Why do we need a new Scout Hut?

Because part way into a project to raise funds to replace the old wooden hut which had been used by the Scouts since the 1930s, the building was vandalised by arsonists.  They started a fire in the back room of the hut which quickly took hold and spread. The photograph below shows the extent of the damage.  As you can see the fire completely destroyed the back room and back area of the hut.  The main hall suffered smoke damage. This all happened back in the Summer of 2005 while the Scouts were on their Summer Camp. Thankfully this meant that much of the equipment including tents, canoes and various other camping apparatus was not in the building at the time.  

The left photo shows the original hut before the fire and where the new hut will be. The photograph in the centre shows the back room where the fire started.  The photograph on the right shows the now cleared site. 

Photos courtesy of Neville Jacobs

Our immediate dilemma – apart from not having anywhere for the sections to meet – was where to store the equipment.  Thanks to the generosity of the offices of Martin Lloyd we have been lucky to have the use of a container which is now completely full of our equipment. 

However, this does not solve the problem of having no permanent location for the weekly Beaver, Cub, Scout and Explorer meetings.  At the moment we are using a number of different local venues so we are now scattered all around Hurst Green and won’t have any sort of normality until we have a new permanent Scout Hut (HQ) in which our meetings can be held and our equipment stored. The new HQ is vital for us to achieve this. As many of you will have noticed, Phase I of our project is now well under way and nearing completion.  We now have a shell of a building.  Phase II will follow on as soon as possible after Phase I although we still have some way to go and still need to raise more funds.

Update on Progress of the Appeal as at 1st April 2010

Amount Raised so Far:            £201,143

We have a great many people and organisations to thank for their generous support so far.  This support has come in a number of ways including donations of money, time and invaluable advice.

Our ongoing Leaflet Drop all around the village has, so far yielded about £ 3,000 - many thanks. If you have not received a leaflet, delivered to your house, please contact me.

The following is a list of people and organisations who have been supportive of our cause and have made donations towards our appeal.  Thank you to everyone.

Hurst Green Village Fair Committee		Rank Foundation
Private donation from an individual who ran the London Marathon		Oxted Pram Race
Oxted Rotary		Hurst Green Cubs
Titsey & District Rotary Club		Hurst Green Scouts
HG Vision Group		The High Sheriff of Surrey
Surrey Scouts		Mercury FM Trust
The Grocers’ Company		Freemasons
Garfield Weston Foundation		Gatwick Airport Community Trust
Abbey Charitable Foundation		Oxted Round Table
Bernard Sunley Foundation		Methodist Women's Fellowship
Reigate Rotary Club		St John's Church
Hurst Green Old People’s Home		Surrey County Council  Local Committee
Oxted Parish Council		James Saunders
Hurst Green Society		Beryl Perry
Oxted Carnival		Tandridge District Council
Littleford Family		Limpsfield Golf Club
		Ken and Diana Bush
Morrisons, Oxted		Astor of Hever Trust
Hazelwood School		Mr & Mrs Parma
Yorkshire Building Society		Mr Andrews
Mr G Burchett		Christmas Tree Money
The Local Pubs of Old Oxted & Surrounds		The Leftovers
George Trapp & Lorraine Leveridge

And not forgetting a number of anonymous private donors.  We would also like to recognise the continued support of our Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, leaders and parents. We are grateful for everyone’s unwavering dedication and support during the time spent without our own HQ building.

Can we also thank the following for allowing us the use of their facilities for weekly section meetings:

Holland School

St Agatha’s Church Hall

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For more information contact the group chairman at: chairman@1sthurstgreenscouts.co.uk and he will try to answer your questions concerning progress and to help with items listed above

Dear All

Friday 24th October 2008- Thanks to Oxted  & Limpsfield Rotary Club, we had an excellent Bingo Night at St Agatha's with a full house of about 80 folk. We still await the result. Our warmest thank to all who organised this event an those who supported it.

Wednesday 29th October 2008 - Kevin and Penny Roberts went to the Grasshopper at the invitation of Titsey Rotary Club to receive £ 900 a donation left over from the last Moonraker Walk. Many thanks again Rotarians

Thursday 30th October 2008 - the following night, Neville went to the Crown to receive a cheque for £ 3,000 from this year's Pram Race. In both the above events Scouts and their parents have taken part. Thank you very much to all those who raised so much in such a happy event.

Mrs Mary Saunders has just taken up her role as Captain of the Women's Section at Limpsfield Golf Club and has nominated us as her Charity for the year.  We are very grateful, and are running a Poster Competition for our various sections to publicise this valuable offer

Oxted Late Night Shop. on December 4th 1630 to 2030. We raised about £ 70 - thanks to all the volunteers.

VAT We sometimes sound a bit vague about our overall target. This is because of uncertainty  about VAT. Exemption from VAT can only be claimed by the contractor, therefore pretty late in the day. Hence the uncertainty. VAT exemption will only be granted if we can establish that we are a genuine community building, and, as we know from experience, that is not easy.

Bag Pack at Morrisons on 20th December 2008. We raised over £ 1,000 - thanks to a really good turnout from our young people and their Leaders and Parents. Many thanks to you all and to Shirley and Janet who made it possible.

Donations

BUY-A-BRICK