London Outreach Project - Army Cadet Force

Lord Mayor praises Outreach

The Pan London Outreach Project has now run and slowly evolved over four years. With its partner the Metropolitan Police Service, the target of involving all 32 London boroughs is getting near to being met. In year one, some four boroughs take part, and this year the number had increased to twenty eight.

This increase is in no small way due to the efforts of our partner. Whilst still talking to Youth Offending Teams, the large increase has been brought about the involvement of schools officers and safer neighbourhood teams. This brings us into direct contact with our target audience, and allows follow up work to be undertaken thereby increasing the chance of long term diversion.

Spreading the administrative load across all the four London Sectors, allows the Army Cadet Force to provide a good coverage of staff without over burdening any one sector. Central administration comes from a committee formed and coordinated by RFCA for Greater London. Each year two ‘taster days' are run involving up to two hundred young persons, this is followed up by an Adventure Training Week for up to eighty successful referrals. Staffing is split for this between the ACF and the police.

The success rate falls largely in line with the national average, and though by no means its original intention, last year 40% of the final stage participants joined the ACF.

At the City of London AGM, at the Mansion House, The Lord Mayor said the following in his speech:

"This evening is not a time for long speeches, so I will finish by giving three thanks. First to the RFCA which, like the TA, marked its centenary last year, and which so effectively supports the volunteer reserves of all three services and cadets in so many practical ways.

The second goes to the Livery Companies in this room who have linked with regular, reserve and cadet units to great mutual benefit. For example, in just five years the Livery-Cadet Link has taken off. You are making a very real difference to the lives of young people who want to succeed, not least children from difficult backgrounds who are crime vulnerable. It is the goal of successive Lord Mayors to expand that link until every Livery Company is in a position to assist a London cadet unit and we are well on the way.

Now the Cadet movement embraces young people from many different backgrounds. But the ACF Outreach programme focuses on some of those considered to be exceptionally vulnerable, or who have committed their first low-level offence.

After a selection process, more than 80 young people are given the chance to build their self-esteem and confidence by attending the London Outreach programme in Wales.

The Lady Mayoress and I visited both the selection day and the successful candidates in Wales. I was hugely impressed both by the commitment of their instructors (from the Army Cadet Force and the Police) - some of whom are giving up 20 hours a week in voluntary work - but especially by the guts and resilience of those who had persevered to the final stage of the training. It was inspirational."