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1st Kennington Hut Project
From Ashford District Scouts
A New HQ for 1st Kennington
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If you think you can help email us here - newhq@1stkenningtonscouts.org.uk
- June 2010
- January 2010
Fundraising continues with a number of recent activities bringing in funds. Thank you to all that have either contributed time or donated funds or are in the process of generating funds.
- February 2009
When structural deterioration made our present hall beyond economic repair we had to decide to commit to a complete rebuild if Scouting was to continue in Kennington. Several designs and two lots of planning permission later, we are now in the process of fundraising. With a target in excess of £300,000, it’s going to take a lot of raising.
Much effort by many young Group members, leaders and the fund raising committee led by Mike Munroe helped the Building Fund past the £100,000 mark in February 2009. Fund raising events have included a Gang Show, with all the Groups members on stage, bag packing at Sainsbury’s, sponsored hikes and cycle rides by Explorers and Network members; one Networker was sponsored for more than £1,000. to cycle to university in Edinburgh. Some of the leaders did Father Christmas imitations at a local garden centre and others organized Sales at the hall. One dad ran the length of the Pilgrims Way from Hampshire over 5 days, and another cycled round the three Kenningtons. (The other two are in London and Oxford.) Some Mums held fund raising parties with various products and the fund raising committee organized two quizzes, a Battle of the Bands, a Grand Draw, the refreshment tent at the Kennington Summer Fayre and the Smarties Challenge in which the younger members had to eat the contents of a tube of Smarties before refilling it with coins.
Other monies came from bequests, and donations from current and former parents, the people of Kennington following a leaflet drop, customers of Kennington Co-op, the Kennington Fayre Committee, the Kennington Parish Church Committee, the Rotary club and from employers. February also saw our first grant application success; £10,000.
The new hall is to be larger than the existing one, and it is intended to invite other charitable and voluntary organizations to use it when not in use by the Scouts. It is hoped that its wider use may help in recruiting leaders, needed to help with the 100 plus members of the Beaver, Cub and Scout sections, and to reduce the 100 strong waiting list.
Earlier Content
- January 2005
Success! After much hard work, December saw us achieve planning consent for the new HQ building.
Now we are able to proceed with fundraising for the project. The plans are being put out to tender so we have accurate figures for grant applications and budgeting. We will soon be establishing the Fundraising Committee to assist us in another 93 years of Scouting in Kennington.
- 2003
Our existing headquarters, the Brenchley Hall was opened in 1959 and the Harden Extension was opened in 1974. They have served us well ever since. The interior of Brenchley hall was extensively refurbished in the mid to late 90's. The buildings are now beginning to show their ages.................
On 6 March 2003 the Group took the major decision to start planning for a new HQ. Mike Harvey had drawn draft plans over a number of years and these were eagerly discussed. Mike H had also looked into different forms of construction. The Group decided to create a "Hut Rebuilding Committee" to take the plans further.
Naturally, none of the plans in the world will be able to bring the project to fruition without funding! The Group is now looking to set up a Fundraising Committee to liaise with the Rebuilding Committee and enable us to achieve our goal.
All who can help are welcome to join the Fundraising Committee - you may be a good motivator, a great "ideas person" or a quiet person who just gets on and does things.
If you think you can help email us here - newhq@1stkenningtonscouts.org.uk
