SPOTLIGHT ON…

Army

The Trust supports adventurous training expedition involvement because of its potential to give young people valuable life skills, including teamwork and physical wellbeing.

'Adventure, particularly at a young age, is almost always a transformational experience,' said explorer, author and The Ulysses Trust Ambassador Levison Wood. 'Last year marked the 30th anniversary of The Ulysses Trust: 30 years of giving young people the opportunity to test themselves and learn what they are capable of.'

Vision

Mission

To provide financial assistance, encouragement and guidance to support challenging expeditions and adventurous activities planned and undertaken by the Volunteer Reserve and Cadet Forces of the UK.

Since its inception, it has raised over £3.6 million to support over 41,000 individuals in over 3,030 expeditions. His Majesty King Charles III is the charity's patron.

Benefits

To enhance unit and force morale, recruitment, retention and public esteem. The Trust also helps develop an individual's leadership, teamwork, confidence, courage, initiative, self-discipline and judgement.

To bring the benefits of challenging, adventurous and community-related expeditions within the financial reach of every member of the UK’s Volunteer Reserve and Cadet Forces.

Eligibility

All Cadet Forces are eligible to apply for a grant to help fund an expedition. Expeditions must be sponsored by a Unit or HQ and have ACEATFA or other appropriate authorisation.

Post-pandemic, The Ulysses Trust relaxed its requirements for grants and provided more funds to assist activities, specifically for disadvantaged young people. This move saw a dramatic increase in the number of expeditions and participants supported.

The Ulysses Trust Expedition Awards

Each year, The Ulysses Trust presents three awards for the finest expeditions (showcasing the best in leadership, challenge, courage and planning) among Cadet Forces, University Units and Volunteer Reserve Forces.

Last year's cadet category winner was Round the Island 2022 – a yacht race round the Isle of Wight from 24–26 June, completed by UTC Reading CCF and funded by The Ulysses Trust.

'This is making memories kind of stuff; we’ll not forget this for the rest of our lives,' said Year 11 student Mutahira Sheikh.

Trust grant results in brilliant gains

A CCF unit was on the verge of collapse before involvement from The Ulysses Trust saw a turnaround in its popularity.

The Pioneer Secondary Academy CCF unit in Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire, was set up in 2017 through the Cadet Expansion Programme (CEP) but failed to gain momentum.

An expedition to Snowdonia National Park was proposed as a game-changing initiative to revive the failing unit. The prospect of adventure was a strong incentive for cadets and CFAVs to get involved, but it was a £5,796 grant from The Ulysses Trust that guaranteed it went ahead and was affordable for all.

The sky's the limit

Skydiving remains a bucket-list fantasy for many but, thanks to a two-year fundraising campaign and donations from The Ulysses Trust, nine Norfolk ACF cadets became qualified skydivers in 2022.

Initially planned as a two-week residential skydiving expedition in Spain in 2020, plans were scuppered by the pandemic. The expedition eventually took place at Skydive Hibaldstow in north Lincolnshire in April 2022.

The build-up included 12 exercises – mostly AT –which ensured the unit was well prepared. In July 2022, 24 cadets deployed to Snowdonia with four CFAVs. They engaged in challenging activities which pushed them out of their comfort zones, including a two-day wild camping expedition and a canoe journey down the estuary which ended with an evening campfire on the beach.

'I did things I thought I would never do, such as jumping in the water,' said Cdt LCpl Nicola Chumber. 'I can’t swim but challenged myself and took the chance to complete every single opportunity that was given to me.'

Following the expedition, the unit doubled in size – a direct result of the expedition and the charity's help.

Cadets and CFAVs were overcome by the once-ina-lifetime experience: 'I personally don't believe the exped could have been any better,' said Cdt LCpl Micah Bailey. Expedition leader Major John Stopford-Pickering appreciated the part The Ulysses Trust played in the process: 'We are all very grateful to The Ulysses Trust and our other donors for their support which helped to make this expedition possible.'

Go further

Discover upcoming adventures taking place with the help of The Ulysses Trust, and apply for grants. Click here or scan the QR code.

Click here and here or scan the QR codes to check out two epic videos from the dive.

www.ulyssestrust.co.uk