Bolton Sea Cadets have been boosted with a major donation that will help make sure their base is “fit for purpose".
The Sea Cadets is a charity recognised by the Ministry of Defence which gives youngsters the chance to learn new skills and follow training and ethos set out by the Royal Navy.
The Bolton branch, based on Castle Street in the Haulgh, has now been granted £5,000 to help improve its base.
Cllr Emily Mort, who represents Tonge with the Haulgh, said: “This is part of a project that they’re doing to help bring their boilers up to standard and replace them.
“The building is used by the cadets as their base but its also a warm hub, so it provides warm hub facilities for all members of the community which is funded by Tonge with the Haulgh Big Local.”
Cllr Mort says that she and her colleagues were alerted to the need for funding when they went to a Trafalgar Night fundraising dinner in October.
She said: “The full funding that they will need is £35,000.
“The three ward councillors, Cllr Peel, Cllr Donaghy and myself have now committed £5,000.”
She added: “The Bolton Sea Cadets are a fantastic organisation in Tonge with the Haulgh and the wider Bolton community.
“If that building isn’t fit for purpose, if it isn’t heated properly then it may have to close, which would be a huge blow to the community.
“What we’ve found out recently is that they’re the only cadet force that get no funding from their parent organisation.
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“They do get travel funding and things like that from the Royal Navy but for projects like this they receive no funding.”
The Bolton Sea Cadets work with young people between the ages of 10 and 18, equipping them with various skills and nationally recognised qualifications that can lead them on to careers in the Royal Navy or in all kinds of other sectors.
Cllr Mort said: “We recognise the huge impact of what the Bolton Sea Cadets can offer and alongside the cadets we’ll be in attendance at all Remembrance events across our ward.
“And watch this space for our longer term plans for Remembrance in the ward.”
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