Cadets win Team London Award

Gwanwyn Mason being presented with the VPC Team London Award

On Thursday 1st March the Volunteer Police Cadets (VPC) won the prestigious Team London Award for ‘Best Group Volunteering effort’ for ‘Improving Community Safety.’

This was the first annual Team London awards held at City Hall and hosted by the comedian Hardeep Singh Kohli. The award for ‘Improving Community Safety’ was presented to Gwanwyn Mason VPC Programme Development Manager by Richard Taylor OBE and the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson.

Cadets Excel at Total Policing Awards

Grant Fulker at the Commissioner's Excellence in Total Policing Awards

On Tuesday 28th February 2012 at Central Hall Westminster, three of our cadets attended the Commissioner’s Excellence in Total Policing Awards. All three cadets had been short listed for the Total Policing ‘Cadet of the Year’ category.

The event was hosted by LBC Radio Broadcaster Nick Ferrari. The Commissioner, Bernard Hogan-Howe QPM and The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson was also on hand to present some of the awards.

All three cadets were worthy finalists; Zoe Green from Southwark, Oliver Bryce from Redbridge and Grant Fulker from Sutton. They were all nominated for their commitment to the Volunteer Police Cadets and because of the high number of hours they volunteer in support of policing.

Victoria Army Cadet Leader honoured as best

Lieutenant Steven Ronner, Officer Commanding 235 Westminster Detachment ( London Scottish) received the ultimate accolade as a youth leader when he stepped forward at the annual awards ceremony at the Handel Street TA Centre Camden in front of a packed room of dignitaries led by HM Queen’s representative Vice Lord Lieutenant of London, Wing Commander Mike Dudgeon OBE., DL.

For his work as the leader of Rochester Row’s successful Army Cadet Detachment he has been awarded the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association Best North West London Detachment Commander Award for 2011/12. He was singled out from thirty four ACF units throughout Greater London.

Accepting the award he said “This is a great award and I am very honoured. It gives recognition for the work of both me and the staff at the Detachment who work so hard to ensure that we offer these young people the right sort of challenges to develop them as good citizens. Adult volunteers all around London are giving their time to help teenagers ever night of the week, and I’m very proud to be given this recognition.”

Steven, originally from Pimlico, has been involved with Army cadets for over fourteen years, the last three as Officer in Charge at 235 Westminster Detachment. He was an Army Cadet himself and knows well what challenges teenagers need to stretch them. He lives in Bromley and is married with two young children. He works in the city.

More info about your local Army Cadets at www.armycadets.com. Cadets are aged 12-18 and Volunteer Leaders aged 19 -55.

Enfield Army Cadet Leader honoured

Wing Commander Mike Dudgeon presents award to Capt Collett - husband Ray Collett

Captain Janet Collett, Staff Officer of the Army Cadets’ 23 Company in Middlesex and North and West London, stepped forward for an honour at the annual awards ceremony at the Handel Street TA Centre Camden in front of a packed room of dignitaries led by HM Queen’s representative Vice Lord Lieutenant of London, Wing Commander Mike Dudgeon OBE., DL.

For her long and dedicated work with the Army Cadet Force she has been awarded the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association Certificate of Meritorious Service.

Accepting the award she said “This is a great award and I am very honoured to receive it. I only wish that my father could have been here to see this. My husband , father and son have each in their turn received this award and now I have kept the family tradition alive. Adult volunteers all around London are giving their time to help teenagers ever night of the week, and I’m very proud to be given this recognition.”

Janet from Enfield has been involved with Army cadets for over fifteen years.

More info about your local Army Cadets at www.armycadets.com. Cadets are aged 12-18 and Volunteer Leaders aged 19-55.

Uxbridge Army Cadet wins Senior Girls Cross Country Competition

Cadet Corporal Rhianna Murphy receiving trophy from Lt Colonel Hodson

Over 130 teenage Army Cadets from all over North and West London converged on Horsenden Hill, Perivale on a freezing Sunday morning 29 January to take part in the annual cross country running competition. Junior and Senior Boys and Girls events were run over the 5 Kilometre course in bitterly cold but bright conditions with over twenty teams competing.

Sixteen year old Cadet Corporal Rhianna Murphy of Hayes struck gold as she took first place in the Senior Girls run.( Pictured receiving trophy from Lt Colonel Hodson TD ) She is a pupil at Bishop Halt School and joined Army Cadets two years ago.

Lt Colonel Mark Hodson TD, Commandant of the Army Cadet Sector in North West London presented the awards. He said “This is an excellent turnout for the cross country event. It’s tremendous that so many of you have turned out to take part in the competition –you have all done well, those who won and those who took part “.

Winners from this event will go forward to represent London at the Regional and National Cross Country Championships later this month.

More info at www.armycadets.com about your local Army Cadets. Cadets are aged 12-18 and Volunteer Leaders aged 19 -55.

White City Army Cadets win Senior Boys Cross Country Competition‏

Senior Boys Team Winners

Over 130 teenage Army Cadets from all over North and West London converged on Horsenden Hill, Perivale on a freezing Sunday morning 29 January to take part in the annual cross country running competition. Junior and Senior Boys and Girls events were run over the 5 Kilometre course in bitterly cold but bright conditions with over twenty teams competing.

Eighteen year old Cadet Lance Corporal Jamal Hounam of Shepherds Bush struck gold as she took first place in the Senior Boys run. ( Pictured receiving trophy from Lt Colonel Hodson TD ) Jamal has been in Army Cadets since 2008. In addition the 204 White City Detachment (Para) cadets (pictured) also won the Senior Boys Team prize.

