The 6th Gosport Scout Group requested a Capital Grant from Gosport Borough Council’s Grants Sub Board, to help them provide a new roof for their hut.
The Group provide activities for 90 local children aged 6 – 15, activities which include camping, cooking, craft and badge work, first aid, environmental and international awareness.
Apart from camping, sports etc, they train twice weekly at their Acorn Close, Scout hall, a building that’s seen better days. The leaky roof’s in need of replacement, with water already damaging the floor and the electrics. The group also fear for their stored camping equipment. They hoped to raise funds by letting out the hut to other groups, but its poor state has made that impossible.
Addressing the panel, Scout Leader Nikki Oakley explained, “Truth is the hut’s exceeded its lifespan and in an ideal world we’d build a new one. But we are a relatively poor group. We don’t receive generous donations as in some of the more affluent areas, so the best we can hope to achieve is a new roof. We are here to ask for your help in realising this.”
Their £2 weekly subs are used to purchase ingredients, equipment, badges etc, so there’s little left for repairs. “Paying their subs is a lot to ask of some of our children, they simply can’t afford to pay more,” added Nickki. “They get so much out of attending; it would be a shame to let them down through lack of accommodation.”
Removing the existing roof and replacing it with marine ply and a new felt covering is estimated to cost £9,020.
Chairman of the Board, Cllr Mark Hook said, “Scouting has instilled skills, good behaviour and camaraderie in children for many years and it’s important they have somewhere safe to go to learn these skills. If scout leaders can give of their time to train these young people, I believe we have a duty to help in some way, so they can continue their excellent work.”
The panel wholeheartedly agreed and awarded a grant of £2,000, wishing them every success.
