Work is under way across Yorkshire and the Humber to get detachments ready for the return of cadets.
RFCA staff member Mal Clark (pictured) is playing his part in the effort by delivering cleansing and sanitising packs to units across the north of the region.
The RFCA is also staging safeguarding and Covid-19 roadshows to make sure Army Cadet Force (ACF) staff and cadet force adult volunteers (CFAVs) know what preparations need to be done before cadets resume ‘in person’ training.
Changing dynamics
“The dynamics are changing day to day but we’re putting an immense amount of work in to make sure we are ready to welcome our cadets back as soon as we get the say so,” said Humberside and South Yorkshire Army Cadet Force’s (ACF) cadet executive officer Tim Atkinson.
“We’re putting new signage in all detachments as well as supplying them with cleansing and sanitising packs. Risk assessments need to be done by each unit and we’ve been given specific instructions from Regional Command that we are working to.”
Air Cadets and Sea Cadets
So far, Tim himself has done eight roadshows covering 90 staff and CFAVs and expects to deliver around the same number again in order to reach all 200 within the Humberside and South Yorkshire area, which also includes CFAVs from Air Cadet Squadrons and Sea Cadet units operating out of RFCA sites.
Yorkshire (North and West) ACF’s cadet executive officer Tom Woodall has begun a similar exercise in his part of the region, though units in parts of West Yorkshire that are subject to stricter Covid-19 restrictions are likely to be later in re-opening.
The Air Cadets and Sea Cadets are making similar preparations.
Split into bubbles
Within the ACF, cadets will be expected to wear masks when they return and will be split into bubbles, according to their training needs.
“We’ve written out to the parents of all our cadets to explain how things will work,” said Tim.
“Our priority as always is to provide a safe, yet challenging experiences for our cadets and that is what we are aiming to achieve again.”