Cadets Count Down to Brand New Centre

20 Feb

Army and Air Cadets in Spen Valley are on their way to getting a brand new, purpose-built Cadet Centre following the demolition of their old building this week.

The Spen Valley Army Cadets and 2490 (Spen Valley) Squadron of Air Cadets both share the premises but had long outgrown the 40-year old building which was never designed to house so many cadets.

The new brick-built centre will be capable of comfortably housing the existing 55 cadets from both detachments, while allowing for further expansion for both Army and Air Cadets in the future.

Featuring a much larger drill hall, which will allow cadets to parade properly inside, plus additional classrooms and offices, the new centre will enable the cadets to experience a much fuller range of activities and training.  This includes a flight simulator, rooms for computer equipment plus dedicated areas for project work.

Sergeant Instructor Andrew Northrop, Detachment Commander for the Spen Valley Army Cadets, said: “Having the new centre will be like a breath of fresh air for the cadets.  Our training had always been constrained by what has become quite cramped conditions in the building, but now we’ll be able to enjoy the full range of training and exercises, which I know will make a massive difference to everyone.”

Flight Lieutenant Kellyann Martin from the Spen Valley Air Cadets added: “All our cadets are very excited to see the new building.  It wasn’t easy to offer cadets the quality of training and facilities that we aspire to while we were in the old building, but with this new purpose-built centre, it’ll mean we can provide a much better environment with a flight simulator room, more teaching rooms, a bigger drill hall.  We just can’t wait to get in there!”

The new centre is due for completion by the end of August 2012 and has been designed, procured and project managed by the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association for Yorkshire and The Humber.