Scouting at our new HQ

When we first moved into the Redwood Centre our large Scout Troop had been struggling to do activities in the limited space we had available. Our new HQ suddenly meant we had no limitations and we could do any game or activity we set out minds to! It also meant we could expand. I can't remember exact numbers but we grew from a Troop of about 30 Scouts to now two Troops each with 32 Scouts. We have been able to offer spaces to youngsters who've been on our waiting list for years and are we're constantly full to bursting with practically enough young people on our waiting list to fill a whole new Scout Troop if only we had the certainty of a secure space to meet and a few more adults who'd be up for joining our adventure!

The building itself has been amazing. There's the main hall space that we've used to it's fullest advantage. Our youngsters can properly run, jump and play without constantly bumping into one another. We can easily set up games like physical games like badminton or dodgeball as well as the more unusual games such as ladders, tic tac toe relays with hoops and beanbags, life-sized hungry hippos with skate boards, laundry baskets and lots of balls, the list goes on and on...

Of course having such a big space also allows us to do all sorts of other activities such as trying our hand at circus skills, complete with unicycle and stilts. Making christmas wreaths, building lollypop bridges, junk model marble runs. First aid workshops, indoor pioneering and so so much more!

It's also been a space that has allowed for big District events to be run such as the District Cooking Competition that allowed for 10 or 12 teams from Troops around the Mid Sussex to test their culinary skills. There's also been the annual Distict Scout Quiz and other events that are always eagerly awaited!

We also have a room that is just the right size to set up our rifle range so we can easily and safely give our youngsters the chance to have a go at using air rifles. This space has also been used for the Distrct Air Rifle Competition that for our top marksmen then leads on to the opportunity to compete at County and sometimes then at National level.

We've also used this space as an escape room to test those problem solving skills and as a polling station during our parliament week meetings when our scouts had a go at stretching their political ideas, debating various topics and then using their right to vote, again the list goes on and on...

Then there's the kitchen - WOW! We've learnt to cook pizzas, curry, spring rolls, sushi etc etc. We've also been able to use it as a space for serving drinks and biscuits during fund raising quizzes and for catering for events such as District night hikes when the space has been used by quite literally dozens and dozens of young people and adults from around the whole of Mid Sussex who've slept over in the hall and then enjoyed a full English breakfast the following morning before continuing on the next part of their adventure.

To make all these activities possible, we also have storage, without which it would be impossible to provide such a range of amazing adventures at HQ and beyond.

This is why our Scouts desperately need our HQ, and that doesn't even mention the Beavers, Cubs or other users of the Redwood Centre.

Our youngsters gain SO much from their time at Scouts in life skills, friendships and so so much more that just can't be measured.