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Apprentices Lend a Helping Hand in Scout Hut Refurbishment

SHIREGREEN'S dilapidated scout hut is being completely refurbished by a team of apprentice joiners who offered a helping hand.

Apprentices Connor Bamford, aged 19, and 18-year-old Ed Hamilton from the building company Frank Haslam Milan (FHM) volunteered to use their wood-work skills to fit a brand new kitchen to the scout hut.

Both live in Shiregreen and are currently working on the construction of Sanctuary Housing's Sicey Pavilion Apartments - a £2.2 million housing development which will provide much-needed accommodation for older people in the surrounding communities.

Danny Levick, scout leader for Shiregreen, said "Connor and Ed have done a fantastic job - they should be proud of their work.

"At the beginning of the year the hut was ruined as a result of a water leak. A pipe burst over Christmas and caused so much damage to the structure that everything had to be stripped back.

"The total building work will cost £10,000. As a charity we have done lots of fundraising to raise the money, the kitchen that FHM have donated saved us over £3,000.

"Since August we have been using temporary venues for 90 scout meetings, but throughout the work the scouts have been meeting the apprentices at the hut and got talking to them about what they are doing at FHM. It's been good for everyone."

Connor, one of the apprentices from FHM said, "I know people who have used this scout hut - Its really important to the young people here, and it feels good using the skills I've learnt on the Sicey Avenue building site to help them."

Chris Goddard from FHM organised all the kitchen supplies to the scout hut. He said, "After the structural work was finished, the building was just an empty shell. FHM offered to help and arranged for the new kitchen to be fitted.

"Now the work has been finished and the kitchen fitted it means more activities can be put on for local people - like exercise classes and birthday parties. It's a good job all round."

The new hut will be officially re-opened in December.

This latest Shiregreen scout hut work follows the success of the clean up organised by Sanctuary Housing in the summer.

Peter Martin, Sanctuary's Group Director - Development, said: "These young apprentices are not only getting the opportunity to learn a real trade, they are also being given the chance to get closer to the community and it has been a thoroughly motivating experience for everyone involved."