DEVON Army Cadet Force, in conjunction with the Army Cadet Force Association, held its outreach programme recently, where 45 disengaged and disadvantaged young people from Tavistock and Plymouth met the challenges of life by building character and instilling values such as self discipline and leadership.

The event covered a wide range of adventurous subjects including camp craft, navigation, survival, team building skills and much more.

The participants were from Tavistock College and others chosen by Plymouth City Youth Services and Saltash College.

Devon ACF is supported by regular army instructors as well as skilled ACF instructors.

During the programme a discovery day was held at The Royal Citadel in Plymouth, hosted by 29 Commando Regt Royal Artillery.

This was followed by a week's residential activity course at RAF St Mawgan, Cornwall. During this time the activities centred on achieving three nationally recognised accreditations — OCN in team building, British Heart Foundation Heart Start and NCFE foundation in team building and problem solving.

In addition to undertaking these challenges, the youngsters raised funds for Devon Air Ambulance by climbing and abseiling more than 30 times the height of Big Ben (96m) — they actually achieved 3,060m, 32 times higher.

The participants were then invited, along with their parents, to a presentation of awards by the Mayor of Plymouth, Cllr Dr John Mahoney at the Guidhall in Plymouth.

The opportunity was taken for Brigadier Simon Young, CBE, DL, to award honorary membership of Devon Army Cadet Force to Cllr Pauline Murphy, who was instrumental in the project, on behalf of the city council.

Callum Plokker, from Tavistock College, told of the benefits he and the other participants attained from the programme and expressed thanks to the instructors and those who gave them the opportunity to be involved.