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Tuesday 7pm - 9:30pm Thursday 7pm - 9:30pm

Wantage Air Cadets

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Wantage Air Cadets

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1861 (Wantage) Squadron RAF Air Cadets

A local military youth organisation based in Wantage, Oxfordshire.

Providing opportunities to people aged 12-18
Tue & Thu 19:00-21:30hrs

Venture Adventure Are you up for fun, adventure, incredible experiences and making new friends? Are you looking for something to give you the edge in life? Then welcome to the Royal Air Force Air Cadets (RAFAC). Better known as the 'Air Cadets', we’re a UK-wide cadet force with more than 40,000 members aged between 12 and 20 years. We're sponsored by the Royal Air Force and can give you hands-on experience of activities and courses that will challenge and develop your skills to help you succeed in whatever you want to do. RAFAC is made up of two areas:

Air Training Corps - The ATC is the RAF's cadet force, divided into 6 Regions, 36 Wings and more than 900 Squadrons within communities around the UK

Combined Cadet Force (RAF) - The CCF (RAF) is our section of the CCF which is made up of cadets from all three services, coming together in approximately 200 independent and state schools across the country.

24/10/2026

Cadets from the Sqn supported the RBL Poppy Appeal today in Sainsbury's, Wantage, and we will be there again next weekend.
Here's a few of the afternoon team.

22/10/2026

11/10/2026

As we end the first National Cadets Week, here's an update of what the Sqn has been up to.

On Tuesday, as the theme was 'Cadets in the Community', we joined the local branch of the Royal Air Force Association (RAFA) at the Royal British Legion in Challow for a talk on WW2 Aviation in Oxfordshire by Aldon Ferguson.

On Thursday, the theme was 'Cadets save Lives', so prospective cadets from our latest intake evening and their parents were invited to the Sqn so our current cadets could deliver basic first aid training to them.

Today, Sunday, we had cadets attend the Oxfordshire Joint Services Cadet Challenge at Radley College. Cadets from RAFAC, CCF, ACF, Sea Cadets, Police Cadets, Fire Cadets and St John Ambulance Cadets competed across different events during the day.

05/10/2026

Today marks the start of the first National Cadets Week.

From 5 to 11 October, cadet forces across the UK will celebrate the difference cadets and volunteers make in their communities every day. It's a chance to share our stories, celebrate achievements and help more people understand what RAF Air Cadets offers young people and volunteers.

Whether you're a cadet, volunteer, civilian instructor or member of staff, National Cadets Week is your chance to get involved and share the skills, experiences and friendships that make RAF Air Cadets special.

National Cadets Week is a celebration of the people who make the cadet experience possible and the difference they make every day.

It's our chance to celebrate cadets, volunteers, civilian instructors and staff, while helping more people understand what RAF Air Cadets is all about. Every day, young people gain confidence, learn new skills and build friendships through their cadet experience. Volunteers also learn, develop and make a difference in their communities.

The week can help us reach potential cadets and volunteers, as well as parents, employers, schools, community groups, businesses and partner organisations. By sharing real experiences, we can show them what RAF Air Cadets has to offer and encourage more people to join or support us.

Many people only see a small part of what we do. Alongside flying, aviation and adventure training, cadets can take part in cyber, STEM, space, first aid, leadership, music, radio communications and community projects.
National Cadets Week gives us a chance to share these opportunities and show the difference they make to young people and volunteers.

Most of all, this week is about celebrating our people and being proud of what we achieve together.

Each day has a different focus:
Monday: Launch Day
Tuesday: Cadets in the Community
Wednesday: Volunteer Celebration
Thursday: Cadets Save Lives
Friday: Skills for Life
Saturday: Open Day
Sunday: Digital Wrap Up

21/09/2026

1861 (Wantage) Sqn RAF Air Cadets open evening…come along, say hello, see what we offer.

🗓️Tuesday 22nd September 2026

📍Icknield Lane, Wantage, OX12 8ES

🕣19:30 - 21:00

📧[email protected]

We accept new cadets from age 12 and in Year 8, up to age 17.

Please email us with any questions and to let us know you're interested in attending.

13/09/2026

Today we attended the Battle of Britain Service in Wantage to pay our respects.

22/08/2026

1861 (Wantage) Sqn RAF Air Cadets open evening…come along, say hello, see what we offer.

🗓️Tuesday 22nd September 2026
📍Icknield Lane, Wantage, OX12 8ES
🕣19:30 - 21:00
📧[email protected]

Please email us with any questions and to let us know you're interested in attending.

27/06/2026

Today is Armed Forces Day. An opportunity for us to pay tribute to the brave people who work tirelessly to keep us safe.

Please spare a thought for our Armed Forces and their families, our veterans, and those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. We owe them a huge debt of gratitude.

08/06/2026

We will be at the Grove & Wantage Extravaganza this Saturday if you'd like to stop by our stall for a chat and/or support our fundraising.
Our next intake evening is in September if you'd like to add your name to our list.

07/06/2026

Yesterday, staff and cadets from 1861 (Wantage) Sqn and 2410 (Didcot) Sqn attended the D-Day Service at the Harwell D-Day Commemorative Stone on the edge of Harwell Campus.

Address

Icknield Lane
Wantage
OX128EF

Opening Hours

Tuesday	7pm - 9:30pm
Thursday	7pm - 9:30pm

Website

http://www.wantageaircadets.org/

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