The number of cadets and volunteers currently involved with the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) and school units in the West Midlands and surrounding counties has successfully increased by over a third. Since the inception of the Cadet Expansion Programme (CEP) in 2012, an extra 2262 cadets and 137 new Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAVs) are now located in over 42 units. This includes…
The British Army has unveiled ‘Future Soldier’, its most radical transformation programme in over 20 years. Following on from the Integrated Review and the significant increase in defence spending announced by the Government last year, Future Soldier demonstrates how the Army is modernising to address next-generation threats across the globe. This will be bolstered by an additional investment of £8.6 billion in Army…
A Birmingham-based school is one of the latest education providers to formally pledge its support to the wider forces community. King Solomon International Business School in Aston teaches children from foundation year through to sixth form. Offering a wide and vibrant curriculum, the school’s key visions and values are to promote diversity, peace, kindness and mutual respect – based on the virtues associated…
On Monday 8th November we welcomed seven NHS organisations from the Black Country and West Birmingham Integrated Care System (ICS) to sign the Armed Forces Covenant (AFC) at a virtual signing. This is the first ICS to sign up to the Covenant within the West Midland Reserve Forces & Cadets Association’s (RFCA) region. The Black Country and West Birmingham ICS comprises 15 local…
Two organisations from the West Midlands have achieved the highest honour available for companies who support Defence – for the second time. Bureau Veritas UK and Pertemps Limited have both previously been awarded a Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold in 2017 for their outstanding support towards the Armed Forces community. In the five years since they were originally awarded the accolades, their continued…
Over 70 members from Shropshire’s business and voluntary sectors came together for a breakfast event to share best practice and learn more about supporting the Armed Forces community. Held at Bligny House Army Reserve Centre in Shrewsbury, home of E Company 8 Rifles, the early morning Shropshire Business Breakfast networking event was a joint partnership between our Association, Shropshire Council and Telford &…
Members of the Dudley community have been recognised for stepping up to make a difference to the lives of others in their local area. Dudley Council for Voluntary Service (Dudley CVS) recently hosted its AGM and Kindness Awards 2021 at the Brierley Hill Civic. This year’s awards theme celebrated the abundance of kindness in Dudley’s communities, highlighting the achievements of individuals and volunteer…
Following on from the Government’s Covid-19 guidance and the National Youth Organisation’s roadmap for the Cadet Forces to return to face-to-face training, summer 2021 welcomed the long-awaited return of the annual camps. As a highlight in the cadet calendar, the annual camps provide the opportunity for the cadets in their respective areas to spend a week away from home with their peers and…
One of the key outputs of our Association is our work to advocate and promote support for the Reserves, cadets and wider military family. This involves working with employers, local authorities, youth and the wider communities on different projects and events to raise awareness and develop new relationships between the military and civilian communities. Over the past 18-months face-to-face activities have been largely…
Six Army Reservists from A Company Fifth Regiment of Royal Fusiliers (5RRF) in Birmingham have completed an intense 300-mile run from Wiltshire to Newcastle-upon-Tyne – in just 72 hours. Tackling the challenge head on with sheer determination, each pair of runners covered approximately 33 miles per day, for three days. Setting off at 4am from the First Fusiliers Regimental Headquarters in Tidworth, the…
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