We are always looking at ways to improve the scout hut and make it an even better community amenity. Top of our list over the last few years has been accessibility, making the scout centre open and to all.
Over the last few years we have built a new wheelchair ramp to allow for easy access to the centre. Our thanks to our quartermaster, Geoff Smith for this work.
We then added internal ramps in the scout centre so that wheelchairs can navigate to all parts of the hall and get access to the toilets and the kitchen areas.
Then we built a new external fire escape route to improve the safety of all users of the hut.
And now, we need to install a new accessible toilet and whilst doing that refurbish the existing toilets. This last piece of modernisation is the biggest project we have taken on for a number of years and we have been fundraising to cover the costs and also asking local businesses, groups and organisations for help and donation and grants.
We were buoyed in our early days of raising money with a maximum project grant from the National Lottery of £10,000.
We have also revived a pledge from the Newlyn Trust for £4,000
Staplehurst Events group have donated £1,000.
Golding Homes have also contributed £500.
Blackmore Holdings, better known to most of us in the village as Spar have donated £200.
The Staplehurst Fireworks group have donated £333.
We are also indebted to the following for their kind generosity in making donations towards our project.
Paddock Wood and District Lions who have pledged £250.00
Radfords Estate Agents £100
Province of East Kent Staplehurst Lodge for a donation £75.00
We mustn't forget our own beavers, cubs and scouts who through various activities and other kind donations have contributed £2,000
To everyone who has helped us raise the funds for this project we say a very big thank you and the even better news is that work has now begun.