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Annual Dinner awards 2024

posted on 15th May 2024

Winner: RAL Space

Citation for RAL Space, written by Faye Murray, Regional Manager for Oxfordshire at JET.

The last couple of years have seen JET catapult into the realm of Space, bringing more unique experiences and brilliant learning opportunities to our young people. RAL Space have been integral to that effort and continue to lead the way for our growing list of corporate space partners.  

This year, RAL have exceeded any expectations to support the delivery of more sessions and accommodate requests from the wider JET Team. It was a real privilege to have Meganne Christian attend a session in February. Despite the short lead time, RAL shared our enthusiasm and enabled JET to maximise on a fantastic opportunity for both the youth programmes and communications teams.  

This year, Oxfordshire will benefit from RAL sessions for all 3 cohorts – a massive undertaking for any partner. Moreover, they have been our staunchest advocate in looking for opportunities to promote the valuable work we do, including the delivery of a joint presentation at RASReach2024; a Think Tank event aimed at individuals involved in astronomy and geophysics outreach. 

It has also been an honour for RAL to choose our BS students from Carterton Community College to partner with on Harwell Open Week’s Wonder Projects. RAL staff will deliver extra in-school sessions and all 3 cohorts will create displays for Harwell’s public day where thousands of people visit the campus. During the open day itself, students will be fully involved in activities as site ambassadors, representing RAL and JET. Transport and tickets have generously been provided for parents and carers too, making it a wonderful occasion for everyone to connect with the work we do.  

Lastly, Vicky Hall truly deserves a special mention as the lynchpin to our amazing partnership. She fosters a creative and encouraging environment where students flourish and strives to ensure sessions work cohesively alongside our JET Outcomes. 

 

Joint Winners: RAF Coningsby and RAF Brize Norton.

Citation for RAF Coningsby, written by Jessica Nugent, Regional Manager for Lincolnshire at JET.

“The whole JET team at RAF Coningsby has been dedicated and committed to JET for a number of years now. For the period Nov-22-24 we’ve been lucky to have three motivated POCs in Flt Lt Fullerton, Flt Lt Lamb and Flt Lt Gorton (who has now been posted). Their hard work has resulted in a huge team of JET military supporters (too many to name in the above section) who not only host eight sessions a year at RAF Coningsby, but also attend all of the in school sessions at Barnes Wallis Academy, host their graduation event and offer extra inspirational outreach sessions as well. This large pool of enthusiastic RAF personnel means that at every session I have multiple supporters (one memorable rocket session in school having 12 supporters attend!), who are all committed to supporting the students that they get to know well, and developing their SEL skills.

With leadership from my POCs, the team has developed their on base sessions to really delve into the different aspects of military life and pulling out the JET outcomes – not only the obvious but very inspiring sessions with the aircraft, but also have developed a catering session (nicknamed the Come Dine With Me Pizza Challenge) hosted at the Officer Mess – a real first for military sessions in Lincolnshire, and an extremely inspiring bushcrafting session.

However, it is not just the incredible places the students get to visit and activities they take part in that makes the RAF Coningsby programmes, it is the truly inspiring people. The team is a true asset to the military, JET and our students. They are inspirational role models using their knowledge and experience to support the students, motivating and encouraging them to reach their potential. They truly align with JETs core values and understand our underlining SEL framework, acknowledging the needs of the young people whilst supporting them to develop their skills.

The students always come away from sessions with the RAF Coningsby team buzzing, loving that they know and can trust the supporters as they turn up regularly, and always inspired to do the best that they can.”

Citation for RAF Brize Norton, written by Faye Murray, Regional Manager for Oxfordshire at JET.

Despite being one of the busiest operational bases in the UK, RAF Brize Norton continues to be the backbone of our programmes in the Oxfordshire region and this year alone they will have delivered 8 BS sessions, including teamwork activities on a C17 aircraft, leadership and communication exercises with the RAF Fire Service and personal challenges aimed at improving confidence and resilience such as jumping from the fan descender at the Parachute Training School. 

The sheer variety of inspirational sessions our students experience at Brize is unparalleled, as is the exposure to so many role models who personify the attributes we look to encourage from our students. Their support has been unwavering and extends to our BSIPs and other in-school sessions where Brize have always provided volunteers, much to the delight of students.  

This year has also seen Brize host an IO event for schools in the Oxfordshire region. Not only did this enable JET to reach more young people, it also strengthened our partnership with Midcounties Co-op, who co-delivered the event alongside Brize personnel.  

The station always exceeds expectations to create amazing experiences for our students and I am so appreciative of their dedication and can-do attitude.  The graduation is a wonderful example of Brize’s commitment to JET. To host such an event on a military base is resource intensive, yet Brize do their upmost to make the day so very special for our students and I’m so pleased to say, this year they are planning to have the RAF Falcons do a spectacular jump in to deliver student certificates.    

Finally, after many years supporting JET as my station POC and Team Leader, MAcr Maria Keepa and Cpl Steve Ridsdel will be moving on and it would be wonderful to celebrate their efforts and steadfast support for JET.

 

Winner: Southampton University Air Squadron

Citation for SUAS, written by Michelle Mitchell, Regional Manager for Hampshire at JET.

SUAS’ partnership with JET goes back to the very beginning of our activities in the South and they have been a vital part of our work in Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire for almost a decade.

It’s impossible to quantify the contribution SUAS make to all of JET’s work in the South and the enormous impact they have on our programmes and young people.  If ever a group of young people embody and model the skills and values we try to impart, it’s SUAS– acting as the best possible role models for our students and relating to them in ways JET & partner staff often can’t.

They are not just extra pairs of hands on sessions – they listen, encourage, inspire and motivate and it’s no coincidence that schools, partners and students see them as a key part of our programmes.  Be it sorting tech, fixing furniture, escorting students, fetching & carrying, running activities or sharing their personal stories, SUAS get stuck into everything with positivity, enthusiasm and a healthy dose of competition!

Each year dozens of SUAS volunteers take time out of their demanding studies, travelling the breadth of three regions at their own expense, to support our students.  In the last year they have supported 49 sessions at multiple partners & schools and twice have stepped in at the last minute to run activities when partners have cancelled.

SUAS support doesn’t stop at sessions: graduations, dinners, fundraising events, Bournemouth AirFest, fundraising through plane pulls, marathons, three peaks, IOW & other physical challenges & as Charity of the Year (several times) and advocating for JET with other UASs and beyond as they become JET volunteers with the RAF & corporate partners.  The list goes on.

SUAS embody all of JET’s values and really are Team South & JET’s ‘unsung heroes’.