Sheppey Sea Cadets and Royal Marines Cadets Corps have refurbished their building, and increased their capacity, thanks to funding from Swale Borough Council.

The unit received £9,028 from the council’s Community Infrastructure Grant, funded by UK Government, to fully refurbish their space near Barton’s Point Coastal Park. Improvements included a full refurbishment of three classrooms and an additional classroom increasing the capacity by ten cadets with space for more. They also installed new carpets and flooring, internet upgrades, heaters, new electricals, an alarm system, lockers, and a ship simulator suite for cadets to practice captaining a ship. The charity, which is a member of the Marine Society and Sea Cadets Corps, offers training and activities based on the principles of the Royal Navy for youngsters aged between 9 and 18. The popular youth programme helps over 70 cadets on the Island towards responsible adulthood whilst having fun learning new skills, socialising, and getting active.

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Cllr Monique Bonney, chair of the council's Economy and Property Committee, said:"The work the cadets do for the Island is incredible; they act as a positive influence for our young people, offering support, fostering new skills, and giving them a chance to make new friends.“It also acts as an important space for other groups, with this refurbishment benefiting the cadets and the wider community.“Our Community Infrastructure Grant has helped boost our community assets across the borough, we are also funding more amazing projects this year."