves spending time outdoors, both on trips abroad where she enjoys skiing and exploring, and closer to home where she is often to be found walking or running with her two children and border collie Storm.
Terry is at the helm of planning and organising national sports events and oversees the Keeping Active content of the Army Cadet syllabus. He also assures all sport activities that the regions deliver, including county specialist events. He is also Commandant of Dyfed and Glamorgan Army Cadets, commanding an area that covers more than a third of Wales. He recently completed a challenge that involved riding a road bike 1,000 miles to visit all ten RPOC headquarters in ten days for charity. He says: ‘I’m never bored while keeping active’.
As the National Activities Manager, Callum works at HQ Army Cadets looking after the International Exchange Programmes, STEM Camp, National Remembrance services and many other opportunities that arise throughout the year.