We are a rural scout group based in Mid Suffolk, with over 40 members across 4 sections.

Our aim is to build a new scout hut that provides a main hall, kitchen, toilets and storage facilities as well as a small office. This will be a log cabin style building which will fit in nicely with our rural surroundings.

We will be building our new hut on the site of the old one, at the scout field which we lease from the Parish Council, and already have planning permission in place for the new building.

The building will also be made available for community use outside of scout meetings, providing a much needed resource in this small hamlet.

Unfortunately our old scout hut had to be taken down as it was old (built in 1947) and had become unsafe. Since then our sections have continued to meet in the local community centre but this limits the types of activities we can do.

It is really important for us to have our own building for our group because this will give our young people a sense of belonging, somewhere that they can make their own, with relevant information about badge work displayed for example, alongside celebrations of their achievements throughout the year.

It will provide an appropriate learning environment for our young people, allowing activities such as fire building and camping to take place, which we can't currently do whilst meeting in the community centre.

Having our own hut will also allow us to run our own fundraising and community events without the overheads of hiring venues, meaning that the money we raise can be invested directly back into opportunities for our young people.

Scouting provides skills for life. Donating to our new scout hut is about much more than a building. It is investing in young people and a rural community.

You can find out more a view our plans on our website:

www.1stmendleshamscouts.org.uk