Heather Wells first began her journey as an instructor for the Sea Cadets in Manchester more than 30 years ago before moving to the south coast, where she has spent the last decade as a Commanding Officer volunteering with Newhaven and Seaford Sea Cadets, TS Defiance.
She has dedicated her time to helping young people in Newhaven and the surrounding area become “well-rounded, helpful, polite and skilled young people,” setting them up for their formative years and their young adult lives.
Highly regarded for her commitment to the unit, Heather has led TS Defiance through a period of significant progress, with the group receiving the prestigious Indefatigable Cup in 2017 for sustained improvements in training, boating hours and community involvement.
Alongside her leadership role, she is also a qualified instructor in first aid, piping, kayaking, sailing and powerboating.
The Sea Cadets recently received a £10,000 grant from Newhaven Enterprise Zone’s Community Support Fund, helping the group move closer to securing a new home for its cadets and volunteers.
We spoke with Heather about the impact Sea Cadets has on young people in the area, what keeps her passionate after three decades of service and how the funding will support the future of the unit.
What do you enjoy the most about operating in Newhaven?
Being able to access the surrounding countryside, the river, sea and inland waterways, such as Piddinghoe Pond, to take part in outdoor activities and being visible in the area. It means that we can promote Sea Cadet values and represent the Royal Navy in our uniform.
How did it feel to find out you had been awarded your funding?
Fantastic, we try to work really hard for the young people of Newhaven and the surrounding area and this award shows that the work we do is valued by the community.
How will this funding from Newhaven Enterprise Zone support your group?
The funding will help in many ways, including the fact that we can provide a range of outdoor boating, and have a safe and secure area in which to do that and to store our equipment.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic our unit has been nomadic as our previous building was unsafe, so we haven’t had anywhere to call our home. We have joined forces with Seahaven Maritime Academy, and this funding has secured us a place to parade two times a week in a nautical environment which feels like home again.
It’s so important for the Sea Cadets to have a space they feel comfortable in that has a consistent and continuous place they can grow and learn.
What sort of activities and experiences do you get up to at the Sea Cadets?
Sea Cadets take part in a huge range of activities and in Newhaven we are able to provide a full program of theory-based information on things like looking after uniforms, the history of the Sea Cadets, Royal Navy battles, leadership and teamwork.
We also provide more practical training in first aid, seamanship knots and ropes, marching, navigation, meteorology, marine engineering, physical training, sailing, power boating and rowing – all within nationally recognised qualifications.
The cadets can go on courses within Sussex to do catering, mountain biking, climbing, leadership and promotions. Further afield, they can go on the offshore fleet to learn to sail big ships and large motor boats.
They can take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme and gain BTEC qualifications too. The cadets can also take part in various competitions within Sussex and ultimately go to a national event.
How can people volunteer their time to support your group and what kind of work would they do?
We need adult volunteers to help provide the instructors with the training we do on land and water, to be positive role models for the young people and to promote resilience, discipline and confidence.
Adults can be part of the uniformed team or they can join and provide instructions, or they can be part of our unit management team, or the fundraising team.
Tell us about the experience of volunteers who give up their free time to help your group? What do they love about it?
The adults in the group give up various amount of their free time, whether it’s once or twice a week or entire weekends for courses and competitions. Volunteers can go away on courses to equip themselves with the information to provide quality instructions to the Cadets too.
The best thing about being an adult volunteer is to see young people at the age of 10 being shy and quiet, to leaving at 18 with multiple qualifications, masses of experiences, friendships formed all over the UK that will be ever-lasting, being confident in themselves and in their own abilities and growing into young adults with a zest for life.
How long have the Newhaven and Seaford Sea Cadets been running, and in that time, how has the group evolved?
Sea Cadets has been part of the community for nearly 80 years, and it has grown in strength and variety of cohorts. We have many more activities than 80 years ago, but what hasn’t changed is the sense of belonging that Cadets provide.
We have many young people that are neurodivergent as we are an inclusive organisation. The people of Newhaven are supportive of the Cadets and they’re proud to see their young people doing something positive for their community.
How do you think people’s perceptions of Newhaven are changing?
The area feels more positive and there is hope for the future.
What would you like Newhaven’s future to look like in 10 years’ time?
To have a town and port that everyone can feel proud of, whether it’s local people or those travelling in and out of the town on the ferry.
Do you have a favourite place in Newhaven that you would recommend to visitors?
Newhaven Beach, this could be a fantastic place when it is developed and access to the sandy beach would be incredible again for families. I have been able to experience the beach with my own children and local families deserve to be able to do the same.
What else would you like Newhaven Enterprise Zone to spend its funding on in the town?
Creating more commercial space in the town and holding more cultural events which make Newhaven a better place to live and work in.
It would be great to see additional support for business to help them grow too.
I’d like to see the town, port and beach have better facilities as the people of Newhaven are very proud of these areas and deserve more to boost this feeling.
