Hi, new to the organisation, so after some direction with who to ask. I was at a fireworks display last November, and noticed air cadets and staff in uniform acting stewards, directing traffic etc. I have just started a new job, at a local tourist spot which also has events on all year round.
My question is, does anyone know who I could speak to about trying to negotiate free entry in return for stewarding for the cadets. I was thinking that this would be good in terms of a nice day out for cadets staff and greater exposure for the corps at events with an international audience.
If there are any previous posts with the answer, or an ACP I can refer to, please send my way.
Generally the organisor of the event, or the person in charge of certain jobs like the car parking. Obviously state it’s to save them hiring professionals.
In a word, yes. Depending on the “level” of the activity, at the vey least, an “event” will have to be created on the Bader system for approval from Wing.
Hi, this is the stuff I deal with! We’ve done a few events over the last year and generally I need to raise an event on SMS, which needs to include a risk assessment for the event as well as public liability insurance. If you are doing something like car parking/marshalling at an event, then the event organisers should have PLI to cover you and you will need to request this. Allow plenty of time to get it set up, organised and approved. Wing usually require at least a week’s notice in order to approve, I try and give them 2 if I can. Best thing is probably to talk it through with your OC, or member of staff that takes the lead on organising these. In our squadron, its within my remit as Training Officer.
I agree with Talon once you’re helping that’s it, don’t worry about free admissions etc.
As for RAs construct a general one based on experience of what cadets are asked to do over a number of events, rather than one for each specific event. We have separate ones for car parking and manual handling, but that’s it as we do events that we only do CP and man hand is a general thing. If cadets get asked to assist on stalls for instance build this into an RA in a generic way and then manage the local circumstance dynamically, if you’re not happy with the request you can always say no we can’t do that and cite H&S / risk etc. We use this general model at work and it works as you have RAs people use, rather than ones that might get used once in a blue moon, which reduces the admin. I’ve not had a the ATC H&S gnomes moan, so it must be OK.
Sounds like a bloody good spot. As people have said don’t worry about trying to get free entry if you’re helping at the event.
Are there volunteering opportunities for DofE, to give the cadets a diverse DofE portfolio? If it is possible, as you work there you can manage the initial contact and then leave the cadets to get on with it.
