Bonus: staff with any kind of vague or greater interest, but limited Knowledge or experience get to tag along and get trained too!
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At the end of the day it comes down to contact and communications
We have had lots of activities organised within Region with varied and interesting guest speakers plus course that can be done virtually - uptake from Sqn = zero
Some don’t like virtual - its not what they signed up for
Some don’t like joining something not knowing who is running it
and lets face it many join Cadets to do fun things with their mates…
Have published everything available to CP, but the CP stats for Sqn are shocking
Have not seen the latest stats for CP globally but bet they make interesting reading
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Having a similar experience…lots on offer from within the region but next to 0 uptake from cadets on CP.
For our own VPN it normally takes until the day of the event and some persistent chasing to get even 3 or 4 cadets online (that includes NCOs) Its getting to the point where I’m questioning the value of our online parade nights and if its really worth trying to push on for another few months.
We hadn’t managed to get back to F2F but were targeting the end of January for a return. Realistically now I don’t see that happening for some time 
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That’s disappointing. I do think attraction and marketing is important and possibly this is something we should receive more guidance on as CFAVs.
With regards to ‘not signing up for VPNs’ - did anyone? Yes it isn’t quite the same as parades but you can still have fun. I guess it might be harder for the older cadets who may think 'what is the point of learning this when I’m not going to be apply it given I’m out the door in the next year or so.
Wait out, I’m going to start a new thread in relation to this.
she actually doesn’t (or, not as high as you might assume). There are a relatively large number of Scots, living in Scotland, who have constantly criticised her approach
it is much less severe in children: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/23/five-children-have-died-of-coronavirus-in-uk-study-reveals
to put this into some perspective, this is lower than the number of influenza deaths in <18s in an average year, which would never make headline news (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0163445313003733), but with the obvious complication of increased transmission
And that’s the units that survive 
The first thing that needs sorting is the viability of squadrons; pointless keeping squadrons open if Cadet and/or staff numbers make them unviable. And that will probably take a couple of months for the dust to settle.
Will OC Wings/RCs and HQRAFAC have the appetite to close unviable squadrons after all this, or will they use the ‘Sword of Damocles’ over the heads of OC Squadrons for months instead of biting the bullet. Then, of course, will the ramifications of moving to ‘new’ squadrons for those who have to!
Once this has settled, the next thing is to look at recruitment; how, what, when,…
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You speak so much sense.
Rationalise whilst there’s minimal impact, this would be a damn site harder when f2f resumes, wait for this to all blow over then optimise the organisation.
If this was a business, then that’s what would happen.
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Yes, but we all have to remember that many Sqns go through cycles - low numbers of staff or cadets for a few years and then mass growth for a while before numbers drop for a while. Unless you are trying to operate in a location where you can prove the demographics are against you then it is a fashion/numbers game. Numbers go up and down over time, always have done, always will do.
Once a unit is closed, it is gone. Would take a major business case to persuade the Powers to open a unit so closures should not be decided lightly.
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You would of thought historical data would of been taken into account with any decision.
I know a Sqn who’s struggled to top 10 cadets and struggled to staff it for over a decade… I’d question the long term viability of that
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I wouldn’t count out Squadrons based on Cadet numbers at this stage, for most units that can be fixed relatively easily.
The issue is that most of those Squadrons are in very specific areas, so we do away with the highland squadrons who only have 10 kids living within a reasonable distance of them? Do we withdraw from the worst of the inner cities where we have struggled for decades?
It’s a question of what are we here for and in some cases there is an argument for keeping units open in the best interests of that small number of Cadets who would have nothing else if we as an organisation withdraw.
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Remember, it’s not just a case of disbanding or staying as they are. Maybe in some areas converting a squadron to a DF would be a good interim solution until they can get back on their feet or it becomes obvious they have nowhere to go.
this 
^
We don’t need to (and shouldn’t) make the same kind of decisions a profit-making organisation does
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You just know it will come down to several different cost benefit analysis dependent upon who/where in the organisations you sit
It may come down to primarily RFCA based on cost of premises so those in rented or solo use accommodation need to clench 1st
No thanks.
I understand this sentiment and I do agree, but you have some squadrons that were barely managing pre pandemic due to poor staffing etc and then you have squadrons less than 5 mile away that were thriving for opposing reasons.
The squadron that is then struggling is almost stuck in a cycle of struggle because the thriving squadron is more appealing to new recruits. Why wouldn’t it be? This is the same for staffing.
For me, it’s all about the experience that cadets are receiving. I understand the history and tradition behind units but if your cadets are receiving a substandard experience (which they are paying for after all) and a neighbouring squadron is offering something better, then I’m in favour of amalgamation. This may also be suitable for two struggling squadrons to amalgamate for the same reason.
I know it’s not always black and white like the above but this pandemic has saw optimisation across all sectors and in many cases that’s a positive. Sometimes it takes a problem to highlight where we could be doing things more efficiently and effectively.
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but where the sqn that is struggling is made up of cdts where there isn’t enough spare income in the household to cover the 5 mile bus journey?
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I reiterate what I said above - if you haven’t got adequately trained staffing or numbers then often the unit isn’t viable anyway.
Sadly, it isn’t often enough reason to keep a squadron open.
I think we might be trying to debate 2 different points 
if the Sqn does have good staff, but just a relatively low number of cdts, and closing the unit would remove the only activity that these teenagers have access to, and can’t afford to get to the next nearest - then I think it should stay open.
Poor staff / training is a different issue, but if that is on a unit which fits into the above criteria, then Wing should do something about it
Sounds a bit like my own Squadron. We actually offered / asked to become a DF in the past, the request was refused (and we had good arguments in favour of it).
But, come Covid, we offered some of the most VPNs by quantity and content, and were one of the first to get back F2F parading.
Sure there is an argument in favour of binning smaller Squadrons, and in the post Covid world I can see greater pressure to do so to save money, but as we have seen, there will be a massive hit on young people’s development, welfare and wellbeing. And, certainly in my part of the world, geography, and ability to get to another Squadron will rob many Cadets of the opportunity.
Would be interesting to see what local press, MP’s, Councils and social media masses would make of such a closure…
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