The Ulysses Trust celebrated its 20th anniversary by presenting awards to cadet and reserve forces who have benefited from its grants, for the best expedition and the best expedition photograph in each category. These four awards were kindly sponsored by the Adventurous Training Group (Army). Among the winners were a Glaswegian Army Cadet who took part in a coast-to-coast expedition along the mountain spine of Corsica, and an Air Training Corps officer whose cadets helped build a school in Kenya. The Trust, which supports around 100 expeditions every year, presented the awards at a reception at Lancaster House on 10 May.
Opening the reception, Major General The Duke of Westminster congratulated the Trust for helping over 21,000 cadets and reservists benefit from adventurous training.
In a video message the Prince of Wales – the Trust’s Patron – paid tribute to the Trust’s work in ‘broadening horizons, developing young people’s responsibility, and showing them what they can achieve as part of a team’. Click for video
Cadet Sergeant Laura Cooper, 17, of Glasgow’s Kelvinside Academy CCF, received her award from General Richards for writing about her part in a 3-week Army Cadet expedition to Corsica in 20ll, which included an ascent of the island’s highest peak. ‘I don’t think I’d have been able to do it at all without the Ulysses Trust’s support,’ she said. ‘It’s made a huge difference to my life – I’m much more confident, and more myself. You can’t go on a 3-week expedition with people you don’t know and hide who you really are.’ Expedition report
Flight Lieutenant Dave Hill RAFVR(T) received an award from General Richards on behalf of Kent Wing ATC for cadet photography during an expedition to Kenya in 2011. As well as climbing Mount Kenya, the cadets helped build a much-needed school in an impoverished Maasai village – ‘The Ulysses Trust helps us make a massive difference to young people’s lives,’ he said. ‘It also makes a big difference to the wider world.’ Expedition report
The other awards, presented by Mr Ian Hannam, went to Sheffield University Officer Training Corps for an expedition to climb a number of the highest peaks in the Alps including Mont Blanc, received by 2nd Lieutenant Max Sones Expedition report and to the Adventurous Training Group (Army) for an ambitious expedition with members of the Volunteer Reserve Forces from the North West to climb Mount Vinson, the highest peak in Antarctica – as part of a project to climb the highest mountain in each of the world’s seven continents, received by Captain Raj Joshi. Expedition report
Speaking after the presentations the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir David Richards, said: ‘As someone who has benefited from adventurous training throughout my career, I know what a critical impact it has on morale. The Ulysses Trust is hugely important for helping people who might not otherwise be able to do it, to do the most incredible things. It’s incredibly uplifting to see the difference it makes to young people’s lives.’
