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Scout Group celebrates grant award to complete fundraising for new hall
Artist’s Impression of the new Scout Hall
1st Lady Bay Scout Group is celebrating after completing fundraising to build a new, state-of-the-art hall.
The Group has raised £320,000 for the new headquarters – thanks to a final grant of £49,950 from WREN.
It ends over 20 years of fundraising to replace the current, crumbling Scout building on Mona Road in Lady Bay, West Bridgford.
The old scout hut hosts weekly meetings of local community groups, as well as the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts. Built in the 1960s, the prefabricated structure is now beyond economic repair and no longer fit for purpose, with a leaking roof, eroding external walls, very little insulation and poor kitchen and toilet facilities. It is also unsuitable for people with disabilities.
Money has been raised over the years by regular fundraising events, along with donations from former Scouting members and local individuals, organisations and businesses. A generous donation was made by members of 6th West Bridgford Scout Group on its merger with 1st Lady Bay Scouts. The fundraising has been completed with grants from the WREN Community Action Fund, Veolia Environmental Trust, Nottinghamshire County Council Supporting Local Communities Fund and Rushcliffe Borough Council.
Elaine Clarke, 1st Lady Bay Cub Scout Leader, said: “Reaching our fundraising target is wonderful news! We’ve been working towards this for many years. It’s amazing.
“Our current building is in a really poor state and can’t be patched-up any longer. We’d raised a substantial amount of the money, but recent grants from local councils, Veolia and this final one from WREN allows us to start work during June and means that our dream of a new headquarters will definitely become a reality.”
Richard Mansfield, Chairman of the 1st Lady Bay Scouts Committee, said: “We’re thrilled to have hit our target! The grant from WREN now means building work can start on our new Scout Hall.
“We want our new building to continue to be a community hub for everyone to use. As well as the weekly meetings of Beavers, Cubs and Scouts, the hall is used by lots of other people – from the Morris Dancing side that meets weekly, to the women who meet, and make new friends, during their pre-natal exercise classes.”
Elaine added: “Hundreds of children have benefited from scouting at 1st Lady Bay over the last 90 years. We’re delighted that we can now protect our local Scout Group and secure its future for the next 90 years in a modern building that is fit for purpose.”
Cheryl Raynor, WREN’s grant manager for Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, says: “We are delighted to be supporting the 1st Lady Bay Scout group project and pleased that our funding will provide such a fantastic facility for young people. WREN is always happy to consider grant applications for projects that make a difference to local communities and we’re really looking forward to seeing this one take shape soon.”
Building work is due to start in the summer, to be completed before the end of the year. Regular updates on the new Scout Hall can be found at the 1st Lady Bay Scout Group website www.ladybayscouts.org.uk
1st Lady Bay Scout Group has been encouraging children to learn and develop through fun activities and games for 90 years.
We run three sections for young people from the age of six up to 14:
- Beavers (age 6-8)
- Cubs (age 8-10 ½)
- Scouts (age 10 ½-14)
There is an ongoing effort to recruit enthusiastic volunteers to strengthen the existing 1st Lady Bay leadership team in order to provide the wide range of interesting, exciting and educational activities and outdoor adventure that benefit the young people in the Group.
Anyone interested in finding out more about how to get involved with the 1st Lady Bay Scout Group can contact Elaine Clarke, on 0115 933 3001 or by email at elaine@ladybayscouts.org.uk
Notes to Editors
WREN is a not-for-profit business that awards grants for community, conservation and heritage projects from funds donated by FCC Environment through the Landfill Communities Fund. Since 1998, WREN has granted over £200m to more than 7,000 projects which benefit people living within 10 miles of a FCC Environment landfill site. For more information please visit www.wren.org.uk
FCC Environment is the leading UK waste and resource management company and is part of a global group with a strong heritage in providing services for communities and business. Its vision is to be the environmental company of choice, delivering change for a sustainable future. It employs 2,400 people and operates more than 200 facilities across England, Scotland and Wales. FCC Environment donates the LCF tax credits that are generated by its operations to WREN, in order to add value to the environmental and social infrastructure of the communities around landfill sites. www.fccenvironment.co.uk
The Landfill Communities Fund (LCF) is an innovative tax credit scheme enabling operators (LOs) to contribute money to organisations enrolled with ENTRUST as Environmental Bodies (EBs). EBs use this funding for a wide range of community and environmental projects in the vicinity of landfill sites. LOs are able to claim a credit (currently 5.7%) against their landfill tax liability for 90% of the contributions they make. Since its inception in 1996, over £1.4billion has been spent on more than 53,000 projects across the UK. For further information please visit www.entrust.org.uk or see HMRC’s general guide to landfill tax (https://www.gov.uk/business-tax/landfill-tax)
Rushcliffe Mayor and councillors back bid to rebuild crumbling scout hut
Rushcliffe Mayor Cllr Ron Hetherington has backed a bid by 1st Lady Bay Scout Group to rebuild its rundown scout hut.
More than £190,000 has been raised by the Group to replace its headquarters on Mona Road in Lady Bay, West Bridgford – but further money is needed.
A bid for a further £40,000 has been submitted to Nottinghamshire County Council’s Supporting Local Communities Fund. This money would bring the new building a step closer and ensure the survival of this valuable community facility.
Cllr Ron Hetherington was joined by Lady Bay councillors Richard and Sue Mallender, from Rushcliffe Borough Council, in supporting the plans at a special presentation at the scout hut.
Cllr Hetherington said: “This is an important community facility. The scout hut is a base for more than just the Scout Group – everyone in Lady Bay would benefit from a replacement building for a variety of activities.”
