The 2nd Clutton Scout Group has won a £10,000 prize in a national design competition to carry out much-needed repair works at their Scout Hut.

The significant sum was awarded to the Group as one of the prizes of the Building

Futures Competition, a collaboration between the Shanly Foundation, the charitable arm of the South East based developer, the Shanly Group – and the UK Scouts

Association. The initiative invited Groups across the country to design their dream meeting place, with the chance of winning £100,000 to build it.

The competition, which was backed by Chief Scout and TV adventurer, Bear Grylls, was launched in December last year. Groups submitted designs which outlined the types of features which would make their meeting place sustainable, accessible and of use to the local community.

Several runners-up were chosen, including the 2nd Clutton Scout Group, whose meeting place needs a new roof and improvement works to their kitchen and bathrooms. The group also detailed plans to remove a bee colony which is causing problems at their hut!

Stuart Whale, Group Scout Leader of the 2nd Clutton Scout Group, said: “Everyone from the youngest Beaver to the oldest Explorer wanted to get involved in the designs for the competition – the children used sketches, paintings and Lego models to bring their ideas to life. They had a lot of fun coming up with dream features – archery and climbing walls were popular – and learnt a lot about design in doing so.”

Michael Shanly, Chairman of the Shanly Foundation and former Scout, comments: “We were overwhelmed with the number and the quality of submissions to the competition – we had some really tough decisions to make. The interest in the initiative shows how

incredibly important meeting places are to the success and sustainability of Scouting. These are not just buildings, but a place where young people can come together to plan adventures and learn new skills.

“We look forward to seeing how the 2nd Clutton Scout Group will use their prize money to enhance their hut to facilitate more activities and allow them to continue to

develop these important life skills.”