Volunteer

Make more of your free time! We have lots of roles to match your skills and interests, plus we offer nationally recognised training and qualifications you can gain, to help you make a real difference to young people

You don't need to have been a sea cadet before and whatever your skills, interests and commitment, we have a perfect role for you. Join our 9,000 volunteers across the UK to help us keep inspiring young people.

Roles for everyone

Watersports instructor

Share your love of being out on the water with the next generation, through the opportunity to teach watersports such as kayaking, sailing, powerboating, canoeing, rowing and windsurfing. Don't worry if you don't have prior experience, with us you can gain national qualifications with the RYA and BCU to teach, all you need is lots of enthusiasm!

Unit management team

If you aren't able to commit to a regular volunteering role, there's still plenty of ways you can get involved and make an impact - no commitment is too small and a role on a Unit's Management Team could be a perfect fit. You could volunteer in roles such as Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary or Fundraising. These roles are perfect if you're not able to be at your local Sea Cadets Unit every week, or if you have a specialist skill you'd like to share.

Unit instructor

Whether you opt to be a uniformed leader, or wear your own clothes, you can be hands on, teaching cadets at your local unit. You'll run lessons, activities, games, projects and events that help cadets progress through the Sea Cadets Experience, gaining qualifications and confidence as they go. A role at a unit is ideal if you can support local young people on a weekly basis, are happy to throw yourself into teaching activities and seek a rewarding role where you'll be the key to helping young people flourish into confident, capable young adults.

Join a band

If you can play the drums, a bugle, trombone, clarinet or even a glockenspiel, come and make some noise with us! A unit band can compete in things like our National Band Competition at the Tower of London, or take part in Trafalgar Day Parade, playing down The Mall and your skills could get them there! If there isn't currently a band at your local unit, you could be the one to start one and help cadets discover a new passion!

Think outside the box

Whatever your experience and skills, they could be utilised to help young people flourish - photography, marketing, football coaching, IT, social media, finance, driving. The sky's the limit so why not contact your local unit for an informal chat on how you can help them to keep the door's open.