The new £1.2 million Joint Cadet Centre (JCC) has officially opened its doors in Caldicot, as part of a national initiative to modernise reserve and cadet facilities across the UK. This latest project aims to enhance the experience for cadets in the community and ensure that facilities meet the needs of future generations.
The new building, constructed on the site of the old Army Cadet Force building on Mill Lane, is the latest development under the Reserve Estate Optimisation Programme (REOP) in Wales. This initiative is focused on creating modern, efficient facilities that can be used by reserve forces and cadets.
The bespoke building, which will be shared by both Army and Air Cadets, replaces the old structure that was demolished to make way for the new state-of-the-art facility. During construction, the Caldicot Army Cadet Force temporarily relocated to Jubilee Way, where they were hosted by the 2012 (Caldicot) Air Cadet Squadron.
Phil Young, Head of Estates at the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association (RFCA) for Wales, stated:
“This new JCC in Caldicot is part of the strategic planning to modernise the cadet estate and represents an investment of around £1.2 million. Our aim is to ensure that we have the right buildings in the right places to meet the needs of cadets into the future, and we hope that this brand-new facility will inspire future potential cadets from the surrounding area to sign up and become valued members of the cadet forces.”
Staff Sergeant Instructor Kerris Drew of Caldicot Army Cadet Force described the benefits of the new facility:
“This new state-of-the-art building is great – it’s so much bigger than the old one with better facilities. It has more classrooms which allow us to carry out more efficient and targeted training with the cadets. It has a spacious store room, offices, and even air conditioning. Outside there is a parade area for drill practice and a garden area with wildlife boxes.”
Cadet Company Sergeant Major Deiniol Hughes, who has been a cadet in Caldicot for the past six years, expressed excitement about the new centre:
“It’s fantastic – we can now say we meet in the building near the school instead of the ‘shack’ next to it! The cadets are proud to be able to parade in this new building – it looks so much more professional, which I’m sure will encourage more young people to join the cadets, and parents to send their children here. It also provides more opportunities for collaborative training with the air cadets with whom we share the building.”
Rothery Harries, Civilian Instructor with the 2012 (Caldicot) Squadron, also praised the new centre:
“The new building is more spacious and has a lovely modern servery, and the heating and ventilation throughout is better. It has a larger parade hall compared to our old building.”
The new facility, completed in July, has already started enhancing the cadet experience. RFCA for Wales worked in partnership with Avison Young and BECT Building Contractors Ltd to deliver this single-storey, modular building that will serve the local cadet community for years to come.
The new centre is expected to not only improve training opportunities for cadets but also encourage more young people from the community to join, providing a safe and supportive environment for personal development and skill-building.
