Adam Digby & the sea cadets

For me, It all started when…

I was approached to give some advice and support to a London District of the organisation around young people coming into the units with difficulties around self-harm. This can be an amazingly emotive subject and tends to go against the grain of the most basic of human instincts, leaving people feeling helpless to be useful.

I attend the conference and we crammed some really useful topics in around the subject, I managed to squeeze my 90minute slot to a full two hours (thanks to all concerned for extending my time and for your understand!) and then stayed around for the rest of the day, talking to the adult and cadet instructors about particular issues or cases within their units. The common themes were that all those present were not only interested but also desperately wanted to do more to support their cadets through challenging times. It was warming and inspiring to be part of this conference.

special educational needs & mental health (SEND-MH) team - London Area sea cadets

In 2017, I was approached on the back of the 2016 conference by Commander James Nesbit, Royal Navy & Area Officer London MSSC. James and I met and discussed the exciting project he was working on, putting together a small team of (Volunteer) Subject Matter Experts, as a response to a need for the area to be able to better respond to the Social & Emotional needs of cadets and volunteer instructors.

Having been a sea cadet myself, and also proud to have served two years in the Royal Navy before leaving to pursue my Mental Health Nursing career, I was thrilled to be able to give back and accepted immediately!

The Special Educational Needs Mental Health Team or SEND-MH for short, is made up of myself and another registered nurse (also a Royal Marine Cadet Force Instructor) who specialises in the SEND aspect of the team. We are both volunteers and between us, we work to provide support and practical advice to units who find themselves facing the challenges that Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and Mental Health can bring. We believe that no cadet or staff member should be left behind and that everyone has the right to access the Sea Cadet experience to an as larger degree as is possible for the individual. If we can help make that happen, then we are happy to do so and will work with the individual, the unit and anyone else that needs to be involved, so far as reasonably possible for all parties concerned.

London Area SEND-MH support in relation to cadets

We are able to provide support to units to help them meet the diverse needs of young people who are joining the unit or if cadets already part of the ships company begin to experience challenges in relation to their special educational needs, disability or mental health. This support can include;

• Support through unit visits, or advice by phone or in writing

• Meet with unit representatives and the cadet as a group including where needed, the young persons family to help think through any SEND or Mental Health challenges

• Support the unit to think about its resources and abilities to support a young person get the most from their cadet experience whilst helping to keep the young persons specific needs in mind

send-mh Supporting adult service members

The challenges related to Mental Health & Special Educational Needs & Disabilities are non-discriminatory when it comes to age, so the SEND-MH team doesn’t just work to support the young people of the organisation.

We recognise that in order to promote a culture of Emotional Health within the cadet force we not only need to support our adult volunteers to support our cadets, but we also absolutely need to promote, and wherever possible support, the needs of our Adult Volunteers who may be struggling with their challenges in relation to Special Educational Needs Disabilities and Mental Health. We believe that this aspect of our work is vital as we recognise that without our adult volunteers and staff members, the organisation would cease to function or exist.

The support that can be offered to Adult volunteers from the SEND-MH team can include;

• Phone discussion and advice around specific needs to the individual or the unit Commanding Officer

• Helping you to find a credible and reliable support in your local area

• Check-in’s on a schedule mutually agreed by all concerned

• Attending meetings at your unit or meeting with you face to face to think through what might be helpful or useful and supporting the organisation to come together and think about the best way forward when challenges arise