Over the summer, 74th Silverdale Scout Group completed a major refurbishment of their ageing Headquarters, carrying out essential insulation and improvement works to make it fit for future use.
The current HQ was built in the 1960s and although the Scouts had worked hard to maintain it, the building was starting to look tired and in need of some TLC.
The Group, led by Chairman Linda Baddeley, who has written many grant applications, worked hard to raise the £40,000 needed for the project.
Now, the main hall, kitchen and toilets have been gutted and insulated, new flooring laid and windows replaced. In addition, an energy efficient lighting system and central heating have been installed.
Most of the work has been carried out by builders based in the village led by PLD Mechanical & Building Services LLP, but other North Staffordshire firms have also contributed to the project. A new kitchen has been supplied and installed by S&S Kitchens, new crockery has been donated to the Group by Steelite International, a new cooker was purchased with a donation from Newcastle Lions Club and Plumbing Trade Supplies co-ordinated donations of sanitary ware, taps and fittings for the toilets from Twyfords and Bristan.
The largest grant funder for the project was Lafarge Tarmac through the Landfill Communities Fund, which is administered on its behalf by Derbyshire Environmental Trust. Other significant grant funders included Awards For All from the National Lottery, the Foyle Foundation Small Grant Scheme and The Coop Foundation.
The Group would like to thank all the funders and companies who have donated items to make this project a success and our members are now seeing the benefits of a warmer, more modern building. The much-improved facility is already proving to be a wider success for the community, as a Mother & Toddler group have now started using it.
Ben, one of the Scouts, said,
“I couldn’t wait to see our new HQ after the summer to check out the work that had been done. It looks brilliant and is now a warm and cosy place for us to meet”.
Linda Baddeley, Group Chairman, adds “We are delighted with the results of all the hard work from everyone. It was worth it to see the faces of the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts when they first saw their new look HQ. Although it is still our original, well loved building, it is now a more fitting place for our activities as we move towards the Scout Group’s 85th Birthday next year.”
