Chicken shed Scouts ready to take flight

SCOUTS who meet every week in a chicken shed are raising money for a new home.

First Woodcutts Scouts at Sixpenny Handley use the 50-year-old ex-hen house as a meeting place along with the Beavers, Cubs and Venture Scouts and have done so for many years. But the building's age is starting to show and cracks are appearing in the walls, floor and windows.

Archela Andy Young said: "Everything's falling apart. There's holes in the floor. We've had floods inside. We need the new building as soon as possible." All groups are on a fundraising mission to raise between £175,000 and £200,000 for the new centre, which will be used by about 80 children aged from six to 18.

One of the group's fundraising events was a GMTV appearance last Friday, when the boys took part in an exercise session with Mr Motivator via a live video link. Fiona Randall, a fundraiser and elder sister to a local Beaver said the children loved the morning and the television company had donated £100 to the cause.

"It's not the sort of place I'd want to go to at the moment. But the children love their time there so much so it's really important we get the new centre built," she said.

To find out how you can help, email the Scout Group Committee chairman for First Woocutts at toby@firstwoodcutts.org.uk