Fundraising set to start for Scout hall upgrade

A Scout group has launched a fundraising campaign to improve its headquarters so it can carry on helping young people enjoy new adventures.

Volunteers at 7th Newark Scout Group want to raise £28,000 to modernise its Scout hall on Lover’s Lane.

The group, which includes a Beaver colony, Cub pack and Scout troop, has used the hall as its base since 1980. A district Explorer unit is also based there.

It is hoping to make urgent improvements to the roof, which has tiles missing; the carpark, which is full of potholes; and the outdated kitchen, which needs to be modernised.

The group also wants to make improvements to the committee room, so it can be hired out, and to the stage, so it can be used as a performance venue.

The floor of the main hall, which is uneven, needs to be replaced and strip lighting in the same room also needs updating.

The hall, a former church, is used by more than 80 young people, aged six to 18, and various community groups, including a card-making group and a rabbit club.

The Scout group itself was founded in 1929, making it the second-oldest in Newark, after 6th Newark.

Mrs Sam Haynes, a volunteer at 7th Newark, who is leading the fundraising campaign, said: “If we made no improvements, then eventually it would get to a point where it was not going to be used, or would be unusable.

“All of the members would have to move to another group or might not be able to be a Scout any more.

“It is in a great location because it so close to the town centre.

“I personally think it is important to the area.”

'We need to improve almost everything in the Scout hall'

Mrs Haynes said it was a shame that such a beautiful building had deteriorated to its current state.

“We need to improve almost everything in the Scout hall,” she said.

“We need to improve the stage, so it can be used as a proper stage — and we will black it out so it can be used by anyone,” she said.

“It will be nice to get the committee room properly finished so we can hold proper meetings in there.”

Mrs Haynes said the group wanted to make the Scout hall a more attractive venue so it could be hired out.

“It is a community hall as well as a Scout hall because it is used by lots of other people and if it is improved there is no reason it cannot be used more by the local community,” she said.

Members of 7th Newark and their parents will be at the Scout hall on Sunday for a clean-up day and to launch the fundraising campaign.

Events get under way with a race night in the hall on Saturday, February 17, at 6pm.

Tickets are £5, which includes food.

Bets will be £1 each. There will be a bar and raffle.