BAE Systems has today committed to a donation of £50,000 to The Ulysses Trust, a charity that supports adventurous activities for the UK’s Volunteer Reserve and Cadet Forces. This donation marks the achievement of two significant milestones for the Trust, crossing the £2 million threshold for their New Horizons fundraising campaign and supporting more than 3,000 expeditions since the Trust’s establishment in 1992.
The funds provided by BAE Systems will be used to award grants to Army, Sea, and RAF Air Cadet units across the UK, enabling young people to participate in adventurous activities such as sailing, trekking, climbing, and canoeing. In addition to the donation, BAE Systems has pledged to provide grants totaling £100,000 over three years to support The Ulysses Trust.
At the presentation of the donation at the RAF Club in London, BAE Systems’ Sir Andy Pulford said, “BAE Systems is extremely proud of its relationship with the Ulysses Trust and is delighted to be able to continue supporting, through the Trust, the important work of the cadet and reserve forces organisations in the United Kingdom.”
The donation highlights BAE Systems’ ongoing commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant and to supporting the nation’s cadets. The Ulysses Trust specifically focuses on ensuring that cadets from disadvantaged backgrounds benefit from such opportunities to develop characteristics such as leadership, confidence, teamwork, initiative, self-discipline, and judgment. AVM Nick Kurth CBE FRGS, The Ulysses Trusts’ Chair, said, “I am delighted that this important partnership between BAE Systems and The Ulysses Trust continues; it will provide much needed assistance to the UK’s young people at a time when things are very difficult for a number of households.”
The Ulysses Trust’s New Horizons fundraising campaign, launched in 2020 to meet the growing need for support for cadets, has now raised more than £2 million. Despite the difficulties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Trust has made significant progress with the help of donors like BAE Systems. Since the start of the pandemic, the Ulysses Trust has awarded grants to 74 expeditions in the UK and overseas, benefiting 2,141 cadets.
Cadet L Cpl Nicola Chumber from Pioneer Academy CCF, who went on an expedition to Snowdonia in 2022, was one of those supported by the Trust. She said, “I have learnt not to be afraid of trying new things and to challenge myself further. I went out of my comfort zone and did things that I thought I would never do… I have gained skills such as self-commitment, confidence, willingness to try new things, taking risks, taking on different challenges and greater responsibility.”
The Ulysses Trust welcomes applications from cadet, reservist and university officer units seeking financial assistance for their own expeditions. The Trust also welcomes donations to help support others to benefit from these life-changing experiences.
On the eve of Armed Forces Day 2023, BAE Systems has made a significant contribution to The Ulysses Trust’s mission to provide life-changing experiences to those from disadvantaged backgrounds. The funds will be used to enable cadets to participate in challenging activities, and the social impact of BAE Systems’ commitment should not be under-estimated.
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