Making Waves: A Paddleboarding Adventure for London Cadets
23 October 2024
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23 October 2024
With a generous grant, ACCT UK enabled Greater London South West Sector ACF to buy 10 paddleboards. This ushered in a wave of excitement in time for their annual camp. Summer 2024 saw over 250 cadets from London’s bustling streets take to the water, many for the first time. This thrilling paddleboarding adventure proved both challenging and rewarding for the young participants.
Not merely a week of entertainment, the paddleboarding programme has opened doors to novel experiences. It’s built confidence, fostered camaraderie among the cadets… and provided them with essential water safety skills.
The funding paid for paddleboards and buoyancy aids. This has made paddlesport accessible to a diverse range of young people from inner-city London. No longer a distant dream, water sports have become a tangible reality for these cadets.
Beyond personal growth, the programme’s success extends to financial efficiency. By purchasing their own equipment and delivering activities in-house, the sector has taken a significant stride towards sustainable adventure training. This savvy approach resulted in a remarkable £14,000 saving in Adventurous Training costs compared to the previous year.
Cadets didn’t leave empty-handed. Many departed with more than unforgettable memories. As part of the Paddle UK Performance Awards, several earned their Paddle Start or Paddle Safer Awards. This boosted both their confidence and their skill set.
The Greater London SW Sector has been on a journey to make Adventurous Training an open offer to all cadets. Their focus on sustainable delivery has been key to this goal:
This funding has really helped kick-start our Adventurous Training provision within the Sector… We look to embed paddlesport as a key offer over the coming years with this equipment benefitting even more young people.
Major Nick Thomas, Senior Staff Officer (Assistant Commandant), South West London ACF
The paddleboarding programme’s success is an example of how targeted funding can create ripples of positive change… extending far beyond the initial splash. As we continue to support such initiatives, more young people from diverse backgrounds will have the opportunity to paddle towards new horizons… both on and off the water.