News of the entitlement of 10 working days per year comes on the very first National Cadet Week, which runs until Sunday 11th October and celebrates cadet forces being one of the country’s most effective youth organisations.
The entitlement will apply to any KCC officer who volunteers to support children and young people in the Sea Cadet Corps, Army Cadet Force, Combined Cadet Force and Royal Air Force Air Cadets. Contributions of adult volunteers include annual camps, field training, first aid, science, technology, engineering and maths activities, leadership development and community engagement.
There are an estimated 1,120 Cadet Force Adult Volunteers in Kent across the cadet forces. While only a fraction will be KCC employees, this scale demonstrates the county-wide reliance on adult volunteers.
“By allowing staff to claim this additional special leave to spend time volunteering for cadet forces, we are able to further support our armed forces...”
KCC’s Leader, Linden Kemkaran, said: “Cadet Force Adult Volunteers play a vital role in planning, delivering and supervising training for young people in military cadet units, helping them to develop key skills.
“By allowing staff to claim this additional special leave to spend time volunteering for cadet forces, we are able to further support our armed forces in line with our commitments set out in the Armed Forces Covenant.
“I’m really pleased that we’ve been able to work with Cadet Force Adult Volunteers to allow KCC staff to give their time to support and encourage them in taking on these important voluntary roles.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
- Approval for the Cadet Force Adult Volunteers special leave was voted through at Personnel Committee on Monday 14th September 2026
- Kent County Council is a signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant, a promise from the nation that those who serve or have served, and their families, are treated fairly
