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New Year, Fresh Start Health, Fitness & Beauty Purpose beyond January
Promotional Content • Saturday 24th January 2026
January encourages reassessment. New year’s resolutions often return to the same ambitions: learn something new, give something back, meet different people
For a growing number of adults, vol- unteering with the Army Cadet Force (ACF) has become a way to pursue all of these aims at once. Te Army Cadet Force is one of
the UK’s largest youth organisations, working with young people aged 12 to 18. Cadets take part in activities rang- ing from adventure training and first aid to leadership and citizenship. Less well known is the role of adult volun- teers, drawn from all backgrounds, who make this work possible. No mil- itary experience is required; training is provided and volunteers commit time in a way that fits around existing careers and family life. A rewarding element many of the
organisation’s volunteers find is the sense that volunteering delivers mu- tual benefit. As Ollie Smith, detach- ment commander, Malvern Troop, explains, the organisation offers young people “structure, experiences and a moral framework” to help them thrive. But the impact doesn’t stop there. Adult volunteers gain a clearer understanding of the pressures facing young people today, often reshaping their own perspectives on leadership and responsibility. When those expe- riences align, the reward is profound — for cadets, volunteers and the com- munities they serve. Tat reward is increasingly reflect-
ed beyond the parade square. Te ACF’s emphasis on leadership, com- munication
and resilience equips
volunteers with skills that transfer di- rectly into the workplace. Managing teams, making decisions under pres- sure and leading with empathy are not abstract concepts but practised behaviours. For many volunteers, this experience actively accelerates career progression, offering concrete exam- ples of leadership and people manage-
ment that employers value. Captain J Mannion notes that volunteering has left him “more confident when leading meetings, better at staying calm under pressure and more effec- tive in managing people”. Te organisation also provides
something harder to measure but no less significant: connection. Adult vol- unteers often speak of the friendships formed through shared purpose and challenge. In a period when loneliness and disengagement are increasingly discussed, the ACF offers a commu- nity built on teamwork, respect and mutual support. Te wider social impact is substan-
tial. Cadet detachments are embed- ded in their local areas, supporting events and charitable work. Studies consistently show that young people involved in the ACF achieve better ed- ucational outcomes, develop stronger life skills and, in many cases, fun- damentally change the direction of their lives*. Tese improved futures
are shaped by the time, commitment and selflessness of volunteers who in- vest in young people long before the results become visible. Such service is not without recogni-
tion. In this year’s New Year’s Honours, three ACF volunteers were awarded MBE and OBE distinctions, highlight- ing the national value of sustained commitment to youth development. As resolutions fade throughout
the year, the Army Cadet Force offers something long term and enduring: a chance to grow professionally, con- tribute locally and help shape the fu- tures of young people, while quietly transforming your own.
armycadets.com
*
WWW.NORTHAMPTON.AC.UK/WP-CONTENT/UPLOADS/2025/04/INSTITUTE-FOR-SOCIAL-INNOVATION-AND-IMPACT- CADETS-REPORT-2025.PDF
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