Our Impact
ACCT UK supports young people and volunteers in the ACF to experience life changing opportunities through the ACF that positively impact on young people’s development.
ACCT UK supports young people and volunteers in the ACF to experience life changing opportunities through the ACF that positively impact on young people’s development.
What is the impact of ACCT UK funding? It gives cadets the opportunity to develop the skills and confidence that will inspire them to lead and achieve later in life. The charity works to ensure the opportunities presented by the Army Cadet Force reach young people who need them most.
ACCT UK supports the Army Cadet Force programme to go beyond the green syllabus of fieldcraft. We encourage and support a range of activities through charitable grants and employ staff to help deliver the programmes.
ACCT UK Staff oversee and promote the ACF’s non-military programmes including the Duke of Edinburgh’s award, Music, Sport, and First Aid.
Meet the teamACCT UK supports ACF counties with the cost to purchase equipment that supports their non-military programmes, such as tents, kayaks, mountain bikes musical instruments, and more.
View Cadet StoriesACCT UK supports ACF counties with funding that lowers the overall participating cost of adventure training and trips for both cadets and volunteers.
View Cadet StoriesOur support to Army Cadet Counties through grants enables young people to access sports, music and adventure activities contributing to their physical and mental health and wellbeing.
View Cadet Stories
22 October 2025
15 October 2025
8 October 2025
24 September 2025
Last year we received funding from the Dept for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) Award to support marginalised cadets in England and Northern Ireland to participate in their DofE Award. ACCT UK matched this funding to ensure that cadets in Scotland and Wales didn’t miss out.
This meant that, alongside our usual grant-making, we were able to fund:
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme develops the skills and confidence young people need to become resilient adults. It offers nationally recognised qualifications that are valued by employers.
We’re proud that Army Cadets UK is one of the four founding organisations that participated in the DofE trial over sixty years ago, which helped the Duke of Edinburgh establish the award.
Last year we facilitated 23,000+ Cadets to undertake some form of First Aid Training.
Additionally, ACCT UK funded over 130 adult volunteers to obtain first aid qualifications, including teaching qualifications.
Impact story
Cadet Lance Corporal Lewis Butler’s brother was choking on a piece of food during a family meal, when LCpl Butler stepped in to perform life-saving aid. He calmly tilted his brother forward and administered back blows until the blockage was freed.
His mum, said “We were all so relieved it was unreal. Lewis said he had learned what he did in the Army Cadet Force and I was just unbelievably proud of him and grateful to those that taught my son those lifesaving skills… Well done Lewis, you literally saved your little brother’s life.”
We value our Cadet Force Volunteers and their commitment to us. As the ACF’s charity it’s our duty to ensure that volunteers can access both the training and support they need to thrive in their ACF role, as well as in their professional and personal lives.
Adult volunteers and cadets face unique risks while participating in challenging activities and training. That’s why our comprehensive insurance scheme is specifically tailored to your needs.
Our Collective Group Personal Accident (GPA) Scheme and Contingent* Public Liability Insurance (CPLI) provide essential financial protection. Our insurance offers peace of mind for Army Cadet Units, adult volunteers, and cadets across the UK.
We’re proud to offer this valuable service as part of our commitment to supporting the ACF.
We support adult volunteers across the UK with grants to support their development as youth leaders.
ACCT UK supports ACF adult volunteers to lead and inspire the next generation of leaders. Our grants enable adult volunteers to develop new skills that reinforce their commitment to a comprehensive and engaging Cadet experience.
“Thank you, ACCT UK, for funding this course. I plan to use this qualification a lot within my Company and the wider Battalion.”
– Cadet Force Adult Volunteer
We value Army Cadet volunteers and could not survive without their dedication and commitment to supporting Army Cadets. We believe in developing the skills of Army Cadet volunteers, enabling them to develop their professional leadership skills in order to progress within their Army Cadets career and provide the best team leadership experience for their Army Cadets.
Any volunteer of the Army Cadet Force (ACF), irrespective of rank or uniform status, can apply for a personal development bursary if they require financial assistance to register for an adult qualification recognised by the Cadet Forces. These qualifications can be academic qualifications, e.g. City and Guilds Level 7, or skilled training, e.g. Archery Instructor Award.
We support Army Cadet Force adult volunteers and young people to study towards leadership qualifications through CVC. The qualifications are highly valued by employers, educational institutions and within the Army Cadet Force ranks. They are particularly useful for those CFAVs and young people with no prior vocational training.
Read Jamie’s experience of the personal development bursary.
“The qualifications and awards that CFAVs have gained are estimated as providing the current cohort with potential lifetime earnings increases of £15.58 million.”
Northampton University, Institute for Social Innovation and Impact
We support Army Cadets across the UK with grants to support their development. Whether it’s funding to support an individual life-changing activity such as an Army Cadet representing Team GB at the Olympics or essential equipment needed for a new activity being developed by an Army Cadet group, ACCT UK supports Army Cadets in achieving their goals.
We make sure that young people don’t have to miss out on life-changing experiences and opportunities by removing financial barriers to adventurous training, expeditions and battlefield tours.
ACCT UK grants support battlefield tours, which have a significant impact in deepening young people’s education and understanding of war, service and sacrifice. Whilst on tour, Cadets are able to understand their personal connection to this important part of history by paying their respects to relatives buried at the cemeteries or recorded on memorial plaques as well as conducting short services of remembrance.
Hear about the impact of battlefield tours in cadet’s own words.
The Matthew Bacon Bursary Fund awards bursaries to individual Army Cadets, aged 15+, each year. It’s aim is to enable army cadets to complete a 14-day Summit Adventure in order to build their confidence and develop their ability to take advantage of opportunities that life offers to them. The course enables them to discover new skills, experience new sports adventures and learn important key life skills for the future.
Find out more about the Matthew Bacon Bursary.
The Matthew Bacon Bursary enabled me to unlock my full potential and embark on an adventure I didn’t think was open or possible for me. Each day and each activity helped me take one small step closer to becoming more confident and the person I have always wanted to be.”
Young Army Cadet Kashif
A four year University Study conducted by the University of Northampton found that participation in Army Cadets has significant positive impacts on young people, increasing their performance at school and improving their employment and career prospects.
Independent ResearchWe recognise the contributions of ACF cadets & adult volunteers through internal and external national award nominations and events.
Each year, the charity organises an Excellence Awards ceremony, inviting VIPs and category award winners who have achieved excellence across the areas of Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Sport, Music, First Aid and Community Service.
Cadets and Adult Volunteers are constantly going above and beyond within their communities, and the ACCT UK honours and awards manager strives to bring those to light with nominations for national awards. In recent times, ACCT UK has made a significant impact on the wider world of national medallic recognition.
During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, ACCT UK set up The Hardship Relief Fund to support Army Cadet Volunteers and their families who had suffered considerable financial difficulties. Our aim was to get volunteers through the pandemic so they would be well looked after and ready to volunteer again when Army Cadet activity restarted. 245 adult volunteers were supported in 2020, with 58% of families able to keep their homes as a result of our help.
In a survey of 295 families supported by The Hardship Relief Fund, 97% said ACCT UK had made a positive impact on their situation during the pandemic, with 58% of families avoiding getting into further debt or arrears as a result of our support.
The Hardship Relief Fund allowed me to feed and keep my family warm.”
Being allowed a grant from the Hardship Relief Fund, literally allowed me to breathe a sigh of relief and improved my mental health’
Without ACCT UK’s support I would have got into debt with no way out. I can’t thank you enough’