Army cadet groups are being forced to find alternative training locations after asylum seekers were moved into a military training camp in East Sussex, raising concerns about the impact on youth defence programmes.
Twenty-seven asylum seekers were transferred to Crowborough Training Camp on Thursday as part of a government move to reduce reliance on hotels by using military sites. The decision has led to the suspension of cadet activities at the camp and disruption for young people who regularly train there.
The issue comes at a time when the government is actively seeking to expand cadet forces. In August, ministers announced new funding aimed at growing cadet numbers by 30% by 2030, and the value of cadets was also highlighted in last year’s Strategic Defence Review.
Cadets moved out
Information published online by the government confirmed that Crowborough’s own Army Cadet Force detachment has been relocated to a community venue. However, other cadet units that use the site are still searching for suitable alternatives.
“The Ministry of Defence continues to support local cadet forces in identifying and securing alternative training locations,” the statement said.
“The Army Cadets, No 8 Crowborough Detachment, are now parading twice a week at a community site in Crowborough. The other Cadet Forces are assessing alternative locations.
“We fully recognise the value cadets bring to the local community and the importance of ensuring these activities continue with minimal disruption.”
Community concerns
According to the Kent & Sussex Courier, the Minister for Veterans and People, Louise Sandher-Jones, addressed cadets and parents at a community meeting in Crowborough on Friday. She confirmed the Ministry of Defence (MoD) was exploring the viability of alternative sites for cadet training.
At the same meeting, local MP Nusrat Ghani, who represents Sussex Weald, highlighted the importance of the camp to young people. She said that before the Covid-19 pandemic, cadets logged 150,000 training days at Crowborough Training Camp, with 600 boys and girls using the site last year alone.
Ms Ghani criticised the decision to use the camp for asylum accommodation, accusing the Home Office of sidelining cadets.
“I am furious that the powers-that-be have already disrupted local cadets without a thought to their needs,” she said. “We are put in this undesirable situation by the Home Office’s decision to potentially house asylum seekers at the Crowborough Training Camp.”
A wider issue
There are currently more children enrolled in cadet forces than there are professional soldiers in the British Army, underlining the scale of the programme and its role in defence engagement.
In August, reports followed Army cadets during their annual training at Warcop Camp in northern England, where young people spoke about the opportunities they had gained since joining the cadet forces.
The government’s commitment to cadets was reiterated last year through the Strategic Defence Review, followed by a separate funding announcement that included a £70 million boost to support recruitment and expansion.
Temporary measure, government says
The Home Office confirmed that an initial group of asylum seekers was moved into accommodation at Crowborough Training Camp on 22 January. Reports suggest the site could eventually house up to 500 migrants.
The government has said the arrangement is temporary and that the site will be returned to the MoD, at which point it would stop being used for asylum accommodation.
Reports indicate that cadet activities at Crowborough Camp and along Beacon Road were paused in early December.
The MoD said it is continuing to work with the Home Office to assess the impact of housing asylum seekers on military sites and to develop measures to reduce disruption to cadet forces.
An MoD spokesperson said: “We take the safety and wellbeing of all cadets extremely seriously.
“We continue to explore all options with the Cadet Forces so that they can resume cadet training in Crowborough. An alternative temporary venue in Crowborough is being used by the Army Cadet Force for weeknight training.
“The details of this venue have been shared with the RN Cadet Force and RAF Air Cadets, who are also scoping other alternative sites to determine suitability for their own training requirements.”
