Cadets

Army cadets impacted by housing of asylum seekers at military training camps

Government moves to rehouse asylum seekers from hotels to military sites are impacting the training of youngsters in the Army Cadet Force.

Twenty-seven asylum seekers were moved into Crowborough Training Camp in East Sussex on Thursday, prompting cadet groups to seek alternative locations for training.

In August, the government announced new funding for cadet forces in the hope of growing the youth organisation by 30% by the year 2030. Cadets were also included in last year's Strategic Defence Review.

In information published online, the government said Crowborough's own Army Cadet Force detachment had been moved to another community location, but that other cadet groups who use the camp were still looking for an alternative home.

It said: "The Ministry of Defence continues to support local cadet forces in identifying and securing alternative training locations.

Outside of an interview suite at Crowborough Training Camp, East Sussex — Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, 150,000 training days were recorded at Crowborough Training Camp, according to local MP Nusrat Ghani (Picture: PA)

Viability of alternative sites

"The Army Cadets, No 8 Crowborough Detachment, are now parading twice a week at a community site in Crowborough. The other Cadet Forces are assessing alternative locations.

"We fully recognise the value cadets bring to the local community and the importance of ensuring these activities continue with minimal disruption."

The Kent & Sussex Courier reported that the Minister for Veterans and People, Louise Sandher-Jones, spoke at a community meeting in Crowborough on Friday, attended by Army cadets and their parents.

At the meeting, she confirmed the MOD was exploring the viability of alternative sites for the youth organisation to use in place of Crowborough Training Camp.

At the same meeting, the Courier reported that local MP Nusrat Ghani, who represents Sussex Weald, said that prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, 150,000 training days were recorded at Crowborough Training Camp by youngsters in the cadet forces.

She added that last year, 600 boys and girls used the site as cadets.

Bird's eye view of Crowborough Training Camp, East Sussex — The government says it intends to return the Crowborough site to the MOD (Picture: PA)

Undesirable situation

The newspaper quoted Ms Ghani as accusing the Home Office of denying youngsters access to their "home site" by selecting the site for migrants.

"I am furious that the powers-that-be have already disrupted local cadets without a thought to their needs, and we are put in this undesirable situation by the Home Office's decision to potentially house asylum seekers at the Crowborough Training Camp," the MP said.

There are currently more children signed up to the cadet forces than there are professional soldiers in the British Army.

In August, BFBS Forces News embedded with cadets deployed to Warcop Camp in northern England during their annual training camp. There, youngsters spoke of the opportunities that had secured since signing up as Army cadets.

In July last year, the government's Strategic Defence Review included a specific section on the value of cadets in the context of UK defence.

This was followed by a separate announcement of new funding aimed at increasing participation. That announcement included a £70 million boost for cadet forces, intended to drive recruitment up by 30% by 2030.

The Home Office confirmed it had moved an initial group of asylum seekers into accommodation at Crowborough Training Camp on Thursday, 22 January. It is reported that the site could eventually house up to 500 migrants.

Cadets light candles to remember the fallen

Assess the potential impact

The government says the move is a temporary measure, and that it intends "to return the site to the MOD – at which point it would cease to be used as asylum accommodation".

BFBS Forces News understands that cadet activities were paused at Crowborough Camp and along Beacon Road at the beginning of December.

The MOD is continuing to work with the Home Office to assess the potential impact that housing asylum seekers on military bases could have on cadet forces and future activities, and to develop any necessary mitigating actions.

An MOD spokesperson said: "We take the safety and wellbeing of all cadets extremely seriously.

"We continue to explore all options with the Cadet Forces so that they can resume cadet training in Crowborough. An alternative temporary venue in Crowborough is being used by the Army Cadet Force for weeknight training.

"The details of this venue have been shared with the RN Cadet Force and RAF Air Cadets, who are also scoping other alternative sites to determine suitability for their own training requirements."