Campaign begins to help modernise Wirral scout group hut

The 25th Birkenhead Scout Group has had permission to extend, insulate and ventilate its meeting hall on Beresford Road in Oxton and  help improve the activities currently provided for the 80 boys and girls that use it every week.

Once work is finished, the hall will be twice the size of the current hall. It will have a new entrance and windows, Part of the current premises will be demolished to make way for the extension, and be used as storage space.

The cost of the planned work has been put at £270,000 and a fundraising campaign has been launched.

Cub scout leader Andrew Kayley told the Globe: "Our current scout hut is not big enough for what we need to do.

"It's fine for our younger members - the cubs and beavers, but is not big enough for the scouts. So what we want to do is build an extension at the back of it on an area of land that we don't use very much, which will make the premises longer."

Revealing the scale of the project, Mr Kayley continued: "We need to raise £270,000 - which took us by surprise really, because we had originally guessed at around £200,000.

Cub scout leader Andrew Kayley inside The 25th Birkenhead Scout Group's meeting hut (Image: Craig Manning / Newsquest) "It's just a metal frame with a roof and walls, but since the pandemic, the cost of materials, labour and hiring the machine plant has gone through the roof. The longer we leave it, the more it will go up.

"Our struggle at the moment is we've had architects designs done, we've plans in place and have found contractors that are willing to do the work - it's now a case of finding the money to get work started."

Appealing to Globe readers for help, Mr Kayley explained: "We would like to hear from anyone that could help in regard to funding - possibly by pointing us in the right direction to apply.

"Hopefully there are businesses out there who could point us in the direction of where funding is available."

Cub scout leader Andrew Kayley standing on the site of 25th Birkenhead Scout Group meeting hut's proposed extension (Image: Craig Manning / Newsquest)

"The scout hall has been here for 50 years and we want it to be here for another 50 years.

"To do that, we need to do something different, so the plan is to partially demolish this hall and build onto the back of it.

"We have never done fundraising on this scale before, so it's new territory for us. Hopefully, there are people out there who could help make the hall fit for future generations." 

To support the campaign, go to: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/25thbirkenhead or email Andrew.kayley@birkenheadscouts.org.uk