Lt Colonel Mark Hodson TD, Commandant of the Army Cadet Sector in North West London presented the awards. He said “This is an excellent turnout for the cross country event. It’s tremendous that so many of you have turned out to take part in the competition –you have all done well, those who won and those who took part “.

Winners from this event will go forward to represent London at the Regional and National Cross Country Championships later this month.

More info at www.armycadets.com about your local Army Cadets. Cadets are aged 12-18 and Volunteer Leaders aged 19 -55

I’m a Celebrity, get me out of Police Cadets

Caroline Pidgeon AM and Brian Paddick recently visited a Greenwich Volunteer Police Cadets Weekly meeting held at St Pauls Academy in Abbey Wood .

Caroline is head of the Liberal Democrats in the London Assembly and Brian is the Liberal Democrat London Mayoral candidate, and a retired Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Met Police.

Caroline and Brian watched the Cadets performing drill and then inspected them in sub zero temperatures before moving inside where both of them gave presentations about their roles and work.

Caroline described her role on the London Assembly and as a member of the Police Authority and Transport Committee including the one hour bus ticket campaign.

Brian spoke about his time as a police constable in the mid 1970′s which the cadets found very interesting followed by his mayoral aspirations and a description of eating ‘creepy crawlies’ and accompanying weight loss when he starred in I’m a Celebrity in 2008!

Brian then assisted in a cadet education session focusing on robbery and stop & search. A scenario followed where Brian played the role of robbery suspect and 2 cadets acted as police officers. The Cadets showed considerable knowledge of law and procedure as they were quizzed by the ‘suspect’ before he consented to be searched, the stolen property (a mobile phone) was recovered and he was arrested.

Caroline has invited the cadet unit to visit and have a tour round City Hall, the home of the London Assembly.

Commenting after the visit Caroline Pidgeon said: “I thoroughly enjoyed my visit. It was especially great to see so many young men and women actively involved in this organisation.”

“Before the visit I had some idea how impressive Police Cadets were, but this visit has totally confirmed that!”

Brian Paddick further commented: “I was very impressed with the turn out of the cadets, their numbers and how smart and keen they all were. I’ve always said that I don’t miss the job, but having visited the Cadets I realise how much I wish I could be out on patrol as a police officer in uniform again.”

Working 9 to 5

A young woman from a Girls’ Brigade group in London was given the chance to do a week of work experience with the organisation’s media team.

Publishing, Journalism and Media student Lydia Gray, from 1st Leyton GB, shares her experiences of her time at GB in January…

‘I joined GB aged four, found that I loved it, and started going to church too. So, when I had to do a week of work experience for my journalism course at Middlesex University, it made sense to apply to GB’s magazine The View.

‘I live in London, and the GB office is in Didcot, so I only went in from Monday to Wednesday, travelling there and back on the train. I worked from home on Thursday and then met Media Co-ordinator Catherine Burt in Central London on Friday.

‘I spent most of Monday meeting everyone and finding out about their roles – that afternoon I chose some possible images for the spring View cover and wrote a cover headline. I was thrilled when I saw the cover design with the title and one of the images I’d chosen on.

‘It was amazing to be given such important work – on Tuesday and Wednesday I wrote some stories sent in by various groups for the spring edition and then a programme page.
‘On Thursday, I spent a couple of hours researching and thinking of ideas for design and articles. I also reviewed a series of books and spent the afternoon writing another programme page for the summer edition.

‘On Friday, I met Catherine and GB’s London Development Worker Liz Sarkodie. I interviewed Liz about YOU.Matter for an article about that. After lunch, Catherine and I discussed my ideas from the day before, how my week had been and the interview article.
‘The week was wonderful and I’m sad that it’s over. I really enjoyed it and feel it was a useful experience, so now I’m just waiting to see the issue of The View with my work in it!’

Cadets reap rewards for a busy 12 months

Best new cadet – Ali Golchin
Award for exellence & commitment for 3 years – Patrick McCleary, Patron McCleary and Hamzah Parvez
Cadets cadet of the year – Patrick McCleary
Cadet of the year 2011- Alfie Bance
Team of the year – Iron team

Borough Commander Jason Gwillim said: “It is important that we recognise the positive and valuable contribution that young people make in our communities and I would like to congratulate all of the cadets whose personal achievements have been recognised this evening.

“Tonight’s ceremony however is not just about celebrating the personal achievements of a few and I would like to pay tribute to the effort and commitment of all our cadets and thank them for the fantastic job that they do, not only in supporting the work of my officers in the local community but also the professionalism and pride which they have displayed whenever they have been called upon to represent the Royal Borough.”

VPC Co-Ordinator for Kensington and Chelsea, PC Jayne Richardson said: “2011 has been an amazing year, which saw the Metropolitan Police Service pushed to the limits as we witnessed some of the most disturbing images seen in London with the riots. During those difficult times we were still able to rely on the help and support of our cadets, all of whom stepped up to the challenge and volunteered for all events as and when required.

Her Majesty the Queen congratulates Cadet Leaders

Cadets & Leaders celebrate after intensive weekend course

Leaders in the Volunteer Police Cadet Programme (VPC) and the London Area Sea Cadet Corps (SCC) have received a letter from Her Majesty the Queen congratulating them on the delivery of the first ever Leadership course run jointly by the VPC and Sea Cadet Programme for Senior Cadets in London.