Bolton Sea Cadets win £25,000 grant for winter repairs

The Sea Cadets are a Ministry of Defence-recognised group that allows young people to learn water skills and develop their confidence with Royal Navy training.

Bolton’s branch, located on Castle Street in The Haulgh, has received a £25,000 grant from the Asda Foundation.

The group’s First Lieutenant Elizabeth Ogden said: “As a charity, we have more freedom to offer our cadets a broad experience.

"We train them in the manner of the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines commandos. And we have more flexibility in offering national awards.

"Our syllabus can lead to BTEC courses or a head start career in a naval career.

“But being a charity has also meant we are responsible for maintaining our building.”

And the Training Ship (T.S.) Dido, their Grade II listed base, has needed a lot of maintenance.

Mrs Ogden said: “Our old boiler system cost us £9,000 in energy bills last year.

“We have replaced them with the help of grants and cut our bills in half, but the T.S. Dido’s windows still don’t keep the heat in.

“They are old with often damaged or missing panes. Some of the frames are rotten.

“Because of the restrictions on listed buildings, it costs a lot to repair them, about £40,000.

“They will need to look the same, but in better condition.”

(Image: Henry Lisowski)

Now, the Asda Foundation’s Investing in Spaces and Places grant will go a long way toward preparing the Sea Cadets' windows for the long winter.

Mrs Ogden said: “The project has desperately needed tackling.

“It has become uneconomical pumping all that heat into the building if it's escaping out. Nor is it environmentally friendly.

"The government is giving homeowners grants to insulate their properties, but they aren't available to charities.

“This means we're carrying on with our fundraising work to add to the grant we’ve received from Asda. Our priority is getting the windows fixed.”

The repairs will also benefit older people that use the T.S. Dido.

The Haulgh Hub, a local community group, runs events like painting or sewing workshops in the building.  

The building is listed as a warm space.

The Haulgh Hub's 'Let's Paint' session (Image: Carole Ogden)

Mrs Ogden: “Elderly and vulnerable people in the community can come to get a free cup of coffee or some soup as the weather gets colder.

“It helps eliminate the social isolation they can in those months.

“We hope to make it an even warmer space.”

Carole Ogden, the Haulgh Hub’s treasurer, said: “We used to have to put the heating on two hours before the groups met because older people feel the cold more.

“While having new boilers has made a tremendous difference, repairing the windows will make it even better.”