A SCOUT and Guides hut in Whitley that is more than 100 years old is to be replaced with a new £1.8 million building thanks to government funding – a once in a generation opportunity.
Earlier this month, a new £90 million fund was launched to help rebuild or refurbish more than 140 youth centres across England.
Among the projects is the Scout and Guide headquarters on Northcourt Avenue in Whitley.
On behalf of the two youth organisations, the Reading Central District Scout Council bid for £1,834,386 of funding to replace the existing buildings.
In its citation, the government said: “Reading Central District Scout Council is part of the national scouting and guiding network providing a range of activities and skills training for children and young people, led by qualified volunteers.
“The replacement and enhancement of the existing premises will deliver activities across all child and youth age groups, as well as reaching out into the wider community by providing community use space for other youth users.
“These include an early years nursery during weekdays and two church communities on Sundays.”
The projects announced earlier this month form the largest funding round to date from the Government’s Youth Investment Fund, and aims to give 20,000 young people access to state-of-the-art facilities including sports halls, recording studios and skateparks.
It is part of a £300 million funding pot, and projects have been chosen based on areas where the need is deemed high, but the provision low, and help will engage young people most in need, including those that might have otherwise been at risk of becoming involved in anti-social behaviour or falling out of education, training or employment.
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said: “I want to see every young person have someone to talk to, something to do, and somewhere to go outside of the classroom, no matter where they are from, to help maximise their potential in life.
“We have now committed to building or refurbishing over 220 projects in some of the country’s most underserved areas, creating more opportunities for young people to gain the skills needed to succeed in life and stopping them from falling through the cracks.”
The scheme is part of the Government’s ‘National Youth Guarantee’, which wants to ensure every young person aged 11-18 in England has access to regular clubs and activities, adventures away from home, and volunteering opportunities by 2025, backed by an investment of over £500 million.
The National Youth Guarantee will provide greater access to activities such as The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme and the National Citizen Service, and uniformed youth groups such as Scouts, Girlguiding, and Cadets.
