Chelmsford News
Lottery boost for Scout group
7:20am Saturday 28th January 2012
A FINANCIAL boost has kick-started the fortunes of a new Scout group.
The year could not have got off to a better start for the newly established 1st Great Baddow Scout group.
It has been awarded nearly £10,000 by the Big Lottery Fund’s Awards for All scheme.
The programme offers grants of between £300 and £10,000 to projects that improve communities.
An application for funding was made just before the group got up and running in November.
Paul Bedwell, the group’s leader, said: “It’s been a nervous wait to see what we would get, if anything.
“Fundraising is a fundamental part of Scouting to ensure the group is well resourced to provide the best opportunities for all the children and young people. This has given us such an unbelievable head start.
“Not only will it enable us to be more financially robust, it will enable us to purchase some much-needed camping equipment and personal kit to carry out more outdoor activities.
“Plans are well under way for our camps next year and we can’t wait until we run our first camp in March.”
Scout member and Paul’s youngest son, Josh, ten, said: “It’s really great to be involved in a new Scout group and to get this funding is fantastic news. I know we will make good use of the money.”
The grant comes on top of funding already received from Great Baddow Parish Council, the Ford Britain Trust and local businesses.