DELIGHTED sea scouts are celebrating after reaching a fund-raising milestone.
The 2nd Warwick Sea Scouts group is aiming to raise £625,000 to build a new headquarters at its current base in St Nicholas Park.
And the group has reached its first milestone of the ‘Build a Future’ project – raising £125,000 which will pay to renovate and extend the old jetties.
Along with money raised through charity walks, bag packing and marathon bike rides, money to reach the target also came from £2,000 in donations at the Warwick Thai Festival, a £10,000 grant from the Big Lottery Fund and an £82,000 grant from community grant giving organisation Wren.
The group celebrated reaching the fund-raising milestone at its annual fun day and regatta, which included a duck race, ferret racing and boat rides past Warwick Castle.
Guests included Warwick mayor Rich Eddy and Warwick District Council chairman Stephen Cross.
Sea Scouts fund-raiser Janette Eslick said: “Thanks to everyone who supported our fund-raising so far and our recent WREN bid – it’s a massive boost to our whole project.
“ We are so excited to be able to move forward with renovating and extending our jetties this autumn which will be of huge benefit to other river users and the local park community.”
Scout leaders say the developments would allow 50 more people to join the group and become a ‘valuable resource for the community’.
The Royal Navy recognised group provides opportunities and water based activities for some 150 children and young people and has outgrown its hut where it has been based for more than 55 years after being opened by Lord Aylesford in 1966.
The next stage of the appeal will see a bid to raise the rest of the money and enable work to begin on the new HQ next year.
And scout leaders are appealing for anyone wishing to place a large donation to come forward. It follows an assurance by grant-making organisation the 29th May 1961 Trust for £30,000, but this figure will be increased by £20,000 if it can be matched by a new donor.
Anyone wishing to donate or find out more can email [email protected] to contact the scouts.
