Young people celebrate their new Scout Hut on the Norfolk Broads

The 1st Hoveton and Wroxham Sea Scout Group has been Scouting since 1910. This much-loved group is located in the heart of the Norfolk Broads, so sailing, rafting and paddling canoes are favourite summer pastimes, alongside traditional Scouting activities like badge-work, camping, craft skills, cooking, ball games, archery and learning vital life skills to enhance their well-being and learning.

The Sea Scouts now have something amazing to celebrate. A Youth Investment Fund grant of £943,505.00 has enabled the Hoveton and Wroxham Sea Scout Group to expand their HQ Building and to have a major refurbishment. Their brand-new state-of-the-art Scout building is now open, and the Scouts, their friends and everyone who has supported the transformation are getting together for a special celebration event.

Before accessing a Youth Investment Fund grant the existing Scout Hut, which was built by the Scouts themselves in the 1980s, was outdated, small and inaccessible. It wasn’t big enough to accommodate all the local children and young people who want to join.

Nigel Pope, the Chairman of the Scout Group,  welcoming the impact of the Youth Investment Fund grant, said:

“The brand-new space is amazing, and the young people can’t wait to enjoy the new Scout HQ building. The workmanship is second to none, our builders have excelled themselves. The funding has given us the infrastructure we need for the future, and we will have places for everyone, from four years old onwards with no age limit.”

The new building’s capacity has been increased by removing the old offices and stores and by raising the roof height of the building. This extra height will mean the Scouts can enjoy ball games inside, and they will also benefit from a new climbing and bouldering wall. The grant has funded a two-storey extension – which means the Scouts can run concurrent sessions at any time, giving them greater flexibility and capacity. Accessible features include a larger modern facility with accessible toilets, showers, washing and changing areas.

The Scouts have enhanced the outside facilities too, including an open sided covered area which will allow them to make better provision for the needs of campers on the site and will also give them a covered base for activities such as shooting and archery.  A new tarmac area will improve vehicle movements and parking on the site and will give them an outdoor hard standing and an activity area.

Young people have been at the heart of the new plans for their Scout Group. Along with wanting their building to be sustainable and accessible to every young person, what they wanted most was a dedicated “chill out zone” to be themselves and hang out with their friends. This special space is in a separate building in the grounds.

The newly refurbished and extended space will be a lasting legacy for the 1st Hoveton and Wroxham Sea Scout Group, giving children and young people every opportunity to have fun, make new friends and learn vital skills for work and life.