The Estates team at the Reserves and Cadets Association for Northern Ireland are a professionally qualified team who are responsible for the maintenance and support of both reserve and cadet training centres and their respective areas. An essential function of the association is to ensure the smooth running of the day to day activities for both reservists and cadets as well as the upgrading and new builds under the guidelines of the MOD.

Recently Hybebank Reserve Centre in South Belfast, home to the newly formed 210 Multi Medial Role Regiment had a much needed upgrade. At the inaugural joint Officers’ and Sergeants’ Mess Dinner Night,  HRH The Duke of Gloucester, accompanied by the Lord Lieutenant of Belfast, Fionnuala Jay-O'Boyle CBE, enjoyed the newly refurbished facilities.

The unit specialises in providing the very highest of emergency medicine for soldiers on operations.  The new facilities are the results of over 18 months of hard work and were delivered within a budget of £3.9 million.   The much needed upgrade included the following facilities:

• Brand new extended gym with new shower facilities and changing areas  
• Upgrade to Officers and Sergeants’ Mess
• New conference room with modern communication facilities
• New layout to parking areas increasing to 116 spaces

There still a few items in the pipeline to complete the overall upgrade, these include new ramps to improve access for everyone and some modern new furniture including display cabinets to host the large collection of silverware!

Commenting on the new facilities, Staff Sergeant Desmond Anderson from 210 has said 

“The additional works to the building has greatly modernised our facilities and will enable both reservists and cadets to work and train in a much more comfortable, ‘fit for purpose’ environment.  Not only today will we benefit from these improved facilities at Hydebank but we will continue to do so for many years to come. An excellent job delivered by RFCA NI Estates Team”