This weekend saw 1109 Thetford Squadron undertake an educational workshop involving both BTEC’s and Arts Award. Cadets from the squadron have been working hard on their BTEC Level 2 Award in Leadership and Personal Development over the past couple of months under the supervision of Squadron BTEC Officer Flt Lt Juliane Ovenden RAFVR(T). The weekend workshop provided them an opportunity to spend time on their workbooks away from the usual distractions of a squadron evening. It also gave the cadets a chance to plan their projects for their Bronze Arts Award.
The Arts Awards are linked to the QCF (Qualifications & Credit Framework) like the BTECs but run by Trinity College London. It encompasses creativity in any form so links to many areas of the Air Cadet experience such as Aircraft Modelling, first aid make up or graphic design of recruitment materials. So far the cadets have made visits to The RAF Museum at Hendon and the RAF Regiment Heritage Centre at RAF Honington to broaden their thoughts & experiences of what art is and how it is part of the military with interesting results.
Flt Sgt Georgia Brinkley said “Once you start looking around you see art everywhere, from different styles of camouflage to medal ribbons, how the maps are drawn, even design of uniforms – it’s really opened my eyes to how art is all around us every day”.
Having experienced many different forms of art the cadets planned their projects and the skills they will focus on developing and improving over the next few months to build a portfolio of evidence to gain their award.
Flt Lt Ovenden commented “the cadets are committed to achieving both
awards and I think the Arts Award are a fantastic opportunity to use their creative skills that they might not associate with the cadet experience to gain a further qualification”.