Ardrossan Scout Group has a long and rich history. It started in 1908 when two local lads, James Lambert and Jack Vickers, inspired by Baden-Powell's Scouting For Boys publications, formed two Scout Patrols that met regularly in various premises around the town and organised joint hikes in the surrounding countryside. In 1909 they persuaded local schoolmaster Peter Cunninghame to be their Scoutmaster and the 1st Ardrossan, 15th Ayrshire Scout Group was officially registered with the Imperial Scout HQ in London.
The Group has been active in the town ever since (apart from a short break towards the end of WW1 due to the Scout Leaders being called up). In 1932 its first permanent headquarters were built by volunteers in Winton Lane. The Group moved to Kilmeny Terrace in 1945 and purchased the site in 1951, building the current premises in 1967.
Our building, now over 50 years old, is in need of some serious repair and refurbishment work. Some issues in particular require our immediate attention. Our roof is at the end of its lifespan (that it is mostly sheeted with decaying asbestos cement panels is an additional consideration). The external timber wall cladding is, in places, subject to wet rot and recladding is required. The internal ceilings are constructed in taped asbestos cement sheets and need to be replaced (removed!). Insulation in the building is poor or non-existent. Heating provision is limited and the current installation is in poor condition and requires to be renewed. Finally, the complete electrical system needs to be replaced and upgraded to current standards. Just a few small matters to deal with !!!!!!!
In addition to the above building fabric and services issues, since 1967, and particularly over the last two decades, building standards and regulations have taken huge strides forward. The trustees of the Group feel that the building should, at the very least, be upgraded to meet modern expectations around energy efficiency (ie insulation and heating) and disabled access. We want to make the building a real community hub, an asset for a wide spectrum of community users, and for this to become a reality it must satisfy up to date standards and expectations.
None of the above issues and aims will come easily or without a financial cost. The Group has ringfenced £60,000 from previous donations and grants to go towards this refurbishment project. However, the projected cost to complete the job is in the region of £350,000.
Over the last 10 years we have looked at many options for dealing with the issues associated with an aging building. These included selling up and either renting a hall or building new elsewhere. In the end, we concluded that our current location ticked so many boxes we should stay put and in 2014/15, we opted to try for a "new build" on our Kilmeny Terrace site. This seemed attractive, particularly as VAT is not payable on "new build"! We embarked on a fundraising effort, which was fairly successful. However, we learned a painful lesson about a "new build" project - it's "All or Nothing". We had commitments for around 75% of estimated costs, but that still left a significant shortfall in funding and, reluctantly, we had to abandon the project.
So, roll on a few more years and here we are fundraising again. This time for a refurbishment project. Yes, this will attract VAT - unfortunately!! However, critically, refurbishment work can be prioritised and phased to match funding available. We have engaged an architect and have a vision for our refurbished building. It will be a step by step process. Can you please help us get there!
www.ardrossanscoutgroup.org.uk
Registered Scottish Charity SC011044
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