News & Events

News & Events / πŸŽ… MPCT Launches Annual Santa Dash to Celebrate Another Incredible Year πŸŽ„

πŸŽ… MPCT Launches Annual Santa Dash to Celebrate Another Incredible Year πŸŽ„

As we head towards the festive season and prepare for a well-deserved Christmas break, MPCT is once again bringing the Christmas spirit to life with our annual 5k Santa Dash Fancy Dress Fun Run, all in support of the Motivation and Learning Trust.

Throughout December, learners and staff across our academies will be donning their best festive fancy dress and taking on the 5k challenge. From Santa suits and elves to snowmen and reindeer, the Santa Dash has become a much-loved tradition that brings our whole community together for a fantastic cause.

The Motivation and Learning Trust provides vital support, opportunities and resources for young people, and we’re incredibly proud to play our part in raising funds to help them continue their amazing work.

πŸŽ„ Reflecting on an Outstanding Year

As 2025 draws to a close, we want to take a moment to recognise the achievements of our learners across all MPCT academies. Their dedication, progress and resilience have been truly inspiring. Whether through military skills days, outdoor challenges, team-building activities or academic achievements, our learners have shown exceptional commitment throughout the year.

Our staff teams have also gone above and beyond to support, motivate and guide every learner who walks through our doors. The Santa Dash marks a perfect opportunity to celebrate that spirit, teamwork, positivity and giving back.

✨ Looking Ahead

The Santa Dash is more than just a festive run; it’s a celebration of everything we value at MPCT, community, determination and supporting others. As we wrap up another successful year, we couldn’t be prouder of our learners and everything they’ve achieved.

We’d like to thank all staff, learners, families and supporters who have helped make 2025 such a fantastic year. We look forward to returning in January refreshed, motivated and ready for another year of growth and success.

πŸŽ… Good luck to everyone taking part, and Merry Christmas from all of us at MPCT! πŸŽ„

You can donate via our JustGiving page by clicking here.

Back to news articles

What Is a Military Preparation Academy? A Guide for School Leavers

Since 1999, MPCT Military Academies have helped more than 10,000 young people move into the Armed Forces, sport and fitness, further education, or other careers. If you’re a school leaver weighing up your options and a career in uniform has ever crossed your mind – even as a maybe – here’s what a Military Preparation...

Read more

Beyond Soldier, Sailor, Pilot: The Armed Forces Careers Nobody Tells You About

Say “career in the Armed Forces” and most people picture the same three jobs: infantry soldier, sailor, or fighter pilot. The British Army alone recruits for more than 100 roles across seven career areas – combat, engineering, medical, intelligence and communications, logistics and support, music, and HR and finance. With around 182,000 people currently serving...

Read more

Top 5 Exercises to Prepare You for UK Armed Forces Basic Training

Basic training doesn’t care whether you’ve trained before – it cares whether your body can keep going when it’s tired, cold, and carrying weight. Most people need 8-12 weeks of consistent training just to hit baseline entry standards, and longer if you’re aiming for a physically demanding role like the infantry or Parachute Regiment. Before...

Read more

Why Your Classroom Doesn’t Need Four Walls

If school ever felt like sitting still for six hours a day, you’re not alone and you’re not the problem. Not every mind works best behind a desk. At MPCT, the classroom isn’t a room at all. It’s a field, a fitness track, a team exercise outdoors in all weather. If that sounds more like...

Read more

Exploring Careers in the Armed Forces: More Than You Think.

When people think about careers in the Armed Forces, it’s often reduced to one image, life on the front line. But in reality, the Armed Forces offer a huge range of career opportunities, many of which don’t involve combat at all. From technical roles to healthcare, logistics to communications, there are hundreds of career paths...

Read more

MPCT Celebrates Learner Success at Manchester and Teesside Awards Ceremonies.

MPCT proudly celebrated the achievements of learners across its Military Academies this February, with standout awards ceremonies taking place in Manchester and Teesside. These events brought together learners, staff, families and local partners to recognise the dedication, progress and ambition shown by learners as they work towards their future careers. The Manchester Awards Ceremony was...

Read more