About the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association for Northern Ireland

What we do

Our volunteer Non-Executive membership aims to act as a champion and conscience for the Reserves and Cadets in Northern Ireland, through developing links with employers, local authorities, schools and other interested parties within the community.

Our full-time executive, under the direction of the Chief Executive, Brigadier (Retired) Michael Murdoch MBE, is responsible for:

  •  Delivery of the Volunteer and Cadet Infrastructure.
  •  Administration and support to Northern Ireland’s Cadet organisations.
  •  Provision of support to the Reserve Forces, in terms of finance, recruiting, PR and community relations.
  •  Acting as an interface between Reservists and their Employers.
  •  Developing, sustaining and maintaining links across the Defence community in Northern Ireland.
  •  Acting as advisor to the Ministry of Defence on regional matters.

Reserve Forces

Reservists give up their spare time to serve in the Reserve Forces, balancing their civilian life with a military career to ensure that should their country require them, they would be ready and prepared to serve as part of the military.

RFCA NI supports the Reserve Forces in a variety of ways, from maintenance of their buildings to welfare and recruiting support.

Tel: 02895 219818
Email: [email protected]
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Cadets and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers

With over 100 Cadet units spread across Northern Ireland, our young people get the opportunity to learn, have fun and make friends, taking part in a wide range of activities.

Be it Sea, Army or Air that appeals, all Cadet Units share common ground in being youth organisations whose training is designed to promote teamwork, reliability, leadership and good citizenship.

These amazing youth organisations would not function without the team of Cadet Force Adult Volunteers, from all walks of life who give up their time to support them.

Our Deputy Chief Executive and lead on Cadets and Youth, Colonel (Retired) Brian Sykes MBE is supported by a team of permanent staff who support and equip our Army Cadets.

For more information contact Brian Sykes on [email protected]

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Estate Management

At RFCA NI, we maintain the volunteer estate to the legally compliant standard, ensuring all sites are kept in good condition, fit for purpose and secure – modernising or rebuilding when funding allows and reinvesting rates rebates reclaimed on cadet properties on improving the Cadet estate.

Using our estate expertise and local knowledge, we aim to provide an attractive environment to recruit and train our Reservists and Cadets.

For more information please contact our Head of Estate Kyle Houston: [email protected]

 

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Finance

RFCA NI obtains its funding through the Council of RFCAs from central Government and via local sources of income: the latter is used for estate development, community engagement, welfare grants to units, and for our core activities supporting the Reserve Forces and Cadets. Welfare grants are available to Northern Ireland-based units to provide additional funding towards expeditions, exercises and events. Applications can be made through your chain of command to the Deputy Chief Executive. Click on the link below to find out more:
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Engagement

One of RFCA NI's core functions is to engage with the wider community to inform it of the contribution made, and the roles undertaken, by the Reserve Forces and the Cadet organisations in Northern Ireland. We achieve this through supporting, publicising and organising a range of events that bring the Armed Forces community into contact with the civilian population. We also deliver the Armed Forces Covenant on behalf of Defence. For more information contact Head of Engagement Athene Gordon: [email protected]
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