Borough of Poole Sea Cadets

23/06/2026

What a fantastic evening for Poole Sea Cadets! 🌊⚓
We were delighted to welcome Brig Ged Salzano, Commander Royal Navy Cadet Forces, for a night on the water and the opportunity to show him first-hand the experiences, teamwork and seamanship our cadets enjoy.
From getting underway to sharing what makes Sea Cadets so special, it was a brilliant opportunity to showcase the confidence, skills and spirit of our unit.
A huge thank you to Brig Salzano for joining us and for his continued support of the opportunities Royal Navy Cadet Forces provide to young people across the UK.

16/06/2026

A big thank you to The Connaught Trust

The Connaught Trust provides grant funding to help cadets and reservists with adventure training, equipment, expeditions, and special projects across the South of England
In the accompanying photos our cadets are seen having fun on Poole Harbour in a Trinity 500 provided through a Connaught Trust grant.
The cadets were preparing for a forthcoming rowing competition.
The Trinity 500 is a 5.5m purpose-built fixed seat rowing boat purpose built for the Sea Cadets.

Southern Area Sea Cadets Wessex District Sea Cadets The Mayor of Poole & The Charter Trustees The Mayor of Poole & The Charter Trustees
Wessex RFCA

08/06/2026

🚣‍♂️ Help Us Bring Home a New Trinity 500 Rowing Boat! 🚣‍♀️

Our Sea Cadets are rowing hard towards a new Trinity 500 rowing boat, and we need your support to get us over the finish line!

We're delighted to share that we've already received an incredible £2,200 grant from the Steven Bernard Foundation, giving our fundraising campaign a fantastic start. Thank you for believing in our young people and their future.

Now here's where it gets even more exciting...

⭐ If we reach 25 supporters on our Crowdfunder, Sport England will pledge an additional £3,500! ⭐

This funding would take us a huge step closer to our target and help provide our cadets with a modern, safe rowing boat that will benefit young people for years to come.

Every donation, no matter the size, brings us closer to unlocking this extra funding. If you're unable to donate, sharing this post with friends, family and supporters would make a massive difference too.

👉 Please support our campaign here:

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/row-row-row-your-boat

Thank you for helping our cadets develop confidence, teamwork, resilience and a love of being on the water.

Please donate, share and help us reach 25 supporters! ⚓🚣‍♀️

The project will replace a Trinity 500 boat to increase and retain participation in rowing for young people in Poole Sea Cadets aged 10-18.

06/06/2026

This morning a handful of our cadets and volunteers braved the wind and rain to attend the annual D-Day Memorial Service on Poole Quay commemorating the 22,540 servicemen and women who made the ultimate sacrifice on D-Day and during the Battle of Normandy in 1944.

As well as being the third largest embarkation point for the Normandy landings with thousands of troops - and more than 300 vessels - setting sail from Poole Harbour, local companies were instrumental in supplying boats and associated materials needed for the Allied invasion.

A second memorial was held for the members of the United States Coast Guard who set sail from Poole Quay on 6th June 1944.

The sixty 83-foot boats, built entirely of wood, and the 840 crew members were credited with saving the lives of 1437 men and 1 woman.

A special mention must go to POC Charlie who didn’t let the adverse weather conditions affect his outstanding bugle playing, performing Last Post and Reveille at both memorial services.

We Will Remember Them.

02/06/2026

Our band members took part in the recent Southern Area Sea Cadets Band Competition hosted by Farnham Sea Cadets. What a great day in the unusually warm Spring weather. Southern Area Sea Cadet Bands. Here are some Poole zoom-ins from those provided by the organisers. Sea Cadets

21/05/2026

GOING FOR ROYAL GOLD
Two members of Poole Sea Cadets were recently invited to Buckingham Palace to celebrate achieving their Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award.
Congratulations go to PO Phoebe and CI James. Until recently James was also a uniformed Poole Sea Cadet. The occasion also coincided with the 70th anniversary of the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.
After arriving at Buckingham Palace, they met with PO Charlotte Smith, a DofE instructor from Poole, before entering through the front gates and into the palace gardens, where guests were free to explore at their leisure. The duo are pictured in Buckingham Palace’s Rose Garden.
Throughout the afternoon, the British Army Band from Catterick and the Central Band of the Royal Air Force provided musical entertainment. Guests also heard from several keynote speakers, including Sam Thompson, Corinna Brown, Gareth Malone, Kate Garraway, Chloe Chong, and Hayley McQueen.
Following the National Anthem, Prince Edward addressed the gathering, reflecting on his own experiences of completing the DofE Award. Other ambassadors also shared how the scheme had positively influenced their lives.
One particularly moving speech came from Jon Watts, who described how completing his Gold DofE while serving a prison sentence helped transform his life. Having discovered a passion for cooking during that time, he has since published cookbooks, worked alongside Jamie Oliver, and now runs a business supporting ex-prisoners through culinary training.
The award recipients were later lined up to meet Prince Edward, who spoke with as many participants as possible. Many of the Sea Cadets were grouped together, and the Duke took time to ask where they were from, whether they had enjoyed the experience, and to personally congratulate them on their achievements.
James’s mother, who is also Treasurer of the Poole Unit, said:
“I am so proud of James for achieving his Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. I was honoured and blessed that when he was told he could invite one guest to attend with him, he immediately turned to me and said, ‘Mum, you have driven me everywhere and supported me throughout — would you like to come with me?’”
Reflecting on how the scheme has evolved over the years, she added:
“When I think back to my own DofE experience, I remember the long walking expeditions. Times have changed. James chose to spend two weeks sailing on a yacht for his final expedition, although he could just as easily have gone rowing on the Thames or walking in the New Forest.”
Very well done to James and Phoebe on this outstanding achievement. BZ to you both.

Wessex RFCA

20/05/2026

Our band features in the news

20/05/2026

Congratulations to everyone — what an amazing achievement! 👏
🏆 The Vernon Award – Engineering
🏆 Leadership Trophy – LC Sandra
🏆 Gilbert-Jones Trophy – SLt(SCC) Walsh RNR (First Lieutenant)
🏆 Duke of Edinburgh Award
🏆 Telescope Trophy – LC Sandra
A huge well done to all involved. Your hard work, dedication, and commitment continue to make us proud.

19/05/2026

Very well done Lauren

17/05/2026

Our marching band was privileged to lead the recent Beating of the Land Bounds of Poole parade along Poole Quay and the High Street with a Civic Party headed by the Mayor of Poole, Councillor Mark Howell. Cllr Howell is also a Patron of Poole Sea Cadets.
The historic event commemorates the checking of the various marks and boundaries and where the harbour is concerned of the original Winchelsea Certificate which was awarded to Poole in 1364. The purpose was to see that the “bounds” or boundary markers still existed, that they were in the correct position and that there has been no encroachment. This is a very important part of Poole's history.