2025 Rewind and review, our progress so far

A review of RFCA YH-supported activity and progress from April 2025 to now.

RFCA proudly supported HQ North’s successful summer CCF camp.  Young people from across the UK engaged in sport and training in Otterburn and North Yorkshire Water Park for a weeklong action-packed event.  Over the course of three weeks, the team welcomed over 1,500 cadets from over 50 contingents. A huge well done to all the adult volunteers and HQ North staff who made this massive undertaking a resounding success. Watch the full reel here.

North Region rolled out ‘the runway’ for air cadets in the North with an exciting week for air cadets at RAF Leeming that included activities such as shooting, STEM, leadership, flying, excursions and paintball. A great effort by staff and adult volunteers for making this experience a memorable one for our cadets. Watch the full reel here.

We organised and managed the annual Lord-Lieutenants’ Awards in Yorkshire and the Humber and featured the appointed 2025 Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadets who shared what it means to be a cadet.  The reels have surpassed 20,000 views across our channels so far, and still counting. The 2025 videos can be viewed  by clicking on each link: West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, East Riding of Yorkshire and South Yorkshire.

We were thrilled to secure ITV Calendar who covered Humberside and South Yorkshire Army Cadet Force’s work with Commonwealth War Graves Commission ‘Eyes On, Hands On’ project Led by Captain Vicki Brooks, the cadets maintain war graves in the county, ensuring the memory of our soldiers endure. Through this work, the cadet force links generations, youth and veterans, united in respect and remembrance and promotes community efforts by young people and volunteers. Read more by clicking here.

Or watch the reel here.

Another fantastic Visitor’s Day was held in August at Driffield Training Camp.  Local employers and business leaders from the region were invited to learn about the cadet experience and how it prepares young people with skills for future careers and employment. It was great to hear from cadets about their exceptional achievements and receive an official introduction from the new Commandant at Humberside and South Yorkshire Army Cadet Force, Colonel Dean Rushby. Watch the reel here.

The 2nd Annual Cadet Business and Enterprise Weekend was held in July at York St John University. Business School academics and local business leaders led lectures and a ‘Dragon’s Den’-style competition, putting the cadets’ learned skills and knowledge to the test.  The two-day event welcomed tri-service cadets to teach them how to develop a business idea, marketing, leadership and collaborative development.  Participation on the course earned the cadets who attended credit towards application to the University’s Business School. Watch the full reel here.

We ran our Volunteers’ Week campaign featuring CFAVs in Yorkshire and the Humber.  We were thrilled to work with Army Veteran Craig Hammond-Kaye, Commanding Officer of Sheffield Sea Cadets, Luke Clifford-Roper-Smith , of 1324 (Hawker Blackburn) Squadron, and former Lord-Lieutenant Cadet Flossie Shaw, (pictured) who has returned to her school alma mater – at The Grammar School at Leeds.  Their interviews emphasised the benefits of being a volunteer with a call to action to learn more about and join as a CFAV. You can click on each name to watch their story.

The Combined Cadet Force continues to thrive.  Despite one Contingent sadly closing their doors due to mounting financial pressures in the school,  we’ve seen a new unit approved for Appleton Academy in Bradford (CCF Army) who will begin parading cadets after February 2026 half term. The majority of cadets in the region benefitted from one of the fantastic Summer Camps on offer this year, and this term’s cadet recruitment numbers are looking promising across most schools.

The Cadet Review, a magazine that features news stories, events, achievements, and successes of our cadets and adult volunteer leaders from across Yorkshire and the Humber, celebrates its 20th year in circulation. Published tri-annually and with 9,000 copies in circulation per year along with an online version means that this magazine, rich with stories and images of cadet activity, is more accessible to our cadet community and beyond.
Colonel David Fuller, RFCA YH Chair and Editor of The Cadet Review, reflects:
“Since 2005, with the continued support of the RFCA team and the many contributors, we have reached the 20th anniversary…It has been an incredibly rewarding journey thus far, and I am excited about the many more years of success that The Cadet Review has in store.”

Click to access the full Cadet Review library

We rolled out another Reserves Day social media campaign during Armed Forces Week 2025 when we featured three Yorkshire and the Humber Reservists. Thank you to Alex, Charlotte and Richard who shared with us their stories and experience about balancing civilian employment with their military career.  (Click on each name to watch their reel). The campaign raised the profile of our regional Reserve Forces and contributed to efforts to recruit and retain in support of the MOD’s commitment to increase the Reserve Forces.

We were pleased to support The Yorkshire Officers’ Training Regiment summer expeditions –  both military and adventurous training  – that developed skills in leadership, teamwork, confidence and resilience. One hundred and fifty Officer Cadets participated in Ex DALESMAN VICTORY 25, the Annual Deployment Exercise conducted between Yorkshire Officers’ Training Regiment and Defensity College, Netherlands.

In addition to military training expeditions, we also supported Adventurous Training  for 48 Officer Cadets in Ex DALESMAN WANDERER 25 at RAF Valley, Snowdonia. The exercise provided 48 Officer Cadets with the opportunity to achieve a range of qualifications in Summer Mountaineering, Rock Climbing, and Mountain Biking and strengthen their endurance, fitness and teamwork skills.

