Inspiring Saddleworth Air Cadets set to be dropped – letter from a distraught mum
Dear Jude,
As you know, I am the mum of one of the air cadets at 2200DF.
The cadets and parents were called to a meeting on Wednesday night (02.05.18) with the Manchester HQ Wing Commander to “discuss the future.”
“The future” it seems is that as 2200DF is considered a “non-entity” (the Wing Commander’s words, not mine), it is to be disbanded on 31/07/2018 with the cadets being offered moves to Oldham, Ashton-under-Lyne or Royton Squadrons.
The usual cost cutting reasons were given and lots of figures were banded about indicating the cost of keeping 2200DF, including a £10,000 annual bill for the use of Saddleworth School on Mondays and Wednesdays.
The Wing Commander advised that a total of 7 squadrons are to be disbanded currently across Greater Manchester with further reductions in the future.
As you will see from the comments on the various Facebook pages, many people are extremely upset about this, not least because this lovely community has not been given the opportunity to get behind resolving the issues said to the causing the closure (funding, location, staffing etc).
Despite the Wing Commander’s use of the word “consultation,” he claimed that the decision had been made by him, and him alone, and that nothing could change that. People asked if contact with his superiors would be possible and he replied that it would, but it wouldn’t make any difference.
It appears that these days the “consultation process” involves only one person, making a decision which affects a whole community (young, old, male, female) and delivering that decision at as late a stage as possible making it difficult to co-ordinate any or any meaningful response.
We were advised that the decision to disband was communicated to the air cadet staff in “February or March” (clearly not a sufficiently important enough date for the Wing Commander to recall). Apparently there was no “consultation” with the staff, merely the delivery of the decision to disband. There was no “consultation”with the cadets, parents, school, Local Authority, Councillors or MPs before “February or March,” and none since. Simply the decision to disband, which the Wing Commander indicated had been his and his alone.
I find it hard to believe that such a decision was taken overnight, or even over a few days, so why the cadets, staff, parents and others with an interest in the well-being of our young people have not been given an opportunity to put forward proposals is beyond my understanding. We have been presented with this fait accompli.
As you will know, the Air Cadets are an integral part of this community, charity fundraising, Remembrance Sunday, Whit Walks & Band competitions, setting up for Yanks Weekend and many other events. The community is extremely proud of them. This is a huge loss to the community and the way in which it has been brought about is grossly unfair.
When doing some research around RAF Cadet Closures it seems they tried closing one of the squadron’s in Stoke Newington but after the local community protested on the 1st May 2018, the Stoke Newington squadron has been saved.
I know it would just be easier to agree to send Cameron ( my son) to another squadron but ….
When Cameron joined the Air Cadets nearly 2 years ago there was only aprox 4 cadets there. Cameron has worked hard in recruiting and promoting 2200DF and has expanded it to 22 cadets so far. There are also young people waiting till they turn 12 so they can join too!
The Cadets group 2200DF is not only teaching children respect, hard work, honest and obedience, it is also teaching them to look after our community and in the future our country. (Not to mention keeping them out of trouble and from wandering the street with their friends!)
Since joining the cadets, I have seen Cameron grow in confidence, knowledge and make good relationships. His grades have gone up to all A’s at school and he was promoted to Corporal a few months ago! He was also given the great honour and responsibility to lay a wreath down in Belgium – at the ‘menin gate’.
Losing the 2200DF would be a great loss to the Saddleworth community as there is no other group/club/gathering of that or any other nature in the local area for teenagers.
Kathryn Lorne – Grasscroft resident
See previous posts about the Saddleworth Air Cadets and their projects –
International Space Station Coding
Raspberry Pi and the Space Station
Author: Jude Gidney - Editor
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