Middlesex and North West London ACF

It's and we'd like to kick off the week by saying a huge THANK YOU to every single adult volunteer who supports our cadets. We couldn't do it without you 🫶

The cadet winner of the ACCT UK Excellence Award for sport has shown outstanding leadership and influence within her community and can often be found encouraging others, especially girls and younger cadets, to get involved in sport and supporting less confident teammates, all while showcasing exemplary commitment to training.

Congratulations to Cadet Corporal Elena Chelarui who's consistency and dedication to sport makes her a deserving winner of an Excellence Award, in addition to her 2025 National Football Captains' Choice Award, and 3 gold medals she gained through representing Middlesex and North West London ACF at the Rivalry Cup.

"This award means a lot — it reminds me that effort, perseverance, and passion always pay off. Proud to represent the army cadets and keep pushing for excellence!"

We couldn't have summed it up better ourselves. Congratulations Cadet Corporal Chelarui, your enthusiasm, high standards, and leadership inspire those around you. Discover who will be joining Elena at the Excellence Awards ceremony next month: https://acctuk.org/excellence-awards/2025-excellence-award-winners/

ACCT UK's Excellence Awards are supported by BAE Systems, Inc. with additional contributions from AMMO & Company Ltd and HORIBA MIRA

Cadets and staff from 20 and 21 Company supported the ABF at the Saturday Rugby League Cup Finals. It was a really great day, and we'd like to thank the ABF for the invitation and the opportunity to be involved.

First-ever National Cadets Week to celebrate cadets and reconnect young people with the Armed Forces

• The first National Cadet Week in October 2026 will celebrate the cadet forces, one of the country's most effective youth organisations
• A new Cadets Action Plan will set out the government’s long-term vision for the cadet forces
• The initiative will help deliver on the Strategic Defence Review’s demand for a whole-of-society approach to defence

Tens of thousands of young people across the UK will have the opportunity to discover the cadet forces as the government announces the first ever National Cadets Week, taking place from 5-11 October 2026.

The week will celebrate the UK’s cadet community – one of the country’s most effective youth organisations – and the tens of thousands of young people and adult volunteers who make the cadets a success.

Throughout the week, cadet units across the UK will open their doors to schools, families, and local communities. Cadets and volunteers will take part in outreach activities, delivering presentations to schools and places of work to raise awareness of the programme.

With a strong focus on first aid training, activities will showcase the opportunities available, and inspire new cadets, attract new volunteers, and demonstrate how cadet experiences help prepare young people for adult life.

As part of the Strategic Defence Review’s whole-of-society approach to defence, National Cadets Week aims to deepen the bond between the Armed Forces and communities across the UK.

Minister for Veterans and People Louise Sandher-Jones MP said:
“Cadet forces are one of the best examples we have of the whole-of-society approach to defence in action, bringing together young people from all backgrounds and giving them the confidence, skills and sense of purpose that benefit their communities and our country as a whole.
“None of this would be possible without the thousands of adult volunteers who give their time freely, and I want to thank every one of them. I hope National Cadets Week inspires more people to get involved and support their local cadet force. You don't need a military background, just a commitment to young people. It is one of the most rewarding things you can do.”
Under the Government's ‘30 by 30’ campaign launched in August 2025, the MoD is expanding cadet opportunities for a new generation of young people – boosting the cadet forces by 30% by 2030.

This will deliver over 40,000 more cadets across the UK, supporting the government’s commitment to break down the barriers holding back Britain’s young people.

Royal Navy cadet Lila Unlu, age 14 said:

“Being a cadet has given me amazing opportunities I would never have experienced in my day-to-day life. It’s taught me so much about resilience, team building, and leadership. Along the way I’ve made some incredible friends, built confidence and created memories and skills that will stay with me for life.”

The initiative will showcase the opportunities available through the MOD-sponsored cadet forces: the Sea Cadet Corps, Army Cadet Force, Air Training Corps, Volunteer Cadet Corps and Combined Cadet Force.

A new Cadets Action Plan will be published during National Cadets Week setting out the government’s long-term vision to expand high-quality, accessible cadet provision and ensure more young people from all backgrounds can benefit. This will include modernising the cadet experience, providing an attractive offer to retain and recruit adult volunteers, and ensuring that cadets and volunteers have the right resources and support.
Minister for Schools Standards, Georgia Gould, said:

“National Cadets Week will be a fantastic chance to celebrate the incredible difference cadet programmes make to young people’s lives across the UK.

