The Existing Hall

The 1st Halesworth Scout Group has had a number of headquarters since it was formed in the nineteen twenties, For many years we have used our present building, once a Church Mission Room built about 1899 and once used as a Salvation Army Chapel. It is a typical 'Tin Chapel' of its day, and now not fit for purpose as an activity base for a Scout Group. In its favour is that the land is freehold and owned by the Group. The site is well placed in the town and has a reasonable amount of land around it, allowing outdoor activities. However it now costs a lot to insure, maintain and service; costs that will increase over the years.

For years it has been evident that a new building was needed. We have now asked an architect to design a building for us.

The New HQ Plan.

The proposed Headquarters consists of a main hall with a lobby and store rooms at the front of the building and toilets and a large kitchen at the rear. Although the HQ is roughly the same footprint as the current one, the new hall will be wider as it encompasses the existing storage rooms. A store room will be set below the kitchen and the toilets, making use of the natural fall in the ground level. Access to the store will be at ground level.

The main hall will be the focus of the building. The hall will have a pent roof which will allow roof lights to be used, rather than conventional windows. The building will be well insulated both thermally and acoustically. Not having windows at ground level will help the insulation and security. The pent roof means that one wall will be higher than the other which will allow us to use the taller wall as a climbing wall. There will also be four small store rooms, one for each sections basic equipment and storage of projects in hand.

The design will incorporate good environmental building standards, such as energy efficient heating, a grey water system for the toilets and possibly solar powered water heating.

The Scout Group

1st Halesworth Scout Group was founded, initially as a Scout Troop, in the 1920's. It now has four sections: Beaver Scouts (6 to 8 years); Cub Scouts (8 to 10½ years) Scouts (10½ to 14 years) and Explorer Scouts ((14 to18 years). In the last few years our numbers have grown from 41 to 61. This includes ten adult, volunteer leaders. Our membership, including both boys and girls, join in weekly meetings and additional indoor and outdoor evening or weekend activities. Camping is still a major part of scouting, encouraging young people to be self reliant and to lead others. The Group has been looking at additional activities to offer to our scouts and perhaps others in the community. The first new activity is Archery and we have purchased over £2,500 worth of equipment. We have one trained instructor and will be training more this year.

With a growing Scout Group we need to provide an attractive and versatile facility as an activity and training base for young people from six to eighteen. We also need to attract the adult volunteer leadership on which Scouting is based.

The HQ will not be for the exclusive use of our Scout Group. There is a lack of small meeting venues in Halesworth and the new Scout HQ will be a new and attractive meeting place for others in the town. Currently the present HQ is used by Yoga Classes has also supported Street Parties and will be used by the HighTide festival this year.

The Cost

The build cost has been estimated at £300,000 which includes the demolition of the current building, the build, security fencing and landscaping. In this budget we have included new furniture, china and cutlery, in all a ready to use facility.

We need £20,000 as an initial sum to allow us to start to approach the various grant bodies from which we hope to raise most of the funds. We will be running a number of fund raising events and hope to attract interest in local individuals and organisations which have an interest in our young people.