A popular Scouts group that has been operating since 1908 has secured its ongoing future through the delivery of a £20,000 project to replace the ceiling of its Scout hut.
With the old, tiled ceiling of the hut beginning to fall down and offering very little insulation, volunteers from 1st Winchcombe Scouts set about fundraising to raise the money to replace it. A number of organisations donated funds, including the Dent-Brocklehurst Charitable Trust; Winchcombe County Show; the Bernard Sunley Foundation; Winchcombe Rotary Club; and Enovert Community Trust.
In true Scouting tradition, when the project started volunteers pitched tents in the grounds to use as temporary storage facilities, enabling the hut to be cleared to make way for the work. The new ceiling was installed using steel profiled sheets that are made from natural materials and 100% recyclable. The new insulation will improve energy efficiency, reducing costs, as will new modern LED lighting.
Tom Harvey, from 1st Winchcombe Scouts, said: “This whole project has been a great success, delivered in record time, thanks to our small army of volunteers.
“We are so grateful to those organisations that donated to make the new ceiling a reality, which will enable the thriving Scouting community to continue to thrive for many years to come.”
The 1st Winchcombe Scout Hut is used regularly by the 60 Scouts in the group, as well as Heartsight, a local charity that uses the hut five days a week during term time to support local children who struggle in formal education. The hut is also available for use by the public, and regularly welcomes community events, charity activities and other local organisations.
The new ceiling project received a number of grants including one of £3000 from Enovert Community Trust (ECT) provided through the Landfill Communities Fund (LCF).
Angela Haymonds, Trust Manager of Enovert Community Trust, said: “The Scouts is a real cornerstone of the community in Winchcombe, so the Trustees were very pleased to have been able to support this project and create a warmer, energy efficient space to keep Scouting flourishing in the area.”