ACCT UK TRAINING TEAM
Meet the people who keep your favourite Army Cadet programmes running behind the scenes
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Meet the people who keep your favourite Army Cadet 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’.
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.
Callum supports the safe, effective conduct and delivery of piping and highland drumming activity for the army cadets across the UK. He is the Scottish Qualifications Authority centre coordinator for tri-service piping and drumming as well as being the cadet forces voice on the piping and drumming qualification board. In his spare time, Callum  enjoys (sometimes) supporting his football team, travelling and being amongst family and friends.
James supports and enables music throughout the Army Cadets and Combined Cadet Force (Army) on a national level, which includes assuring all musical training and governance. He delivers two National Music training camps annually and a plethora of musical engagements in a busy yearly calendar. Having completed a 34-year career as a military musician James is now a Reservist Director of Music and CFAV. In his spare time, he likes to travel, walking, eating good food and can always be found reading a book.
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’.
Andrew Lester is SO2 Adventurous Training & Head of Establishment at the Cadet Centre for Adventurous Training.
Rob is responsible for the planning and delivery of all international activities including the new combined international exchange (ACIE), Youth Exchange Programme (YEP) in India and Baltic Guard. Closer to home Rob is responsible for STEM Challenge, Remembrance Events in London and supporting Sovereigns Parade at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS).
Rob is an ex-soldier/officer in the Royal Signals spanning some 30+ years. He enjoys all sports and recently completed a skydive for a big birthday.
Prior to this appointment, Rob supported wounded, injured and sick soldiers/veterans in their individual recovery providing opportunities for them to embark on some epic challenges in their lives.