494 Squadron has been awarded a grant to enable the running of a number of weekend experience events for young people called the ‘Community Challenge.’ Funding for the project has been awarded by the Local Network Fund under the auspices of the Department for Education and Skills and administered by Essex Community Foundation.

The scheme is designed to actively engage young people in adventurous and team building activities and to give an insight into life in the services and the Air Cadet Organisation.

The project will take the form of a number of adventurous training weekends held from Winter 2007 to Spring 2008. The project will allow 494 Sqn to actively promote the spirit of adventure and good citizenship and will provide a recruitment database for a number of years to come.

The project is open to young people in and around the Uttlesford area aged between 13 and 17.