ONE of Southampton’s most traditional groups will double its intake of trainees after it was given permission to expand its facilities.

Southampton Sea Cadets, which is designed for people aged between 10 and 18 years old, can now create additional training facilities on its site at Vespasian Road, in Bitterne Park.

The group, which was established in 1942, hopes to build two new temporary classrooms on its grounds, which has its boundary formed by the River Itchen, as well as have more space for boat maintenance.

The brownfield site next to the Cadets’ home has been leased by landowners Radium for 10 years and now the organisation is kick-starting a fundraising push in order to make its vision a reality.

Andrew Moll, Southampton Sea Cadets unit chairman, believes the group need to generate £60,000 to fund the project - with more than £20,000 being raised and spent so far on the site.

He said: “The facilities we have here at the moment are great - we have waves and pontoons.

“However, it’s limited to the number of trainees we can take on.

“At present we can only facilitate 40 and for many years the land lying opposite has been derelict.

“The target for us now is to be able to teach 80 young people from Southampton to become sea cadets and learn the skills that are sometimes not taught in school.”

So far the group has been in discussion to obtain grants and have been given donations from organisations .

They include Southampton Shipowners Association, as well as receiving backing from the Mayor of Southampton Les Harris - who chose the institution as one of his charities of the year.

And with more fundraising set for the coming year, Mr Moll thinks the sea cadets will continue help youngsters from the city.

He said: “The Sea Cadets give those involved self-confidence and self-assurance.

“They learn about the boats, handle their own boat and really develop skills that are difficult to learn.”