WHO WE ARE

Luke Stevenson, St John Ambulance

Luke is a dedicated volunteer with St John Ambulance Cadets in Leicestershire and Rutland. He tells us more about his experiences as a Cadet and volunteer, serving as St John’s National Cadet of the Year, and going on to work for St John Ambulance in Training Development.

I joined St John Ambulance Cadets when I was 10 - I’ve been a member for 9 years. I joined because I had recently moved to a new area and wanted to make friends. I also had a passion for healthcare with a goal of becoming a paramedic. I was very nervous, initially, when I joined, however I found a group of other young people like me who welcomed me and became my second family.

Being a St John Cadet has given me a safe space to learn, develop, make mistakes and find out who I am. It challenges me to be the best version of myself. I want to shout out "Aunty" Jean Mardon, a leader of our group, who has been a constant rock of kindness and support throughout my journey and the journey of many, many others.

I was incredibly proud to serve as St John's National Cadet of the Year where I advocated for and represented young people in the charity whilst also taking part in a whole host of ceremonial duties.

I'm extremely proud to now volunteer as the District Youth Lead for Leicestershire and Rutland, being responsible for youth provision across both counties. It is my way of ensuring young people have the amazing opportunities I experienced. I am also happy to say I work for St John Ambulance who have provided me with an incredible first career in Training Development.

Being part of a Uniformed Youth Group is a key part of my identity and it has a special place in my heart. I shall forever be grateful for the day 10-year-old me walked through the doors of my local unit and found my second family.

Megan Newbury, Sea Cadets

Megan is a longstanding member of, and volunteer for, the Sea Cadets. She tells us about the enabling environment that her group leaders created each week, for her and her mum, and about how her confidence grew and how being a Sea Cadet made her stand out against other applicants to secure professional roles.

“I joined T.S Explorer in Evesham at the age of 10. I stayed as a Cadet until the age of 18, having worked to the rank of Leading Cadet. At 18, I moved away to university and had a year between ageing out of Cadets and returning as a volunteer. At 19, I re-joined T.S Explorer and commuted from university to cadets twice a week. I have since moved units due to moving house, to T.S Otter in Tewkesbury.

I joined Cadets because both of my siblings were Cadets, and I grew up at the Cadet Unit, getting to know most of the instructors, who later taught me. When I started, I was very shy and had no confidence in myself. Through the cadet experience, I have become more outgoing and willing to give new things a try.

At home, I come from a single parent household, and I was a young carer for my mum. This made things, such as school, very challenging, however I found that going to Sea Cadets was always something I could look forward to. My mum became Stores Officer, and the unit was made wheelchair accessible for her to be able to attend with me, so I didn’t need to worry about her being at home. Having a disability myself, it was always a worry that I wouldn’t be able to participate in activities in Cadets, however it was always made possible that I could join in and get the best out of the experiences provided.

As a Cadet, my highlight was becoming the Chairman of Wychavon’s Councils Cadet. Through this, I attended all of the Chair’s functions across Wychavon and was able to work with local councillors and MPs and voice young people’s opinions of current events and the youth uniformed sector. Another highlight was going offshore in one of the power vessels. I was able to attend a week’s long voyage on T.S. Jack Petchey. This was made possible through bursaries available through the organisation.

As a volunteer, a highlight was becoming qualified as a Drill Instructor. At 20, I attended a week course at HMS Excellent to qualify as a DI, scoring top of the class and being invited to join the national instructional team for the course. Since becoming qualified in November 2022, I have instructed on a Cadet Drill Instructor Course and 2 Adult Drill Instructor courses, with another coming up.

My time as a Cadet has helped me stand out in interviews. At the age of 19, I was able to gain employment with the Marine Society and Sea Cadets, working on an outreach programme aimed at delivering boating opportunities to diverse young people. I worked on this project for 2 consecutive years.

Currently, I work for West Mercia Police in the Volunteering team. Since succeeding in the interview, I have been informed that when I mentioned my volunteering and time as a Cadet, this made me stand out from other candidates. Currently, I am aiding the restructuring of the West Mercia Volunteer Police Cadet scheme, with my experience as a Cadet helping immensely. I hope to work further in the volunteer and charity sector and know that my time as a Cadet and as a current volunteer will help with future career aspirations.

