We’re always thrilled to see the positive impact the NAAFI Fund grants make on our serving personnel and their families and we’re celebrating a fantastic story from the URNU (University Royal Naval Unit) East Midlands, who received a £4,000 grant that’s truly making waves!
URNU East Midlands is a rapidly expanding unit and this growth means an even greater need for engaging and effective training opportunities, and that’s where the NAAFI Fund stepped in.
The grant has allowed URNU East Midlands to purchase a full set of Stand-Up Paddleboards (SUPs) and all the necessary gear. This might sound like fun and games (which it is!), but it’s also a smart, sustainable investment.
Traditionally, delivering adventurous training (AT) and team-building experiences often relies on external trainers, which can be costly and hard to maintain long-term. With their own equipment, the URNU East Midlands can now deliver these vital activities in-house. They’ve even had several team members trained as British Canoeing SUP Instructors, and with plenty of calm waters nearby, they’re already making the most of their new capability!
This initiative offers much more than just a good time on the water. The URNU East Midlands is dedicated to mentoring students in critical areas such as:
- Marinisation & Militarisation: Essential preparation for a career in the Royal Navy.
- Command, Leadership & Management: Developing the leaders of tomorrow.
- Sport & Adventurous Training: Crucial for health, wellbeing, discipline, and fostering a strong team ethos. These activities also safely push cadets and staff into their “stretch zones,” building resilience and confidence.
This investment is a brilliant example of Value for Money because it’s not just for their unit; they plan to share their new SUPs with other URNU units, as well as Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) and Army units in the region, fostering stronger inter-service relationships.
Officer Cadet, Bradley Dawn, said “An excellent day out, where myself and my fellow students have been bitten by the SUP bug! For something not experienced before this has been great for my confidence – we learned so much in 5 hours SUPing and learned basic skills and experienced some great wildlife along the river. We will be visiting other venues in the local area shortly to hone our skills further, all made possible by the generous NAAFI Fund grant!”
Need paddleboards or adventure training equipment? The NAAFI Fund offers grants to help.
Contact us for more info on how to apply @naafisocial
