PaddleSport Training: Making Waves in Wiltshire
22 October 2025
22 October 2025
New opportunities are flowing for cadets in Wiltshire thanks to ACCT UK’s grant funding. The support has helped build a team of qualified instructors ready to deliver PaddleSport training and adventures across the county. This has brought water-based adventures to young people who might never have had the chance otherwise.
The grant funded three adult volunteers to complete their Paddle UK PaddleSport Instructor Assessment. In addition to this, another volunteer will soon qualify as a PaddleSport Leader. These national qualifications mean Wiltshire ACF can now run safe, independent PaddleSport sessions, opening the water to many more cadets.
Major Kingston, who applied for the grant, saw it as a way to widen access…
“It will enable cadets to be introduced to paddling and time on the water. For many cadets, this will be a unique opportunity to experience something new and develop fitness, teamwork and leadership skills. It could even spark a lifelong hobby or future Olympic ambition.”
This newly qualified team will establish a sustained PaddleSport programme for Wiltshire ACF. They plan to offer taster sessions and Paddle UK Explore Award courses for both cadets and adult volunteers. The county will also be able to plan water-based Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expeditions. This is something that has not been done locally in many years.
SI Johnson, Wiltshire’s Adventurous Training Officer, explained the grant’s significance:
“The support has really made a big difference in all sorts of ways. Having funding in place was a big factor in getting our assessments organised. It has made a material difference to us.”
Beyond the individual training, ACCT UK’s support is creating lasting capacity within the county. Wiltshire can now deliver a large part of its 2026 Annual Camp Adventurous Training programme “in-house,”. This saves funds for other cadet opportunities, while improving quality and consistency.
SMI Collins highlighted this benefit: “To have the direct support of ACCT UK behind us is brilliant. Becoming self-sufficient in water sports means cadets and instructors can enjoy these activities either free or at a much lower cost than commercial centres.”
By investing in instructor training rather than one-off experiences, the grant ensures sustainable benefits that will ripple through Wiltshire ACF for years to come.
Paddlesport training sessions build much more than water skills. They help young people develop confidence, resilience, teamwork, and problem-solving. The upcoming local courses will include both instruction and a residential element, giving cadets the chance to hone their abilities in realistic conditions.
Major Kingston emphasised this wider impact… “Adventurous Training is often cited as one of the top reasons teenagers join the Army Cadet Force. These new opportunities will help us deliver that expectation while giving cadets something genuinely different from their everyday lives.”
Grant funding ensures that no cadet is left behind due to financial barriers. The grant allowed local volunteers to become qualified without large costs being asked of individual families. Consequently, Wiltshire ACF can now offer exciting water-based activity days and training at little or no cost to young people.
Major Kingston summed up this inclusive approach: “I’m really bought into providing opportunities like these. Social mobility is a big motivator for me.”
For adult instructors and cadets alike, the PaddleSport project is about more than paddling techniques. It’s about introducing challenge, encouraging growth, and showing young people what they’re capable of when pushed beyond their comfort zone.
As the newly qualified instructors launch the county’s first paddling programme, excitement is building among both volunteers and young people. The goal is simple but transformative… To help every cadet experience the adventure, teamwork, and confidence that come from time spent on the water.
SI Johnson captured it best: “The impact of this will be significant and long-lasting. Thanks to ACCT UK’s support, we’re building a generation that’s ready to make waves!”