The old scout hut hosts weekly meetings of local community groups, as well as the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts. Built in the 1960s, the prefabricated structure is now beyond economic repair and no longer fit for purpose, with a leaking roof, eroding external walls, very little insulation and poor kitchen & toilet facilities. It is also unsuitable for people with disabilities.
Elaine Clarke, 1st Lady Bay Cub Scout Leader, said: “Our building is in a really poor state and can’t be patched-up any longer. We’ve been fundraising for a number of years and have raised most of the money for a new scout hut – but we desperately need Notts County Council to support this bid for funding.
“We, and lots of other people, would be terribly sad if Lady Bay lost this resource. We have excellent levels of local support, from Group members and parents, to Lady Bay residents and community groups, the school and the church. We believe our scheme will improve community cohesion and will benefit a wide range of people from the Morris Dancing side that meets weekly, to the women who meet, and make new friends, during their pre-natal exercise classes.”
Cllr Hetherington, Cllr Richard Mallender and Cllr Sue Mallender were shown artist’s impressions for the single-story building that would replace the existing base.
Cllr Richard Mallender said: “We completely support this project and the excellent work of the Cubs, Beavers and Scouts in the wider community.”
Elaine added: “Hundreds of children have benefited from 1st Lady Bay Scouts over the last 90 years. We need to protect our local Scout Group and secure its future for the next 90 years in a modern building that is fit for purpose.”
People can show their support for the bid by signing an online petition here: https://www.change.org/p/community-funding-decision-makers-show-your-support-a-new-scout-hut-for-1st-lady-bay-scouts-would-be-an-important-community-facility
PICTURE CAPTION: Looking at plans for the new Scout Hut in Lady Bay are (from left) Rushcliffe Mayor Cllr Ron Hetherington, Cub Scout Leader Elaine Clarke, and Cllrs Sue and Richard Mallender.
Celebrating 90 years of adventure
In 1924 King George V was on the throne, the Met Office issued its first Shipping Forecast and the Sunday Express became the first newspaper to publish a crossword. And in Lady Bay a small group was established that would go on to shape the lives of hundreds of boys in the community over the next nine decades.
Celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, the 1st Lady Bay Scouts has grown into a dynamic, forward-thinking group run by dedicated volunteers, while retaining the traditional scouting values of friendship and adventure at its core.
It is now aiming to mark this momentous milestone by securing the future of the group for the next 90 years to come by recruiting enthusiastic new leaders to join its existing Scout team.
1st Lady Bay Scouts Akela, Elaine Clarke, said: “Our group has Scouts, Cubs and Beavers – but we’re particularly looking for dynamic, bright leaders to join our Scout section to help make a difference to the lives of boys aged 10-13. We meet every Thursday in the Scout Hut on Mona Road, so we’re just looking for a couple of hours of your time.
“You don’t have to have lots of experience as you will be working with other leaders who have been developing their knowledge and skills over a few years. Plus, we’ll give you all the training you need through the supportive network of the national Scout Association. You’ll develop transferable skills that will help you in all aspects of everyday life.”
Based out of the Scout Hut on Mona Road in Lady Bay, the Group is made up of Beavers (aged 6 to 8), Cubs (aged 8 to 10) and Scouts (aged 10 to 13), offering all age groups the opportunity to learn through fun activities and outdoor adventure.
Akela added: “Volunteers need to be a good role model and comfortable working with young people. With the other leaders, you will contribute to creating and running exciting programmes and activities that give the Scouts the opportunity to develop their skills and capabilities within a safe and supportive environment.
“The role would be particularly suited to those with a sense of adventure and a love of the great outdoors — what other voluntary organisation offers the chance to get involved in activities including archery, orienteering, assault courses, survival skills, camping and hiking among others?”
Anyone interested in finding out more about how to get involved with the 1st Lady Bay Scouts can contact Elaine Clarke on 0115 933 3001 or by email at elaine.clarke31@googlemail.com
Make a splash with the Scouts
It was all action when 1st Lady Bay Scout Group staged a picnic and water-fight to celebrate its 90th Anniversary. Games, competitions and scavenger hunts were followed by fuelling the engine (the picnic) and then a very competitive free-for-all battle with water pistols and super soakers. The whole event was thoroughly enjoyed by more than 60 Beavers, Cubs and Scouts (and some of the leaders who joined in the skirmishing!)
Elaine Clarke, 1st Lady Bay Leader, said: “It was a wonderful event, which was enjoyed by all – and it follows hot on the heels of our special camping trip earlier this year as part of our 90th Anniversary celebrations.
“Of course, the success of this and our many other events and activities depends very much on our keen and energetic team of volunteers who have made the Group so successful over its 90 year history.”
There is an ongoing effort to recruit enthusiastic volunteers to strengthen the existing 1st Lady Bay leadership team in order to provide the wide range of interesting, exciting and educational activities and outdoor adventure that benefit the young people in the Group.
Elaine added: “We would like to invite people to come forward to help us to secure the group for the next 90 years! We need willing and versatile leaders – particularly in our Scout Troop which meets every Thursday and our Cub Pack which meets on Tuesdays. We’re just looking for a couple of hours each week. Why not come down, and find out more about who we are?
“We’ll give you all the training you need and you will also develop skills that will help you in all aspects of everyday life.”
Anyone interested in finding out more about how to get involved with the 1st Lady Bay Scout Group can contact Akela, Elaine Clarke, on 0115 933 3001 or by email at 1LB@wbnot.freeserve.co.uk