Lieutenant-Governor's Cadets
Each year a small group of young people from Guernsey's youth organisations, schools and charities are selected to serve as Lieutenant-Governor's Cadets. They play a special role in supporting The King's Representative at official and public functions throughout the year.
The Cadets are chosen each summer and are appointed in September, to serve for one year. Young people aged between 15 and 18 years old on 1st September are invited to apply.
For further information please contact:
Youth Commission for Guernsey and Alderney
Les Ozouets Campus, Les Ozouets
St Peter Port, Guernsey
GY1 2UB
Telephone number: 01481 756099
A list of those who have served as Lieutenant-Governor's Cadets since 2004 can be found here Roll Of Honour For Cadets 09.09.23
History:
First introduced in 1988 by the then Lieutenant-Governor, Sir Alexander Boswell. The purpose was, and remains, two-fold: first to give official recognition each year to four young persons chosen for their special achievements; second to enable those selected to assist the Lieutenant-Governor hosting guests on certain special reception at Government House. The cadets were chosen by The Executive committee of the Bailiwick of Guernsey Council of Voluntary Youth Services who partnered with the Office of the Lt-Gov to deliver the scheme. The sorts of occasion on which cadets would be asked to assist include: ceremonies for the presentation of medals and awards; receptions including that given for The King’s Birthday; functions to mark visits by members of the Royal Family and other VIPs.
The Current Scheme:
Fundamentally, little has changed for the Cadets in Guernsey. The original scheme was always designed to be inclusive, encouraging young people from both uniformed and non-uniformed organisations within the island. The Office of the Lt-Gov now partners with the Youth Commission who are involved in the recruitment process and who also run a team-building workshop early in the tenure of the new cadets where they meet the people who will work with them and learn about their duties. There is a dedicated cadet coordinator at Government House and a parade coordinator who volunteers with GH to train the cadets in drill and flag bearing for the parades. The cadet programme also works as a two-way process, they get to experience things they would otherwise never get to do and the opportunity to learn the art of communication with a wide mix of people and in return, the Lieutenant-Governor gets to know some of the younger members of the population who have a unique view on the future of their island.
Duties include:
- Presentation of awards at Government House e.g. Empire Medals (BEM, MBE, OBE) Long Service Awards (scouts, Home Affairs, GVS), Duke of Edinburgh Gold awards,
- All cadets are expected to attend: Remembrance Parade (November); The King's Birthday Reception (June) and Liberation Day Parade (9 May)
- Royal Visits: Their Majesty's King Charles III and Queen Camilla in July 2024, The Duchess of Edinburgh in August 2024. The Count and Countess of Wessex in May 2022.
- Special Occasions; Recent one's have included: Proclamation of King Charles III; Investiture of the new Lieutenant-Governor
- There is also time for less formal events; lunch at Government House and Christmas carols with mince pies.
- Teambuilding exercises including a workshop with the Youth Commission, dinner with the YC, parade training with your Parade Commander, Martin Doherty, Sailing trip to Herm for lunch.
Individual aims:
- The Lieutenant-Governor does encourage new cadets to consider anything they might like to achieve during their year as a cadet. If they have a particular interest in local politics, charities, sports, court activities or anything else, can we help you achieve something?
- Government House has links to so many aspects of society both on the island and off it and can be helpful in connecting you with people who are otherwise hard to access.
