After raising a staggering £200,000 to build a new outdoor centre, a North Yorkshire scout group has now turned its attention to fitting out the inside – and this has been kick-started with a grant from Broadacres.

Earlier this year, the 1st Easingwold Scouts began work on a new timber building to replace the old World War Two structure which had to be demolished after being deemed unsound.

A mammoth fundraising effort enabled the new centre to be built and, due to its rural location in Dawney Lane Easingwold, this was able to be completed during the Covid-19 lock-down.

The Scout group is now turning its attention to the internal fit out, with the ‘Easingwold Outdoor Centre’ having its official gala opening in Spring 2021.

As part of this, £1,200 is needed for vinyl flooring in the main room of the building and Broadacres Housing Association has reduced this to £800 having donated £500 from its Community Development Fund.

This is a fund set up to support local organisations, groups, and projects in areas where Broadacres has homes, and grants are approved by the Association’s own residents.

Sue Scotter, Trustee and Project Officer of the Scout Group said: “We needed to demolish the old hut as it was no longer fit for purpose. So, thanks to our own fundraising efforts, grant bodies, local benefactors, and benefits in kind, we were able to complete construction on the new outdoor centre, which looks absolutely amazing.

“The new centre will provide scouts, but also the wider community, with a unique setting for indoor and outdoor rural activities on an eight-acre site.

“It has been a remarkable achievement for a small charitable group to get to this point and now we’re very keen to have the centre ready for the new year.

“We are making good progress with the internal fit out which includes toilets, disabled facilities, decorating, flooring and fixture and fittings, despite the continuing restrictions due to Covid-19.

“We are very grateful to Broadacres for their support. Children living in the Association’s homes in Easingwold will benefit from the new centre and we are looking forward to welcoming them in the new year.”

Rosemary Colebrook is one of the Broadacres’ residents who serve on the Community Development Fund Panel which determine the award.

She said: “The Panel was very impressed with the amount of funding the Scout group has been able to raise to demolish the old hut and replace it with a new one, so when we considered their application for a grant towards flooring, it was an easy decision for us to make.

“We are now looking forward to visiting the centre when it opens next year.”

Applications for the 2020/21 Community Development are being accepted. For more information on the Fund and how to apply visit www.broadacres.org.uk/customer-area/getting-involved/community-development-fund/

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