2025 Cadet Dining-In & 65th Anniversary Raffle Prizes Thank You To Supporters

An image of 2353 Ystrad Mynach Air Cadets Squadron Crest alongside the official RAF Air Cadets logo, acknowledging in neon text the many UK businesses who have kindly donated Raffle Prizes for our event, enabling us to raise much needed funds selling raffle tickets to those attending.

Thank You To All Raffle Prize Supporters;

So, the Cadet Dining-In & 65th Anniversary Reunion 2025 event is nearly here, just a few evenings away now.

With this in mind, the Civilian Committee over the past couple of months have been delivering on something which we haven’t to date, and we are not sure if previous CivCom’s have either - which was to undertake a large Raffle Prize Donation seeking drive. By doing so, we hoped to be able to attract additional ways to fundraise, by way of being able to hold a Raffle Draw on the evening of the event.

Needless to say, we are utterly bowled over by the sheer generosity and kindness afforded to 2353 ATC Squadron by over 30 National, Regional and Local companies, who in their decision to grant our initial wishes when we approached them, have now made the Saturday 13th September 2025 draw, a reality.

We offered each company the ability to contribute to our Pre-Event Raffle Supporters Exposure campaign, should they wish, and some have taken that opportunity. This to include: their business logo and a short promotional message featured here on our official ‘SQN Insight’ News Blog, accessible via this new website and shared within our wider community too, vai our official Facebook page.

So, please join us all here at 2353 Ystrad Mynach Air Cadets, in thanking the below businesses for providing the item(s) that they have, it is so very much appreciated indeed.

Thank you for donating a voucher for four free spaces in one of your three rooms: Coco Loco, The Curse of Senutep, and There's Something Outside - which will the winner escape from...

“At Exitus Escape Room, we love to support the local community, Welsh ventures, and long-standing traditions!

As a family-run business, we understand the importance of history and legacy.

We're pleased to support the Ystrad Mynach Air Cadets, and hope that your dinner and 65th Anniversary reunion are a great celebration.

We can't wait to welcome the lucky raffle winner and their team of four to one of our escape rooms, and hope that the raffle raises lots of money for equipment and education for the Squadron!

Exitus Escape Rooms is currently home to four rooms, developed and built in-house, and with more on the way!

We're a fun, family-friendly company who love to welcome all players - whether brand new to rooms or the best team out there! - to experience our gateways to adventure.”

Thank you for kindly donating a voucher for x2 Adults to experience the ‘Full Return’ journey - helping the squadron reach new peaks!

“Brecon Mountain Railway is delighted to support the 2353 Squadron RAF Air Cadets by contributing a gift voucher to this year’s Annual Cadet Dining-In Event and 65th Anniversary Reunion.

As a heritage railway set in the stunning Brecon Beacons National Park, we are proud to celebrate history, engineering, and adventure - values we believe align closely with the dedication, teamwork, and aspiration shown by the cadets.

By offering this experience, we hope to inspire cadets and supporters alike to appreciate both the past and the future: honouring traditions while encouraging exploration and discovery.

The funds raised through this raffle will directly benefit the cadets, helping provide opportunities that build confidence, skills, and lasting friendships.

We are grateful for the opportunity to contribute and to stand alongside other supporters in ensuring the 2353 Squadron RAF Air Cadets continue to thrive. We look forward to welcoming the lucky winner aboard the Brecon Mountain Railway for a memorable journey through the heart of Wales.”

Thank you for kindly donating x2 tickets for a 2026 ‘T20 Blast’ Group Game - the generosity has us bowled over!

“Glamorgan Cricket is delighted to support this event as we know the importance of families.

Here at Sophia Gardens we have made great strides in ensuring that the visitor experience is a good one especially at our T20 Blast games and at the Welsh-Fire Hundred Tournament.

Making sure families all feel at home is important to us and we want to make sure that a wide range of people from Wales come along to our stadium and feel welcome.

We know that many fans come along from the valleys areas and we want hope that the not only the winner of this voucher but many more people will come along in 2026 as well to enjoy the experience. Have a great event!”

Not just the above, but we promised Post-Event Social Media Recognition also: A special thank-you post on our publicly-viewable Squadron Facebook Page and Squadron Website, including a photograph of the raffle winner with their generous donated prize, and their company’s logo prominently displayed. It won’t be long before we deliver on this too, keep an eye out for that update coming soon.

What Will The Money Be Raised, Use For?

All money raised is to be submitted into the squadron’s non public funds account, where at Squadron level, and with the assistance of the Civilian Committee; we raise our own funds to pay for items through the Non-Public Funds account, such as:

• ✈ Flying & Gliding – giving cadets the unforgettable experience of taking to the skies.

• 🧭 Adventure & Training – from Duke of Edinburgh expeditions to survival skills.

• 🎓 Skills for Life – leadership, teamwork, and confidence-building activities.

• 🤝 Community Spirit – supporting local events, volunteering, and remembrance activities.

  Among many other items and activities that are not funded by the Ministry of Defence central annual grant for RAFAC.

You’re Now Part of Our Story

We’d love to keep you updated on how your donation is making an impact. Follow us on our social media channels and watch our cadets grow, learn, and achieve access using the following that we can better fund;

Broadband for Classification and E-Sports Night uses, First Aid Equipment, IT Equipment, Software, STEM Kits, Adventure Training Kit, Subsidised Trips etc, among many other items.

It is very much a misconception that Air Cadets are solely funded by the Ministry Of Defence (MOD), we are not - they fund the property, building and maintenance, utility bills (not broadband) and certain insurances.

As an “Excepted” charity with an Exception No. W1865/96, we enjoy the status and fiscal benefits accorded to a registered charity and are required to comply with the key principles of charity law. In essence, we carry out all of our activities as a charity with a board of Trustee’s, and are regulated and monitored by the national RAF Air Cadets HQ’s, on behalf of the Charity Commission.

This is why, to expand the experiences and learning of today’s cadets at the squadron, we as an active CivCom and in tandem with the Officer Commanding plus his Staff, need to fairly consistently look at ingenuious ways to raise funds for these purposes.

Thankyou All.