On Saturday 5 September 2026 we threw open the doors of our brand-new Scout HQ on Crown Street with an Opening Day and community celebration.
From 11am to 4pm, families, friends and neighbours came along to look around the new building, see Scouting in action and enjoy the activities, stalls, food and refreshments spread across the HQ site and the neighbouring Camping Land. There was no formal ceremony, just a relaxed day for the whole community.
It was also a chance to meet our volunteers and find out how to get involved. Thank you to everyone who came, to everyone who helped run the day, and to our local Unite branch, who presented us with a £500 donation on the day.
There was free soft archery, crafts and games for children, face painting, toy stalls, a barbecue, a cake stall, tea and coffee, and tours of the new building with our leaders. We were also thrilled to receive a special video message from the Chief Scout, Dwayne Fields, to celebrate the opening. Watch it on our Facebook page.
Years in the making
Our sections have been meeting in the new building since 2 February 2026, after a final Building Control visit cleared it for use, so the Opening Day was our chance to share it with the whole community. The new HQ is the result of years of fundraising, planning and hard work, and it continues a long tradition. Back in 1973, parents rebuilt a former RAF pistol range on the Camping Land to give the Group its first permanent home, and this time our volunteers fitted the electrics, solar panels, batteries and heat pump themselves. See the whole build in pictures.
Room to grow
Our new home gives us the space to welcome more young people, and plenty of families are waiting to join. Now we need more adult volunteers so that we can open more places, starting with a second Beaver colony.
The HQ is also available to hire for clubs, classes, parties and meetings, with every penny going back into local Scouting.