AREA EVENTS

The Area team has again given excellent service to the Area providing
logistical support and the organisation to our events. We are appreciative of the efforts of the various teams, who are too numerous to thank individually, for their input. I would like to thank the cadets and Unit staff for their support of these very popular events.  Entries into Area Events, the percentage
figures are shown below:

Drill    89% 
Individual Piping  100%
Team Piping   100% 
Pulling    92%
Boat Handling (Sail)  22% 
Boat Handling (Pulling) 44%
Power Boat Handling  67% 
5-a-Side Football  92%
Canoeing - 9 Districts entered teams 
Swimming - 8 Districts entered teams
Sailing Regatta (Open Event) representation by five Districts in 7 Bosuns;   
8 Junior Toppers; 10 Picos; 4 Lasers; 4 Wind Surfers

I am becoming concerned with the number of cadets who are arriving at Area Events with pre-sustained injuries that render them unfit for the activity.
Recently we have had a cadet admitted to hospital twice with an asthma
condition when it was revealed they had suffered a number of attacks in the preceding week, which their Unit knew about. Another cadet was seen being supported by two others all weekend after aggravating a knee injury. The question has to be asked what good were these cadets gaining from the
experience and what use were they to their fellow team members. If any of the injuries had escalated to very serious then our "duty of care" would have been called into question.

There is a growing apathy regarding the completion of forms and letter
writing. Common faults are missing dates of birth, rate, initials; if it is asked for then assume all the information is required. Recently an entry was
received " Cadet Karen ????????? - Unit" how were we supposed to use this information. Staff collating information having to chase missing details is wasting considerable time and effort. We need to resurrect the old saying "If a job is worth doing it is worth doing well" if only to benefit our cadets.

This year Offshore Training Grants were available to every Unit, which amounted to 75% of the cost of a cadet going to sea in a Sea Cadet Offshore Vessel. The take up rate so far (October) has been 37% how can a Unit
afford to turn down this opportunity. It was made easy, no means test, all that was required was a copy of the receipted booking form which could have been secured with a £10 deposit. Similarly, Training Equipment grants were made available 65% take up, 35% could not be bothered to write a letter! When the memoranda were published I expected to be "killed in the rush" disappointingly the applications only came in "trickle fashion". What is needed to motivate Unit personnel to help their Units and above all their cadets?

J T K GILBERT MBE
LT CDR (SCC) RNR
SSO