JOIN us for afternoon tea – and help us save our scout hut.
That’s the invitation from the 10th Warrington Scouts at Great Sankey who have so far raised £5,000 in just 18 months to rescue their rapidly collapsing headquarters
The tea party will be at Whittle Hall Community Centre on Sunday, April 26 and will be in two sittings at 12 noon and at 2pm. Admission is £12 for adults and £6 for under 10s
It’s the biggest fundraiser the scouts have tried so far and usually raises £1,000.
Inside the scout hut
The scout hut has an interesting history. It was used to house Italian prisoners-of-war during World War 2, when it was on Farnworth Road, next to an anti-aircraft battery. The 10th Warrington obtained it in 1959 when they moved it to land owned by St Mary’s Church, with who they are linked.
Scouts, helped by parishioners, dismantled the hut, cutting it into four sections, and moved it to the new location, behind the Church Hall. They put on a new roof and it was opened in 1960
Group Scout leader Ian Skilling said: “In the early 1990s a portable building was added at one end to provide improved kitchen and toilet facilities. This 30-year-old building is now decaying rapidly – in stark contrast to the 70-plus -year-old beside it.
“We have recently got a first draft of plans for a replacement amenity block so we need to raise funds to make this a reality.”
Section leader Jen Booth added: “ Unfortunately the porta cabin is now badly subsiding and is in a total state of disrepair. The flooring in both the kitchen and toilets is now sloping and the building is full of damp and rot.
“We have had some help from United Utilities to repair pipework under the building as it was blocked by soil etc.
“A small team have been fundraising for 18 months and have raised approximately £5000. This is by doing a variety of events, sponsorships etc. Our biggest event is the afternoon tea which normally raises around £1000. At this event we have the kids from the group serving all our guests, making sure they have everything they need etc. They are fabulous at it and as leaders we are exceptionally proud of them.”
