JOIN AS AN ADULT VOLUNTEER
We need more adult volunteers to help run our exciting and expanding organisation. We welcome applications from adults from all walks of life and from all aspects of the local communities we serve. All we ask is that our volunteers offer some commitment, work towards achieving Our Aim and Our Vision, and adhere to our values and ethos.
You can join in a uniformed role, civilian role or support us as a Service Helper if you are already a member of the Armed Forces.
COULD YOU?
Could you be an adult volunteer with the Volunteer Cadet Corps?
Could you help with administration? Could you drive cadets to their activities? Could you organise a weekend exercise? Could you present engaging and interesting lessons? Could you help maintain our stores and equipment? Could you be a first aider? Could you attend and support summer camps, adventure training activities and engagement visits? Could you teach our cadets to play an instrument? Could you train be our next paddlesport, hill walking, climbing, archery, fieldcraft, drill, boating or aviation instructor?
Make a Difference
Our volunteers are pivotal mentors, guiding and shaping young lives by instilling discipline, leadership, and essential life skills. Through their dedication, they inspire confidence, offer educational opportunities, and foster a sense of responsibility and service, creating well-rounded individuals ready for success in various paths.
Get Brilliant Benefits
Our volunteers experience personal fulfillment by mentoring youth and honing skills in teaching, leadership, and communication, often earning adult qualifications and relishing adventure training opportunities as they guide young individuals toward personal growth and development.
Learn New Skills
Our volunteers often acquire leadership and instructional skills through mentorship roles, mastering effective communication techniques while gaining proficiency in maritime knowledge, navigation, and adventure training, all of which contribute to their personal development and teaching capabilities.
Find Your Role
Join Us
We have three categories of volunteers:
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Uniformed Staff
This category includes our command, instructing and other essential back-up staff, and form the principal cadre of our operational team.
02
Non-Uniformed Staff
These volunteers, who do not wear uniform, provide additional support such as stores assistants, catering assistants and administration staff. Many are introduced to the VCC when a child joins. Quite often, both a parent and a child will join a unit, and parent/guardian teams are common.
03
Service Helpers
These volunteers are serving regular or reserve armed forces personnel who volunteer to help the VCC in addition to their duties. Whilst they receive no additional pay or allowances the fact that they offer to help the VCC may be taken into account during appraisals etc.
Making a difference! Explore a diverse array of roles:
Acquire nationally recognized training qualifications along your journey with us!
Watersports Instructor
Pass on your love for water activities to the next generation by teaching kayaking, sailing, powerboating, canoeing, rowing, and windsurfing. No prior experience required—gain national qualifications with the RYA and BCU while bringing heaps of enthusiasm!
Unit Management Team
Can't commit to regular volunteering? There are myriad ways to contribute—every effort counts. Join a unit's Management Team. These roles suit those unable to be present weekly or those keen on sharing specialised skills.
Unit Instructor
Uniformed or not, you can dive in and teach cadets. Lead lessons, activities, games, and events that propel cadets through The VCC Experience, fostering their skills and confidence. Ideal for regular local support and those eager to engage in teaching activities.
Join a Band
If you play the drums, bugle, trombone, clarinet, or glockenspiel, join us in creating music! Unit bands can participate in national competitions and iconic parades.
Think Beyond
Your unique skills—photography, marketing, football coaching, IT, social media, finance, driving—can empower young people. Get in touch with your local unit for an informal discussion on how you can contribute to their mission. The possibilities are endless!
Who Can Join?
There’s no set profile for an adult volunteer in the VCC and you don’t need previous military experience. Our volunteers come in all shapes and sizes and from a variety of backgrounds. Of more importance is that you have an interest in working with young people, will commit to our values and standards, and want to help young people become responsible and dependable members of society.
As an adult volunteer in the VCC you will need to follow our regulations, as you would expect in any organisation committed to the welfare and safety of its people. Adult volunteers also have the chance to attend courses to increase their skills, and participate in a range of exciting and fun activities. You’ll also meet some excellent and inspirational young people and make loads of new friends.
Make a difference in the VCC
Process
Thereafter we will:
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Acknowledgement We will acknowledge your application.
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Review Your application will be considered by a senior member of our staff and if we decide that you may be appropriate to join our organisation we will invite you to attend an interview.
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Decision After your interview we will write to let you know if we will invite you to join our staff on a probationary basis, or explain why we don’t think you’re quite for joining us.
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Probation Your probationary appointment is subject to receiving satisfactory references and a clear enhanced criminal records check. If your references and/or disclosure check are not satisfactory then regrettably we may have to ask you to leave.
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Equipment Uniform and other equipment is only issued once references and disclosure checks are satisfactorily completed.
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Training You will need to attend a basic induction course lasting one weekend at some point in your probationary period, plus other periodic adult training periods.
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Confirmation After your probationary period (or longer if you have not yet attended the basic induction course) your appointment will be confirmed or we may decide to extend your probationary period if we feel we or you need more time to decide about confirming your appointment.
You may like to visit us before submitting your application. If so, please contact us by email and we will arrange a suitable appointment to tour your chosen unit and some of our team.
What We Ask For
Our basic expectations are:
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Safeguarding You keep the safety and welfare of our cadets as your paramount concern.
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Regulations You adhere to VCC and MOD regulations.
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Commitment You commit an amount of time that suits your role and keep to it (letting us know in advance if you need to change it).
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Training You carry out our periodic adult mandatory training (either face-to-face or online as required) and have a valid in-date enhanced disclosure check (every three years) to ensure you remain a safe person for volunteering in the youth sector.
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Standards You wear our uniform with pride and maintain the honour and traditions of the Cadet Corps and the Royal Navy & Royal Marines.
Whilst we value and encourage applications from a diverse range of people our foremost obligation is to ensure the welfare and safety of our cadets. Applicants will be assessed to ensure they meet our standards and are appropriate to be adult volunteers, including being role models that our cadets can look up to. Being an adult volunteer does not mean any obligation to join HM Armed Forces and there is no call-up liability.
Some of our adult volunteers have been part of the VCC for over 35 years and whilst we don’t expect every volunteer to commit for that length of service it does show that joining the VCC could be a significant and worthy part of your life.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Apply Now
Please complete the online form below so we can help determine your suitability to join us, and our team will promptly reach out to schedule a visit and interview regarding the units you've expressed interest in. During this interaction, we will also provide you with some more information about the VCC.