“A lot of cake bakes and sausage sizzles”
National Grid has awarded £20,000 to the 1st Banwell Scout Group, helping the local club to landscape the area around their new purpose-built hut.
The local scout group had recently rebuilt their community hut with a donation provided by The Kathleen Jones Family Trust. However, the group lacked the funds needed to renovate the area outside, leaving the young scouts with no usable outdoor space. This meant that outdoor community events could not go ahead and the children had no dedicated space to play in the fresh air.
National Grid’s donation, through the Community Grant Fund, helped the 1st Banwell Scout Group to divert the stream that cut through the land by the hut, which had posed a risk as it was uncovered. In addition, the funding helped the group to fund the removal of several hedges and the creation of secure parking for the group’s minibus. The scouts were able to put some of the funding towards a patio to create a relaxing outdoor space and an enclosed outdoor play area – encouraging the children to get outside.
The hut is used by local people for activities including Zumba classes and pensioner meetings, so the £20,000 grant will help dozens more adults and children alike to come together as a community and make the most of the newly renovated space.
Brian Redden, Chairman of the Executive Committee at the 1st Banwell Scout Group, commented: “Speaking on behalf of all of the 1st Banwell Scout Group Trustees, I want to take this opportunity to thank National Grid from the bottom of our hearts for their kind donation. Raising £20,000 would have taken an awful lot of cake bakes and sausage sizzles.
“The money has allowed us to bring forward our landscaping plans around the hut by five years or so. National Grid has given the young people of Banwell and the surrounding areas – and everyone else who makes use of the hut – years and years of enjoyment. We will be forever grateful.”
