Twickenham Sea Cadets have launched a £15,000 crowdfunding appeal as part of a major refurbishment project to repair and upgrade its riverside headquarters in Teddington.

The Unit , a volunteer-run youth charity, is seeking to raise £650,000 in total, with almost £400,000 already pledged by supporters including Richmond Council, the Marine Society and Sea Cadets, and the Bernard Sunley Foundation.

Now, the organisation is calling on local residents, supporters and businesses to help bridge the remaining gap, starting with this community-led £15,000 campaign.

Chairman of Twickenham Sea Cadets, Chris McLaughlin, said: "Over recent years the cost of ongoing repairs and efficiently heating our Unit have risen significantly.

"We are now at the stage that we can no longer repair the leaking roof, which is impeding our ability to serve our cadets and the many other local clubs and charities who also use our building on a weekly basis.

"We have already raised a considerable amount towards our £650,000 target but we now need the help of others to continue to support our cadets and the local community."

Twickenham Sea Cadets were named the best in the UK 2023 (credit: Twickenham Sea Cadets).

The current building, constructed in 1953, has been home to the Unit since 1948.

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Despite countless hours of work by dedicated volunteers over the decades, the building now urgently needs a new roof and better insulation to meet modern standards.

Twickenham Sea Cadets is one of the oldest youth organisations in the borough and was awarded the Canada Trophy in 2023, recognising it as the top-performing Sea Cadets Unit in the UK, out of more than 450 nationwide.

It was the first time the Unit has received the prestigious award in its 92-year history.

The project has backing from local councillors, the Lord and Deputy Lord Lieutenant of London, and many former cadets.

It is hoped work will begin in late 2025 and complete by mid-2026.

"This refurbishment project will secure the future of Twickenham Sea Cadets for the remainder of the century," added Mr McLaughlin.

"Twickenham Sea Cadets is a thriving local youth organisation with a long and storied history of supporting over 3,000 young people into responsible adulthood, giving them unrivalled opportunities to take part in activities and learn important life skills."

To support the appeal and make a donation, visit the Twickenham Sea Cadets Crowdfunder page.

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