• For more than 150 years, cadet forces have provided young people with opportunities to have fun and develop the teamwork, leadership and problem-solving skills needed to succeed in education, employment and training.
• Labour has committed to growing the MOD-sponsored cadet forces by 30 per cent by 2035. That expansion will create capacity for around 180,000 young people to take part in cadet programmes.
• Through the first ever National Cadets Week, we are celebrating the contribution cadets and volunteers make to young people, their communities and the country.
Dame Nia Griffith, Labour MP for Llanelli has welcomed the UK’s first-ever National Cadets Week and paid tribute to cadets and volunteers across her Llanelli constituency.
As Britain marks the first-ever National Cadets Week, which began on 5 October 2026, cadets and volunteers across the country have been celebrating the positive impact cadet forces have on young people and local communities.
The week showcases the work of cadets and the dedicated volunteers who help equip the next generation with the skills, confidence and sense of service needed to make a positive contribution to society.
Cadet forces help young people develop confidence, teamwork and problem-solving skills that support them in education, employment and later life. Through the cadets, young people can also achieve nationally recognised qualifications, first aid certificates and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Increasingly, cadets are also gaining valuable experience in STEM, cyber and technology subjects, helping prepare them for the jobs and industries of the future.
There are five Ministry of Defence-sponsored cadet forces, including the Army Cadets, RAF Air Cadets, Sea Cadets, Combined Cadet Force and Volunteer Cadet Corps. Together, they support around 137,000 cadets and 28,000 adult volunteers across the UK.
The Ministry of Defence has set an ambition to increase cadet participation by 30 per cent by 2035 and will shortly publish its first Cadet Action Plan.
National Cadets Week places a particular emphasis on recognising the contribution of adult volunteers and highlighting the practical skills, including first aid skills, that cadets develop through their service.
As part of National Cadets Week, the MP for Llanelli attended the re-opening 1054 Llanelli Squadron Air Cadets after its refurbishment with the investment indicating a continuing commitment to a long term presence in the town.
Paying particular tribute to local cadet groups including 1054 (Llanelli) Squadron Air Cadets, Llanelli Sea Cadets and Army Cadets based in Burry Port, Trimsaran & Kidwelly, Llanelli and Cross Hands, Dame Nia said:
“National Cadets Week is a great opportunity to celebrate and mark the dedication, achievements and community spirit of the many cadets and volunteers right across the Llanelli area.
Cadet forces can help young people build confidence, resilience and experience that will benefit them throughout their lives, while also making a valuable contribution to our local communities here in Llanelli and elsewhere.
I want to thank everyone involved in these cadet units for the difference they make and to encourage more young people to consider getting involved.”
Calvin Bailey MBE MP, Minister for Veterans and People said:
“I joined the Air Cadets as a young person, and I loved it. I learned to fly before I could drive, and those experiences expanded what I believed was possible and played an important part in my social mobility.
Being a cadet is so much fun, but it would not be possible without the thousands of adult volunteers who give their time to support our young people, and I am so grateful for their service. I know National Cadets Week will inspire people, both adults and young people, to get involved with their local cadet force.
You don’t need a military background to get stuck in, just a commitment to young people and our country.”