The Tooting and Balham Sea Cadets unit, located on Mellison Road, Tooting, is a local branch of the national Sea Cadets charity which helps young people broaden their horizons through fun, learning and adventure.

Formed over 160 years ago, the Sea Cadets have been helping pre-teens and teens to stretch themselves and become the best they can be.  In today’s complex and ever-changing world, Sea Cadets provides young people with the opportunities, skills and confidence to navigate the sometimes complicated issues they face.  Not only that, joining the Sea Cadets helps teens build solid friendships where they look after and support one another. It gives them a sense of having a home away from home and a part of belonging to a second family.

Built on the firm foundations of the Royal Navy ethos, it’s customs and traditions, Sea Cadets is run by over 9,000 volunteers, some ex-Navy members, many not, to provide all children, regardless of financial situations, the opportunity to build confidence, become leaders and team players with positive attitudes by participating in activities such as orienteering, rock-climbing, first-aid, engineering, power boating, ceremonial drill and parading with a band and many more!  Members can even gain qualifications with Duke of Edinburgh, the Royal Yachting Association, BTEC’s in Marine Engineering, Public Service and Citizenship and Music and the British Canoeing Union which will help them succeed in whatever they choose to do after they finish school.

Every week, up to 14,000 10-18 year olds (Junior Sea Cadets starting at age 10 and Sea Cadets from age 12) meet at 400 local units across the UK including the Tooting and Balham location.  Half of the funding to run this charity organisation comes from the Royal Navy itself with the rest coming from donations, gifts in wills and government grants. 

To see how you can help or if you have a young person who would love to join, please visit their website for more information. You can also follow them on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.