The CCFA is a registered charity who is committed to supporting the ideals and activities of the Combined Cadet Force (CCF). One of the ways in which the CCFA support the CCF is through a variety of grant programmes. These grants are available to all CCF contingents and support a variety of activities that can enhance the cadet experience.
Throughout 2025, the CCFA awarded £17,306 as grants through their Small Grant and Group Activity Grant programme – benefitting 316 cadets from 23 schools. Of this, 28 cadets benefitted from Small Grants and 288 cadets benefitted from the Group Activity Grants.
Helping to Shape the Future
Previously, grants have been awarded to be used across a variety of activities – from a school’s own summer cadet camp, Adventure Training weekends, and boating weekends to Weymouth, to further afield with battlefield study trips and Winter Mountain Skills Camps in Switzerland. As well as adventurous activities, the grants can also be used for cadets to complete qualifications, such as the Senior Cadet Instructor Course, Static Line Parachute Course and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme. All of which help shape a cadet’s CCF experience and provide them with transferrable skills for their future.
The CCFA spoke to one cadet from The Kings School, Canterbury who was awarded a Small Grant so that they could attend their school’s summer camp. The CCF cadet commented “I heard about this grant through my CCF Contingent Commander as I needed help funding the summer camp. As a Section Commander for the week, I was able to develop my leadership, communication, and critical thinking skills throughout many fieldcraft opportunities such as OP’s, VCP’s and section attacks – which I thoroughly enjoyed. Overall, I’m very grateful for being given this grant as I’ve learnt a lot from this trip and look back on the week with very fond memories. Thank you so much!”
Tile Cross Academy CCF cadets have also benefitted from the Small Grant’s programme, with one cadet using the funding to complete the Excel Programme in Andorra. “This trip completely changed the way I see the world. Being in a new country, surrounded by a different culture, trying new food, hearing different languages, it opened my eyes to just how big and diverse the world really is. It’s made me want to travel more, meet more people, and keep learning from every place I go. I’ve come back with a new sense of confidence and independence. It pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best way possible and gave me memories I’ll never forget.”
Wycliffe College CCF Contingent Commander spoke about how the Group Activity Grant helped their contingent to attend an Adventure Training weekend, commenting: “We applied for the grant so we could widen what we offer to our cadets without increasing the cost to parents. Though we are an independent school, the majority of my cadets have parents serving in the forces and only attend because of the Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA). As such most cannot afford any extra costs for more activities. The activity was a lot of fun and will improve our retention of cadets. We do often lose cadets after year 10 and I want a greater number staying in the CCF to become my leaders for the future.”
To find out about the latest funding opportunities that are available for CCF contingents and individual CCF cadets, click here.