“We’re making sure more young people than ever are building confidence and life skills through cadets in schools and we’re going further to make sure every child and young person at every school and college can access a range life-changing extra-curricular activities like sports, outdoor adventure and civic engagement.”

Boosting the whole-of-society approach to national resilience, the week will celebrate the dedicated network of adult volunteers who lead local cadet groups.
Through the cadets, young people develop essential life skills, including leadership, teamwork, and resilience, taking part in activities ranging from adventurous training and fieldcraft to flying, sailing, and gaining Civil Aviation Authority-endorsed drone qualifications.

Participants can also work towards nationally recognised qualifications, including BTECs, first aid certifications and The Duke of Edinburgh Award.
The Cadets Action Plan will support the growth of the cadet forces, helping more young people to progress into careers in the Armed Forces, public services, and wider defence sector, while strengthening national resilience.

23 Company’s Cadet Company Sergeant Major (CSM) has now been appointed as the Sector Cadet Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) following a successful interview process.
This promotion reflects his leadership, commitment, and dedication within the Army Cadet Force, and is a significant achievement for both 23 Company and the wider sector.

This weekend saw The Combined Cavalry Old Comrades Memorial Parade (Cavalry Sunday) 2026 took place on Sunday, 10 May 2026, in Hyde Park.
Representing the Army Cadet Force were:
216 Detachment and 191 Detachment from Middlesex North West London ACF
Cadets from Hereford and Worcester ACF
Cadets from Northants and Rutland ACF
Cadets from Dyfed and Glamorgan ACF
The parade brought together veterans, serving personnel, and cadets to honour the traditions and history of the cavalry regiments.

UPDATE DETAILS

It is important that we have up to date information on our systems for our Cadets and Adult Volunteers.

Parent and Guardians can update their child's details by a few taps of your fingertips on MyCadet and Adults Volunteers can update their own details through Cadet Portal, no more paper forms to fill out, it's that easy.

Why do we need up to date information?

☎️ Contact Next of Kin in event of an emergency
💊 Medical Information so we're aware of allergies etc
🍽️ Dietary Requirements to ensure the correct meals are ready, or ration packs available, for weekends or camp
📸 Photo Consent for us to promote your child's achievements with the Army Cadets (also cadets can not attend public events without photo consent)

These details should be checked and updated every 6 months. If you are unable to access MyCadet or Cadet Portal please speak to your child's Detachment Commander or go to https://armycadets.com/parents-guardians/mycadet-app/

It's time to shine a spotlight on another of our 2025 Excellence Award winners, WO2 Bronwyn Mauchline, who will be accepting the adult volunteer's excellence award for first aid at the event in June.

Since stepping into the role of Middlesex and North West London ACF's First Aid Officer in 2023, Bronwyn has excelled, qualifying to teach and run a thriving competition programme; honing her skills to become a casualty simulation specialist. Her realistic "wounds" are featured at regional competitions and inter-service events where she has led her sector teams to multiple wins.

WO2 Mauchline's dedication to improving first aid training for cadets and adult volunteers is above and beyond the call of duty, making her our third Excellence Award winner:

"This award means a great deal to me. First aid is a vital life skill, and I’m proud to support cadets and adult volunteers in building the confidence and knowledge to act when it matters most." - WO2 Bronwyn Mauchline

Under Bronwyn's leadership, large numbers of adults and cadets have gained vital first aid qualifications, with several using their skills in real emergencies, including WO2 Mauchline herself, who saved a colleague from choking.

Congratulations, WO2 Mauchline. Your dedication to first aid is invaluable to the cadet community!

See the full list of Excellence Award winners on our website: https://acctuk.org/excellence-awards/2025-excellence-award-winners/

On Monday, cadets from 235 Westminster (Scots Guards) attended a special event hosted by the Lord Mayor of Westminster at his parlour in support of RC Vision.
The event served as a showcase for RC Vision, a social enterprise dedicated to working with young people across Westminster. Their programme focuses on building resilience, developing analytical thinking, and fostering a strong interest in STEM subjects. This is achieved through hands-on engineering challenges centred around electric radio-controlled motorsport—practical and engaging activities that encourage critical thinking, problem-solving, and confidence in technical environments.
Throughout the evening, cadets had the opportunity to see the programme in action. A live radio-controlled racing circuit was set up, allowing them to learn how to drive the cars and take part in short races. In addition, there was a rock-crawler course and a series of programme displays. Cadets also had the chance to speak directly with young people involved in RC Vision, gaining insight into their experiences, ambitions, and the skills they have developed through the initiative.