Havant Borough Council is proud to support the first National Cadets Week and stands with the volunteers across the borough who help make the Cadet Movement possible.
National Cadets Week (5 – 11 October 2026) is a national celebration of the Cadet Movement, one of the UK's most effective youth organisations. Sponsored by the Ministry of Defence, it brings together five cadet forces: the Sea Cadet Corps, Volunteer Cadet Corps, Army Cadet Force, Air Training Corps and the Combined Cadet Force. Together they support 137,000 cadets and 28,000 adult volunteers across the UK.
This year marks the launch of Phase 1 of the National Cadets Action Plan, setting out the framework for sustainable growth of the cadet forces by 30%, delivering over 40,000 more cadet places by 2035.
Havant Borough Council received the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award in 2023, in recognition of our outstanding support for the armed forces community. We uphold our commitment to the local cadet unit through the Armed Forces Covenant and the Havant Borough Armed Forces Stakeholder group. We also offer up to 15 days additional leave for reserves and cadets to attend training.
Each year, the Mayor of Havant recruits five new cadets to support them and attend events. Each cadet is presented with a signed certificate of appointment and a special badge. Information about the Mayor's cadets can be found on our website.
Councillor Gillian Harris, Leader of Havant Borough Council, said: "We are incredibly proud of the young people who take part in the cadet forces across our borough, and of the volunteers who give their time to support them. The Cadet Movement gives young people opportunities to develop confidence, leadership and teamwork, while making a positive contribution to their local community."