City of London
The City of London Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association
In accordance with the Scheme of Association made by the Defence Council for the establishment and constitution of a Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association for Greater London (GL RFCA), a sub-Association (the City RFCA) has been established for the City of London, which has delegated powers and duties.
The Lord Mayor of the City of London is the ex officio President of the City Association.
The City RFCA relies for its financial existence entirely on the grants provided by the City of London Corporation and it is these grants that enable the Association and the City units to fulfil the objectives listed below.
Objectives/Purpose
The objectives of the City RFCA are shown below:
- To maintain and promote the centuries-old link between the Mayoralty, the Corporation of London and the Reserve Forces and cadets, thereby ensuring the most advantageous mutual benefits to all parties
- To foster the widest measure of support within the community of the City of London for its Reserve Forces and cadets and to create the most favourable climate in which units may conduct their recruiting activities
- To raise awareness in the City of London of Defence and security as well as of the Reserve Forces and cadets, using, where appropriate, links established by the mayoralty and the City Corporation
- To support the Pageantmaster in delivering the Lord Mayor’s Show to the City’s expectations
- By skilful use of the goodwill that exists between the nation and the Armed Forces to secure and sustain access to the skilled, capable people needed to deliver Defence outputs.
- To provide direct support to eligible Reserve and cadet units from the Corporation Grant.
- To provide indirect support to the wider Reserve Forces and Cadets through the delivery of the annual Defence and Security Lecture, Exercise Sharp Shooter, the City Briefing event and any other engagement events as determined by the Executive Committee or the Budget Holder or as part of the new continuum established by the Corporation encompassing the Mansion House and the Old Bailey
- To establish and set up links with the Livery Companies and, if appropriate, having consulted the Livery Committee, to foster and promote the affiliations between the Livery and the Armed Forces and cadets
Governance and Reporting
Governance is both internal and external and includes reports as required by the City Corporation and GL RFCA. Day-to-day activities are managed by the City Secretary reporting to and under the authority of the City Executive Committee headed by the Chairman, Captain Paul Hill RN.
The Chairman of the City RFCA is, de facto, the Lord Mayor’s Military Adviser. City Executive Committee members are all serving or past members of the armed forces capable of influencing others, in and beyond the City, within their spheres of activity.
The City Secretary has a close working relationship with the staff in Mansion House, Guildhall and the Old Bailey and is able to advise Service HQs on dealing with these staff. They will provide drafts for speeches to be delivered by the Lord Mayor or his representative.