A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE

WELCOME

At RFCA NI we have adapted to the current challenging circumstances, but remain committed– and busy – in supporting our reserves and cadets as well as wider Defence and , of course, our veterans. All our staff remain contactable and the majority are working from whom through an IT system that is working efficiently. We do have a few offices that are unavoidably on skeleton manning and some staff are out doing occasional legally-mandated checks.

Many of our reserves have deployed on COVID related support activities, both within Northern Ireland and throughout the UK and our staff are engaged with employers to facilitate this. Many units report an increase in contact from individuals who have not who have not been active for a while and quite a lot of on-line activity is being conducted.

Our cadet support staff, apart from carrying out mandated estate and equipment checks remain in close contact with our cadet adult volunteers who in turn are “keeping the flame alive” with our cadets, again conducting quite a lot of on-line activities. Planning continues so that normal activities can be taken up again once we are back to normal. Above all, though, every effort is being made to maintain regular contact with all the cadets to ensure they feel valued, supported and have the opportunity to engage at this time.

It is, of course, the estates staff whose work must continue to sustain a legal minimum of maintenance across our 80-odd sites in Northern Ireland, carried out by contractors but within strict government guidelines.

The Veterans Support Office has been particularly active, providing a key funnel of information between, on the one hand, national and regional supporting organisations and, on the other, veterans and community support group, making great use of the veterans champions. This includes guidance on and support to applications to covenant and other funding opportunities.  

The Communications team continue to ensure that all our are busy ensuring that our communication platforms are up to date and that we stay in touch as best we can with all our stakeholders and supporters.

Thank you all for your on-going interest and support – and do stay well.