The Margate Sea and Royal Marines Cadets band will be parading this summer and autumn thanks to a gift from Annington, who donated six drum slings to the East Kent-based unit. Annington is breathing new life into homes in Manston; once used to house personnel serving in the Armed Forces, these homes have since been refurbished and made available to purchase.
The cadets are part of the UK’s oldest nautical youth charity, which sees young people aged between 10-18 gather each week to learn life skills, teamwork, respect and self-confidence. The slings will help the unit distribute the weight of the drums during marches and parades, reducing strain and fatigue during performances, allowing the band’s drummers to easily perform in public. The youngsters often perform at community events and parades, including most recently the Armed Forces Day parade and D-Day celebration in June.
Kate Hart, Chair of Unit Management Trust for the Margate Sea and Royal Marines Cadets, commented: “The cadets have been practicing hard and were excited to perform for the community this summer, and these slings from Annington have made that possible. Since we’re a non-profit charity, we are heavily reliant on donations and fundraising to operate. Annington’s gift will help us to ensure these young people from Margate and Ramsgate continue to have a safe, fun and educational environment where they can grow into the best version of themselves.”
The Margate Sea and Royal Marines Cadets help to improve opportunities for local young people, while celebrating Margate’s rich nautical heritage. Providing a structured programme of events and meetings to encourage discipline and leadership skills, the Cadets help young people to develop life skills and develop a feeling of belonging by getting involved in their local community.
Stacy Whitehead, Marketing Manager for Annington, added: “The Margate Sea and Royal Marines Cadets is doing vital work in the local community, teaching valuable skills, a lifelong love for music and encouraging young people to learn more about the world around them. We hope our donation allows the group to continue making a difference to the lives of these young people, and we look forward to seeing the band perform!”
The unit’s headquarters is located in Margate, just a few minutes’ drive from Annington’s development on Bell Davies Drive in Manston, where all lightly refurbished former MoD homes are now sold out.