I plan to continue to volunteer with Cadets, and am looking forward to gaining instructor qualifications, such as my Slide Seat Rowing and Safety Boat qualifications in the next year. I hope to work towards a promotion to Chief Petty Officer, after having completed the minimum time served as a Petty Officer and meeting the requirements.

Ivar Morganti, Royal Air Force Cadets

Ivar tells us about how the exciting activities and values of Royal Air Force Air Cadets (RAF Air Cadets; RAFAC) inspired him as a child and how his regular attendance at his squadron gave him a sense of belonging and allowed him to hone his communication skills. Now a volunteer with RAFAC, and previous Best Male Cadet in the UK, Ivar explains how his experiences with RAFAC shaped who he is and contributed to him securing his first professional role.

My Cadet Career started at 1159 (Edmonton) Squadron, a high-performing unit within Middlesex Wing, but I am currently a Regional Project Officer for London and the South East of the UK. I visit different units and deliver training nationally, in contrast to being stationed at a single unit.

I joined in August 2014 at 12 years old and am still involved at 21; so, 9 years altogether!

My decision to join the RAFAC was deeply influenced at a young age by my nanny, Sarah, a dedicated volunteer who has devoted nearly three decades to the organisation! Throughout my childhood, Sarah would bring first aid equipment and badges for me and my brother to play with after school, and tell us stories of the exciting activities we could take part in. I joined the RAFAC because I was excited by the stories told to me, but I was also drawn to the values of teamwork and community service that are promoted in the organisation. I wanted to learn important life skills and contribute to my community, which I could immediately do. Over time, my experiences within the organisation only solidified my belief that it was the right choice for me.

There was a mix of excitement, curiosity, and a touch of nervousness when I joined the RAFAC. 1159 Squadron was initially quite small in size, but it was still daunting to be joining a new organisation by myself. However, I was immediately welcomed into the group and swiftly began to engage in activities which transformed my nervousness into a deep sense of belonging and enthusiasm. This continued to develop and kept me motivated and eager to contribute my best. I still remember my initial feelings upon joining, but a trusting atmosphere is instinctively fostered in all units due to the nature of the organisation.

I've been fortunate to experience a multitude of remarkable activities within the RAFAC. Notable moments include completing a solo parachuting course, competing in international shooting competitions and completing my Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. One of the most profound highlights was the opportunity to work with the London Fire Brigade and Food Bank with my fellow Cadets to collect food and create hampers for the homeless at Christmas. Witnessing the collective efforts of our team to support the local community was immensely rewarding and influenced future community efforts. I am also proud to have been recognized as the best male Cadet in the UK in 2020, which highlights the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and a commitment to embodying the organisation's values.

Being a member of the RAFAC has been an incredibly enriching and transformative experience which I am incredibly proud of. The organisation instilled in me a strong sense of responsibility where I learned the value of commitment and dedication. These skills have proven invaluable in my academic and professional life. One significant benefit of being in the RAFAC was my exposure to liaising and communicating with adults from a young age. Through interactions with adult volunteers, I quickly learned how to engage in meaningful conversations, express ideas, and collaborate on projects. This was a critical skillset of mine that was favourably identified by companies when I was applying for pre-university and undergraduate internships. I also think it's important to highlight that I had fun as a Cadet! I was provided the platform to be a productive member of society early on whilst making new friends and trying new experiences.

I am incredibly grateful to all of the adult volunteers that have supported me throughout my time as a Cadet. They played an instrumental role in supporting my development as a young adult and have inspired me to become an adult volunteer myself. I am particularly grateful to (Dr) Cameron Braddy-Green and (Dr) Aaron Brady-Green who held my Squadron’s ‘Commanding Officer’ roles. It would be unjust to outline my appreciation in only a few sentences, but I can confirm that they truly shaped my life’s trajectory and are beyond upstanding members of society.

I am fortunate to continue my time in the RAFAC, and currently fill the Training and Delivery Support Officer (TDSO) role for Military Skills activities. However, being a Cadet provided me with defence exposure that has directly influenced my early professional career. I am currently working within IBM Consulting on the Ministry of Defence account, working directly with clients and partner organisations across the world.