We are fundraising for a new scout hut, to be built on the site of our old on at Mendlesham Green. The old was was demolished in 2016 because it was unsafe, and we have been without a permanent home ever since.
Find out more about our project, our plans and how you can help us.
What was our old hut like?
1st Mendlesham Scouts have been active for over 90 years. Until a few years ago we regularly met in the scout hut that was at Mendlesham Green.
The hut was a 1940s wartime building. It had a main hall, kitchen area and toilets.
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What happened to our old hut?
In 2016 the building was deemed unsafe due to the presence of asbestos, rot, and a sagging central roof beam. It would not have been cost effective to repair the ageing building and so it was removed from the site.
How we have continued scouting
The field where the scout hut stood is leased from Mendlesham Parish Council. Scouting still continues on site during the summer months, with the use of a mess tent and camping toilet to provide basic facilities, although regular activity at the field is hindered by a lack of building. We have had electricity and running water re instated to the field so that we have basic utilities when we are on site.
Mendlesham scout troop has 4 sections which have continued to meet at Mendlesham Community Centre since the loss of their building. However, use of the community centre can be challenging due to high demand from local community groups.
Plans for our new hut
Planning permission for a new building has been granted. This is for a new scout hut and car park on the site of the original scout hut. The building will be a log cabin style building which will fit in with our rural surroundings.
We are in the process of arranging a new lease for our site with Mendlesham Parish Council.
You can find artist impressions and floor plans for our new hut at the bottom of this page.
Fundraising
We are using a number of avenues to raise funds to build our scout hut. We run our own fundraising events and have received a number of grants and pledges from various organisations. The local community have also been very supportive, with various local businesses having donated to our cause.
Once we have our lease is in place with Mendlesham Parish Council this will allow us to apply for larger grants specifically for capital funding.
You can donate to our project through Just Giving, by clicking the purple logo below.
You can also support us by selecting us as your chose charity on Easy Fundraising. Every time you shop online us the Easyfundraising website as your starting point to find your chosen retailer. They will then make a donation to us, at no extra cost to you. Click the logo to find out more and support our project.
Project Co-ordinator – Noel Fletcher
Noel retired from paid employment and moved to live in Mendlesham with his wife to be close to his youngest son and family in Mendlesham Green. When, in 2016 he became aware of the Scout Group’s plight of trying to raise funds for the new building, he volunteered to act as project coordinator calling upon his previous experience both as special projects and procurement officer for a large MoD organisation and subsequently as Facilities Director to a large secondary college in Cambridgeshire where he was responsible for the creation and conversion of a number of high value building projects.
Noel has previously enjoyed a wide and varied career in many parts of the world, his appointments include operational military helicopter aircrew, Centre Director of the National Imagery Analysis Centre, doctors’ practice manager, community transport manager and admin manager for a private retirement home. He spends what spare time he has painting in oils, carpentry and running the local creative writing group whilst adding to his previously published two thriller novels.