While on deployment in Belize on Ex MAYAN PHOENIX, Yorkshire REME Reservists from 146 Company took part in Adventure Training in Ex JUNGLE SPROCKET. The expedition included jungle caving and cave tubing. The unique exercise strengthened navigation skills in challenging environments and was also an opportunity to engage with the native culture.

Along with The Ulysses Trust, we supported 150 Regiment RLC in Ex MIDDLETON ADVENTURE. Reservists hit the great outdoors in North Wales for Adventurous Training which included kayaking, mountaineering and mountain biking. The exercises put our Reservists’ stamina and endurance to the test and upped their skills and awareness in diverse environments. All who participated had an amazing (yet challenging!) time.

In November, we once again supported 19th Light Brigade’s Festival of Remembrance 2025 where 300 guests from Yorkshire’s military, civic and business sectors were brought together at Huddersfield Town Hall for an evening of music, outreach and an unforgettable performance honouring all who have served.

We celebrated Reservists from Yorkshire and the Humber for their exceptional service to the forces community. In 2025, twelve Reservists received Lord-Lieutenant’s Awards for their outstanding commitment and contribution to the Reserve Forces.

In the June 2025 issue of West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce magazine, a feature spread profiled Reservist Alex Lenton and his employer’s HR lead, Steph Boycott of Longs of Leeds. The article highlighted Alex’s work with his firm, a Silver ERS employer, and how they work together to accommodate his Reserves commitment and time off for training, as well as the transferable skills he brings to the workplace.  The magazine is distributed as a hard copy and digital version, to businesses throughout North and West Yorkshire. Overall, great messaging to organisations who would like to learn more about signing the Armed Forces Covenant and joining Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme. Read the article here – scroll to pages 34-35.

Yorkshire University Royal Naval Unit hit the Freshers Fairs circuit to introduce themselves and recruit potential new members. We were pleased to support them with the recent membership drive,  securing stands at Freshers’ events in Hull, York, York St John, Sheffield Hallam and Leeds Universities. Well done to all who participated in this fantastic effort.

We hosted Gold ERS employers in London for Trooping the Colour and in Edinburgh for the Military Tattoo.  We were also delighted to have employers as VIP guests at our Lord-Lieutenant Awards as well as Royal Salutes in York. These opportunities welcome forces-friendly employers to attend military pageantry in all its patriotic glory and for us to show our appreciation for their efforts that support our Armed Forces.

Seventeen employers recognised for their outstanding support to the armed forces community were celebrated in October at a formal awards event at York Racecourse.  Silver recipients included a range of employers in size, sector and industry, with several actively working towards achieving Gold ERS.  Read the full announcement here.

In November, we will celebrate a total of twenty-four 2025 Gold ERS winners from Yorkshire and the Humber and the North of England. The employers will be VIP guests at the Royal Salute in Museum Gardens to celebrate the birthday of His Majesty The King. An awards reception will follow at York’s De Grey Rooms. We are thrilled that of the twenty-four recipients, sixteen recipients are from Yorkshire and the Humber – a record high in a single year for our region!

The Employer Engagement Team continues to create networking opportunities for our ERS community.  In September, we held an event at our office joint-hosted with The Yorkshire Society. Several Yorkshire Society members attended and witnessed Mark Hill MBE sign the Armed Forces Covenant on behalf of Reshape Media Group.  The success of this event has resulted in the planning of our next event in partnership with The Yorkshire Society, enabling us to have stronger ties to employers in Yorkshire.

Following the success of the Business and Military Expos launched last year, Employer Engagement has forged strong partnerships with regional organisations extending our reach to new audiences who will be our next AFC signatories and ERS members.  We were thrilled to work with  The Cutlers of Hallamshire, who hosted an evening of speakers that discussed the benefits of being a forces-friendly employer as well multiple Armed Forces Covenant signings by organisations in the steel industry.

The Estates team proudly reopened Totley Training Centre in South Yorkshire. Works included renovations,  upgrades with modernised facilities, new equipment and refreshed infrastructure. The re-introduction of this facility has received a positive response from our Cadet Forces who have already visited to deliver exercises and activities with their units.

July marked the grand opening of the new centre for our Immingham Sea, Army and Air cadets. HM Lord-Lieutenant of Lincolnshire, Toby Dennis, officially opened the doors.  The new joint cadet centre has revived the local area and community, serving as a hub for young people to meet and learn.  Thanks to the Estates Team, builders, contractors and CFAVs, who transformed the former police station into a space with function rooms and fit for purpose facilities for our cadets.  Read The Grimsby Gazette news story here. 

The Estates Team recently completed numerous site repairs and refurbishments throughout Yorkshire and the Humber including (yet not limited to) a Cadet HQ relocation from Endcliffe to Barnsley Barracks, 299 Parachute Squadron RE new roof installation, improvements at Harewood Barracks to the officers’ mess, redecorated bar area with modernised lighting fixtures, and installation of Armco barriers outside the centre. At HMS Ceres at Carlton Barracks, a new calorifier was installed and flooding repairs were carried out with a new sump pump. All works ensure facilities are suitable, modernised and fit-for-purpose so our personnel, cadets and reservists can constructively meet and work.

Further improvements carried out over the summer include works at Thorne, Carlton and Londesborough Barracks, and Spen Valley Cadet Centre. Projects such as a new fence installation, kitchen cabinets replacement and redecorating breathe new life in tired spaces and brighten up places where cadets and reserves meet and train.