Weymouth West Air Scouts, based in a part of Weymouth identified as an area of deprivation, have long outgrown their HQ. The Scout Group is loved by local children, young people, and their families, and the team go out of the way to ensure everyone gets a chance to experience all the amazing activities on offer. If families struggle to fund activities and camps, the Scouts support them, by quietly assisting with costs, so no child misses the chance to take part.
Growing demand
The Scout HQ was built by parents, supporters and scout leaders back in the early 1970s, but the scouts now recognise its limited accessibility, being out of date and limited ability to cope with the growing demand from the local community. Weymouth West Air Scouts have an ambition to create an integrated and inclusive space for every child and young person in their community. The Group currently has members, both young people and adults, with challenges and disabilities who struggle to access the facilities fully.
Thinking big
The scouts had been exploring what they could do to modernise their building and create an inclusive space on a limited budget. They developed plans to expand their building, but realised the extension would limit their options and only be a relatively short-term fix. Then, out of the blue, their fortunes changed when they heard about the Youth Investment Fund. They had a choice to either “play it safe” with a smaller scale extension or be brave and think big! And they have thought big, suddenly the world is their oyster, they can create a brand-new inclusive home for the Weymouth West Air Scouts that will be there for many generations to come.
Their future is now secure, with a Youth Investment Fund grant of £847,752 to pay for a major rebuild, which will double the size of the building.
A new vision
Children and young people are excited about their future, and busy dreaming of the vision for a new space. Top of their wish list is to create a space that’s both kind to the environment and accessible to all. But some of their ideas haven’t quite made it into the plan, like a rocket launch pad! But they are busy thinking about creating a time-capsule to celebrate their new building, to be opened by future generations of Scouts in decades to come.
Once complete the newly designed and expanded project will be sustainable and inclusive, with solar panels, battery storage, a heat pump and insulation, making it better for the environment and cheaper to run. Accessible toilets and a new shower room, an extended kitchen with drop-counters, and opening out the space, will mean everyone can join in, and they will be able to support more young people. Safeguarding and privacy are also central to the new plans, creating safe spaces to meet with children, young people, and families, enabling greater privacy.
A modern and inclusive space
Weymouth West Air Scouts will benefit from an enhanced and more flexible layout inside, with a large main hall and three breakout rooms, enabling them to run different activities at that same time. It also means it will be easier to use the space for inside “overnight nights away activities” during the colder weather. Right now, scout leaders have to sleep in the office, dodging the tables, chairs and office equipment. The outside space will be greatly enhanced too, with new hedging and fencing to make the space private and safe. At the rear of building a new enlarged store will replaces a shipping container used to store activity and camping equipment. The space will be great for the Westham community and beyond, providing a modern and attractive space that everyone can use, including a local Disability Group and lots of other clubs.
John Naylor, Chair of Trustees for West Weymouth Air Scouts, is excited about the future:
“Funding from the Youth Investment Fund means we can create a modern and inclusive space that everyone can use. It will be sustainable, accessible and will change the ambience of our community.”“Vitally it means we can support even more children, young people and adults and will be a more attractive offer to scout leaders too. We are really excited about our future, a future that’s secure for many decades ahead. It will sustain Weymouth West Air Scouts and give us all something to be very proud of.”
