£5,000 Grant Helps Improve Facilities at Swindon and Royal Wootton Bassett Sea Cadets
Swindon and Royal Wootton Bassett Sea Cadets are enjoying warmer and more practical facilities following a £5,000 grant from The Connaught Trust.
The grant was awarded to help the unit replace an ageing heating system and upgrade its galley facilities. At the time of the application, the existing boiler was nearing the end of its life and had developed a leak that could no longer be repaired. The unit’s gas cooker had also been declared unsafe and taken out of service, leaving the Sea Cadets without usable cooking facilities on site.
The project has been completed, with a new boiler installed alongside larger radiators and a new electric range oven.
New electric range cooker installed in the galley at Swindon and Royal Wootton Bassett Sea Cadets New Vaillant boiler installed New radiators installed at Swindon and to improve heating throughout New radiator installed as part of the heating upgrade
The improvements have already made a significant difference to the unit, particularly as the colder months arrived.
Dr Jef Grainger, Chair of Trustees, said the new equipment had been a major upgrade and that the unit was delighted with the work.
He explained that the new heating system meant they no longer had to contend with rooms that simply would not warm up, while the new range cooker had restored an important facility for the unit.
The galley plays an important part in Sea Cadet life, supporting activities and events including the unit’s annual mess dinner. The original application explained that replacing the cooker was therefore about much more than simply updating a piece of kitchen equipment.
The heating improvements are equally important. The previous system served only part of the building, and the unit wanted to improve heating across more of the areas used for teaching and cadet activities.
The grant came at an important time for Swindon and Royal Wootton Bassett Sea Cadets. In its application, the unit described how it had been rebuilding following the pandemic, with new leadership, growing interest from prospective cadets and a strong focus on improving the experience and training opportunities available to young people. At the same time, limited reserves made it difficult to fund major improvements to its buildings without external support.
The unit has thanked The Connaught Trust for its support and says the improvements have made a real difference to cadets, volunteers and the day-to-day use of the building.
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