Air Training Corps Cadets from 84 (Coventry Airport) Squadron spent Saturday 19 th and Sunday 20th of December at Sainsbury's in Kenilworth helping to pack customer's bags in order to raise much needed funds for the squadron.

Throughout the weekend 27 cadets and 7 staff from 84 (Coventry Airport) Squadron, based in Baginton, descended on Sainsbury's in Kenilworth to assist the Christmas shoppers by packing bags in exchange for donations towards the Squadron funds. The organisers of the weekend event were the squadron's own Civilian Committee who are responsible for raising the squadron finances as well as taking care of cadet and staff welfare amongst other things. The committee's treasurer Dave Cardus was responsible for creating a timetable and schedule of breaks for the workers and most importantly counting all the coins as they came flooding in. The total collected from the weekend was over a spectacular £1700 which will be used towards maintenance and up-keep of the squadron owned mini-bus which ensures the squadron is self-sufficient in allowing them to travel to all the activities the RAF and Air Cadet organisation has to offer next year.

Sainsbury's Store Manager, Ryan Allen said, “[the air cadets] were an asset to the store and provided great customer service. Judging by the donations given over the weekend they were very much appreciated by our customers too”.

Flying Officer Ben Chapman, Officer in Charge at 84 Squadron said he was “very proud of all the cadets who took part this weekend. They looked very smart and the help they provided to keep the queues down at the checkouts was really impressive. The amount they have raised collectively will be a fantastic boost to the running of our squadron.”

84 Squadron are now on their Christmas break but looking forward to meeting up again on Wednesday 6 th January. The squadron will be running a recruitment campaign early in the year ready for a new intake of cadets to start at the end of January. If you wish to have a look round the squadron to find out more about what we do and sign up for the next intake, please visit out website for more details: www.84sqnatc.co.uk