Royal Air Force Air Cadets, Sergeant Sam Mason and Cadet Neave Williamson of 2070 (Glenfield) Squadron, Air Training Corps, have spent the enforced time away from their education by giving practical and valuable help within their local community during the current time of crisis.
When asked by his father, Sam jumped at the opportunity to volunteer to help a local company his father works for in the production of 40,000 face masks. The masks are destined for the NHS and the staff of super stores throughout the country. Sam helped with assembling the pieces ready for the manufacturing process.
As if that wasn’t enough, Sam has spent many hours delivering food and medical parcels to those in the local Leicestershire villages who find themselves housebound during “Lockdown”. Sam has also devoted some of his time on the telephone to those in need of a friendly chat or a reassuring word.
Having been a cadet for four years, Sam was in the process of qualifying for his Silver Gliding Wings when the current crisis put that on hold, however, looking on the bright side, his volunteering will certainly aid his pursuit of the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award.
“My years in the Cadets has been fantastic, this current crisis has given me a great opportunity to put something back into the community and help those who need it” said Sam. Both Sam and Neave are, of course, looking forward to getting “back to normal” resuming Their cadet careers and re joining their friends to enjoy the cadet experience.
Neave has been working alongside Sam at the Groby and Ratby Community Hub is doing whatever has been necessary to help those in the community who are the most vulnerable.
This is only one of many stories of Air Cadets working in and for their local communities and being a great example of what these young adults can do, after all “it’s what we do”.