Blog

Our fundraising team have launched an appeal for donations to help replace the building, art materials and equipment destroyed when our old scout hut caught fire earlier this month.

Many staff and old students have fond memories of going to Scouts in the hut, and in recent years our successful Forest School - which helps students learn about nature - began using it as a base. With the Forest School, students can get outside, explore the trees and bushes growing around our site, and look for birds and other wildlife. For some students, it's a chance to find out how it feels to get wet and muddy - especially great when you like different textures! Others might learn more about food by collecting herbs and using the cooking equipment, or put their practical skills to work by making birdfeeders. With help from our artist in residence and several volunteers, school pupils learned about natural art and even made their own sculptures - the little willow dragonflies 

Sadly, during the thunderstorm on 13th September, the hut was struck by lightning and the fire destroyed all the equipment stored inside as well as a large chunk of the building. Thankfully, nobody was hurt and we hope to rebuild and replace everything we lost.

We've already had some brilliant offers of support, from people donating money to help replace equipment or their time to help us clean up, and we hope that this appeal will let us continue offering these opportunities.

You can stay up to date with the progress of this appeal or donate through our Virgin Money Giving page, or contact Wendy Bray to ask about volunteering or donating equipment.