Shelton Lock Scout and Guide Group, based in Derby, started its journey in a wooden hut built back in 1963. Although the group has tried to update and modernise it over the years, they have never had enough funding to make a lasting impact. Their wooden hut is now not viable for the future, as it’s inefficient, cold and can’t support growing number of young people. Also, the group has been unable to negotiate a workable lease, making day to day running very fragile. Shelton Lock Scout and Guide Group needed a new home to secure their future.
The Youth Investment Fund will secure their future and enable Shelton Lock Scout and Guide Group to develop a new build that’s sustainable, accessible, and big enough to reach more children and young people.
A brand new accessible and sustainable home
Shelton Lock Scout and Guide Group have now found a new home for their capital building project. It’s in an ideal setting, close to the canal and cycle path, and public transport, making it much more accessible. The Youth Investment Fund grant will enable them to construct a single-storey self-contained space, with a state-of-the-art kitchen, that will be great for badge work. Vitally it will be totally accessible and means that everyone can use the space, and it’s sustainable.
Solar panels, a heat pump and underfloor heating means it will be warmer and good for the environment and cheaper to run, plus there’s an inbuilt system for collecting and storing rainwater. Outdoor space will enable groups to practice their camping skills, and the new building will be big enough for indoor sleepovers for younger children, as well as Guides and Scouts.
Connecting with the environment
Young people have been engaged in helping the plan what the new space will look like, and the activities on offer. More than anything young people wanted their new home to be environmentally friendly and to help them with connecting with nature, with new bat and bird boxes. They said they wanted their space to be somewhere where they can feel:
“Welcome and safe and somewhere they can have fun, make friends, learn new skills and be happy.”
Having a brand new, larger building will enable Shelton Lock Scouts and Girls Group to connect with all the community, providing a state-of-the-art space that other local young community groups can use.
Welcoming the funding, the board’s Scout and Guide trustees say they are thrilled that the Youth Investment Fund have agreed to provide the capital for our new building. It will ensure the young people of Shelton Lock and surrounding areas, will benefit from this new facility for many years to come. It will be a huge enhancement to everyone in this area as there are limited facilities at the moment.
The Youth Investment Fund grant will be game-changing for Shelton Lock Scout and Guide Group. Our outdated old wooden hut is getting to the end of its useful life and is getting more expensive to run. Now we have secured some land and have the funds to create a brand-new sustainable home for future generations of young people to enjoy. It means the world to the children and young people we’re here for and what’s more it will be a hub that the whole of Shelton Lock’s community can enjoy.
Board of Trustess
Shelton Lock Scout and Guide Group
