1st Littleport Scout Group have been busy raising funds for a snowy afternoon.
You have probably seen members of the 1st Littleport Scout Group out and about at recent local events writes Louise Parfitt. You may well have eaten one of the delicious cakes they have been selling outside the Coop on Main Street numerous times this year or at Crowning Around in May; perhaps they gave you directions at June’s Littleport Leisure Fun Day; or it could be that your copy of Littleport Life was delivered by them. The group has been on a mission to top up its funds, for several good reasons.
One reason is a trip to the Milton Keynes SnoZone, due to take place in December. The experiences it offers are fantastic – from sledging to skiing and snowboarding – and will give the children the chance to earn badges that they might not otherwise get. It’s not the cheapest day out so the leaders want to make the trip as affordable as they possibly can through extra fundraising, so hopefully every Beaver, Cub and Scout will have the chance to try sports that perhaps they have never done before.
The Scouts – those aged 10 to 14 – had the opportunity to go to a week-long eco-camp this summer with other Scouts from across Cambridgeshire. The action-packed event called CamJam saw them scuba diving, playing laser tag and clay pigeon shooting, all with a theme of looking after the planet. By baking cakes and helping at the Littleport fundraising events, the Scouts were able to ‘earn’ money towards the cost of attending the camp.
The Scout Group is one of Main Street Coop’s Local Community Fund charities for 2019. The Coop split one per cent of what its members spend on Coop-branded goods between three chosen charities and in 2019 the Scout Group was lucky enough to be selected. The Scout Group also gets the opportunity to raise additional funds throughout the year by having stalls outside the Coop or by taking part in other activities such as the store’s colouring competition.
One of the driving forces behind this gargantuan effort is leader Julie Double. She has been out in all weathers setting up tables, counting money, and supporting the children. “Fundraising is also crucial to helps keep the subs costs as low as possible because we want Scouting to be available to everyone,” she explains.
It currently costs £30 per term per child. This recently increased from £25 which had been the cost for more than 10 years. Although all the leaders and helpers are unpaid volunteers, subs money is needed to pay for the hire and upkeep of the hall where the groups meet, for their badges, and for resources used over the course of the term, including paper, craft supplies and sports equipment. Extra funds raised also go back into providing activities and equipment for camps, sports and learning. There is a hardship fund available if any family is finding it difficult to pay the subs.
At the time of writing, the group’s efforts had raised more than one thousand pounds, which Julie is over the moon about. “It has been a fantastic year for our fundraising. The people of Littleport have been so generous with their purchases and donations in their support of our young people, so I’d like to thank them” she says. “I’d also like to thank to all of our young people, their families and my fellow leaders. Without them, these important events would not be possible.”
So if you see members of the group out and about this autumn, do come and say hi. (And buy a cake or two!) We’ll let you know how the trip to SnoZone goes.
If you have a child who would like to join the Scouting adventure, or if you are a young person or adult who wants to get involved, we’d love to hear from you. We are always on the lookout for more help, be it a one-off or a regular thing. Get in touch at info@1stlittleportscoutgroup.org.uk