Contact

More Information

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You can find out more about the VCC from our Welcome to the Challenge guide.  You can also contact each VCC unit (generally for joining enquiries) by using the contact information provided on each unit home page.

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Complaints and Feedback

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We try to do our best but as unpaid adult volunteers running the VCC in our spare time we sometimes might make a mistake.  As most VCC activities take place locally at our units many concerns can be dealt with quickly in an informal way by our Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAVs). 

 

However, if you have a complaint or concern that requires more formal action we ask that you follow the three stage process below:

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• Stage 1.  If you wish to complain about a matter within a unit please talk to the Commanding Officer (CO) or Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO).   They will listen to your complaint or concern, and do their best to respond as soon as possible.  This will either be done in writing or they may ask you to attend a meeting.  Contact details are available from Headquarters VCC, the unit home page on this site or from unit social media pages.

• Stage 2. If you feel you do not want to discuss the matter with the unit CO or DSO, or if they cannot deal with your concerns, or if your query is more serious, you should contact the Executive Officer (Support) at Headquarters VCC.  Your complaint should be in writing and sent to hq@volunteercadetcorps.org (and marked ‘Private’).

• Stage 3. If after receiving a response to your complaint from the Executive Officer (Support) you are concerned that it was not handled appropriately, or still consider that you have not had a satisfactory answer, you can forward your complaint to the Deputy Commander VCC.  Please do so in writing by email to hq@volunteercadetcorps.org (again, please mark your email as ‘Private’).

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We accept complaints from cadets (via their parents or carers) and CFAVs about how they have been treated by the VCC, and from parents or carers of cadets with concerns about how their child has been treated by the VCC.  We also look at complaints from members of the public about the conduct of cadets and CFAVs while they are taking part in cadet activities.  Most minor complaints arise from a misunderstanding and can be dealt with directly by the VCC.  However if the complaint is about behaviour that may be of a criminal nature or about a matter where a young person might be at risk it will be referred to the appropriate authorities. 

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Where the allegation is about a matter where a young person might be at risk but not about conduct which may be of a criminal nature, a report will be made to the relevant statutory authority and their advice will be requested.  Anonymous complaints will not normally be entertained.

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We ask that complaints and feedback are not made on social media so as to protect the privacy of our people and ensure that complaints etc are dealt with fairly and properly.  Please note that as we are volunteers it may take a while for us to respond to non-urgent safeguarding concerns and whilst we will endeavour to respond quickly we are grateful for your patience.

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If you have any concern relating to immediate risk or harm to one of our cadets, or any child or young person, please report it directly to the police on 999 or 101.  If you are worried about a child, you can contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or e-mail help@nspcc.org.uk and they will be able to give you advice.  Young people under the age of 18 can contact Childline on 0800 1111 for free confidential advice or support.

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The safety and well-being of our cadets is always our primary concern.

 

Website Issues

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For issues with website content please contact our Public Relations Office.

 

Attachments

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• 20180101 Welcome to the Challenge (A Guide to the RN and RM Cadets of the VCC) (4 MB)