Building closure due to VIVO/RFCA contract change in 2024 now at 9 months

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Now 9 months since joint building was closed due to failure of the MOD maintenance contract change in volunteer estate management by the RFCA West Midlands (after an MOD value for money review led to change to incumbent MOD VIVO Defence contractor in Aug 2025). It has been parading at alternative venues since Oct 2025 which has caused a lot of work for volunteers. Direct costs to parents/cadets for alternative venues now stands at £3185.75. Sqn has persevered. It is current holder of the Wing Per Ardua trophy for best Sqn after overall win in Sept 2025, just before building closed (a competition involving a wide range of activities, incl. Ensemble, STEM, Drill, Banner, Radio, First Aid etc). It is also current holder of all 3 Wing Sports trophies. 1368 cadets/NCOs won the Warwickshire and Birmingham Wing Athletics Championships in May 2026 (and Sqn was last winner of the Swimming Wing Championships and Cross Country Wing Championships). The cadets still achieved their annual Panto at Christmas and we have a small cadet that can play Bryan May guitar solos. Sqn only came 2nd in Wing for DofE last year, although it scored more points than any other year, and has achieved more DofE Awards in the last 5 years than any other Sqn. Although building contract failure has impacted volunteer levels, it has 76 enrolled cadets on the books.

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