Completing 1st Warley Scouts community hub

Aim

Fitting out the new 1st Warley Scout HQ, community hub and Scout Leader training facility

The project

Eagle Hall, the 1st Warley Scouts HQ, was destroyed in an arson attack on 25th August 2015. 

Eagle Hall in 2015 with the fire services saving our royal flag

We have rebuilt our HQ and have added a new 86m² ‘community/training room’ which will provide a place for grass-roots community groups to meet and for Scout Leaders from across Essex to attend mandatory group training sessions.

The new Eagle Hall in February 2020

We have the majority of the funds to get the facility up and running in the summer of 2020 but we need a little help to improve accessibility. We are raising money to buy and install a disabled WC/wet room, a platform access lift and an A/V system suitable for those with limited hearing or vision.

The new community hub

The new main hall

Why this is important to the Community

As a member of Brentwood Council for Voluntary Service, it is clear that there is an increasing demand for grass-roots led, community services in our area. These groups are evolving but they are being stifled as there are few local venues that currently meet their needs. There are council-run facilities but they are too expensive for many (£30-50/hr with £20 projector fee) and do not have onsite storage. 1st Warley Scout Group have designed and built a facility to support the Essex community during this period of austerity. 

We are already taking bookings from several groups who wish to meet. In discussions, all groups have said that it is important for their members to get out of the house, maintain their relationships and make new friends as this promotes independence, healthy living and social cohesion while reducing isolation, deprivation and misery. Marginalised or older citizens are especially vulnerable and we want them to be inspired, motivated, and to lead fulfilling lives.

Why this is important to Scouting

Scouts UK conducted a recruitment drive to attract new Leaders to support the continued growth of Scouting. We also have an increasing number of young Leaders (14-18 years) who have mandatory and optional training to complete, therefore equipping them to be our Leaders of the future. There is budget set aside to provide mandatory training to ensure these Leaders operate effectively, ethically and safely. Unfortunately there is no formal Scout Leader training facility in Essex which is hampering the delivery of the courses. 

The new facilities will be used to support the 1,100+ Leaders across Essex who provide activities for the 16,000 Scouts who meet each week across the county. Training will help us to deliver a safe and exciting program of events to our young people.

We are working with the Essex Scouting leadership team to develop a training program for Q3+Q4 2020 which may include; Essential Information / Tools for the Role / Programme Planning / Running Safe Activities / Practical Skills / Supporting Young People / Promoting Positive Behaviour / Skills of Leadership / Mentoring and Coaching / Safety for Managers + Supporters / Safeguarding / 1st Aid.

Who we are

1st Warley Scout Group was founded in 1909 as the Princess Marie Louise's Own Troop by a grand daughter of Queen Victoria. We are the oldest and largest Scout Group within the Brentwood District with over 100 youth members: 2 separate Beaver Colonies, 2 Cub Packs, 2 Scout Troops and 1 affiliated Explorer Group.

We are part of the UK's biggest mixed youth organisation. We change lives by offering 6 to 18-year-olds fun and challenging activities, unique experiences, everyday adventure and the chance to help others so that we make a positive impact in communities. It’s a great way to have fun, make friends, get outdoors, express creativity and experience the wider world. 

Some of our young people come from disadvantaged backgrounds, have learning or behavioural difficulties or have had a difficult start in life and we do our best to get them back on track. Our Scout Group has a policy of inclusiveness, we are open to everyone and our current membership reflects this. We keep the cost of membership down to a minimum to ensure that anyone can join us. For some of our young people, this is the only social or creative outlet that they have.

Supporters

Our project is being supported by our MP, Alex Burghart, the Leader of Brentwood Council (Chris Hossack), our local councillors (Louise McKinlay, David Kendall, Jay Laplain, Mark Reed) and our Brentwood Council Community Safety Manager, Daniel Cannon.      

This project successfully funded on 29th May 2020