301 Bury St Edmunds RAF Air Cadets Sqn, based at Blenheim Camp, in Newmarket Road, launch fund-raising for minibus

A town’s air cadets squadron is fund-raising for a new minibus to open its group up to new opportunities.

The 301 Bury St Edmunds RAF Air Cadets Sqn, based at Blenheim Camp, in Newmarket Road, said having the vehicle would enable it to travel across the country for expeditions, competitions, camps and other activities.

The troop of 13 to 18-year-olds is led by Flight Lieutenant Jason Baxter.

He said not all parents were able to transport their children to activities and having the minibus would allow the group to provide the best equal opportunities possible.

There are more than 43,000 air cadets nationwide aided by 10,000 adult volunteers. The Bury group is run entirely by volunteers.

He said: “Essentially, we’ll be able to provide the best opportunities possible for the young adults in our community and a minibus will help us to do that. If we can get them out into the wider open spaces – national parks like the Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia – it’s going to really benefit them and us as volunteers.

“We will be able to go places, both in the local area and nationally, that are out of the range of a parent. We cater for people from all different backgrounds; not everybody can get transport to get to places and by having that bus we can create that equal opportunity and provide for everyone.”

The squadron competes in sports including cross country, six-a-side football, athletics and touch rugby.

Hannah Moore, of Bury, a civilian instructor and former squadron member, knows first-hand how useful a minibus would be.

She said: “With a minibus, we’ll be able to give the cadets opportunities they otherwise might not have. They do a lot of volunteering and by having a minibus we can give back to them what they give to us.

“Cadets is really good for building people’s confidence and their wellbeing. We do a lot of leadership training and here they can develop those skills that are hard to develop within school or sat at home – skills which set them up well for later life.”

To donate go to the squadron’s Just Giving page here.

The 301 is part of the central and east region wing.