Grants Stories and Inspiration

A £2,000 Connaught Trust grant helped 40 Poole Sea Cadets enjoy climbing, paddleboarding and other adventurous activities at summer camp.

A £5,000 Connaught Trust grant helped 250 Wiltshire ACF cadets take part in water-based adventure training during Annual Camp 2026.

A £3,300 Connaught Trust grant helped Berkshire ACF keep the cost of its 2026 Summer Camp affordable and accessible to more young people.

Connaught Trust grants are helping Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wing RAFAC provide paddlesports, mountain biking and adventure training for cadets.

A £2,000 Connaught Trust grant helped St John’s School CCF cadets enjoy water-based adventure training on the Isle of Wight.

Thanks to a generous grant from the Connaught Trust, Delta Company, Sussex Army Cadet Force has purchased two new widescreen televisions for its Brighton training centres. The screens will enhance the delivery of training, presentations and instructional content, benefiting hundreds of cadets for years to come while supporting the development of valuable leadership and life skills.

Thanks to grant funding from the Connaught Trust, Barrosa Company, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Army Cadet Force, has purchased two camouflage pop-up gazebos to support outdoor training, camps and community events. The new equipment provides essential shelter for cadets, volunteers and equipment, helping to enhance training opportunities and improve welfare in all weather conditions.

Nineteen RAF Air Cadets from four Sussex squadrons successfully completed their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh's Award expedition in May 2026, making good use of new camping and communications equipment purchased with a £2,404 grant from The Connaught Trust. The grant was awarded to 1440 (Shoreham-by-Sea) Squadron RAF Air Cadets towards the purchase of new tents, cooking stoves and handheld radios. The expedition brought together 19 cadets in four teams from 1440 (Shoreham-by-Sea

Thirty Canford School CCF cadets took on a challenging Nordic skiing expedition in Norway, developing resilience, teamwork and confidence with support from The Connaught Trust.

A £2,000 grant from The Connaught Trust has provided Portsmouth Grammar School CCF with new webbing vests and bergens to enhance cadets' fieldcraft training.

A £5,000 Connaught Trust grant has helped Swindon and Royal Wootton Bassett Sea Cadets improve heating and cooking facilities for cadets and volunteers.

Reading School CCF celebrated its 125th anniversary with a spectacular parade on Commemoration Day, supported by a grant from The Connaught Trust towards parade shoes for the cadets.

Ex Venturer Snowdon was an amazing experience that has brought me out of my comfort zone including abseiling, rock climbing and jumping off ledges into the sea. It made me meet new people from different backgrounds and conquer some of my fears.

In early August 2025,a team of RAF Air Cadets deployed to Canmore, Alberta, Canada, accompanied by eight supporting staff who provided expert guidance and safety oversight.

The Matravers Combined Cadet Force (CCF) undertook a snowshoeing expedition in the picturesque alpine region of Schwarzsee, Switzerland. We are deeply grateful to the Connaught Trust for their generous sponsorship of the expedition

For 3 days in July 21 cadets from both Army and RAF sections of the Thomas Hardye CCF took part in water-based activities in order to achieve their 2* AT award.

Cadets and CFAVs from across the county joined over 30,000 people from around the world for the 78th Airborne Wandeltocht - the world’s largest one-day commemorative march, honouring the heroes of Arnhem 1944.

Thanks to the generous support of The Connaught Trust, our cadets now have brand-new ceremonial uniforms which have elevated the standard of our public appearances, allowing our band to represent the best of the Royal Marines Volunteer Cadet Corps at community events, parades, and formal engagements.

A grant from the Connaught Trust has enabled 172 (Haywards Heath) RAF Air Cadets to purchase a much needed minibus to transport cadets to and from events. Since the purchase in April the bus has been in high demand.

Nearly 500 cadets from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Army Cadet Force enjoyed an unforgettable week of adventurous training at Annual Camp 2025, thanks in part to funding from The Connaught Trust.