Donation from Councillors gets New Headquarters underway

A generous donation from two local Councillors has kick started 1st Consett's and 1st Blackhill's construction of a new headquarters for the two groups.
Durham County Councillors Owen Temple and Clive Robson each donated £30,000 from their Neighbourhood budgets. Combined with the £90,000 the groups have already raised, they now have enough to start construction of the building shell.
The building will be on the site of 1st Consett's old wooden hut, on Constance Street in Consett.
There have been Scouts in Consett for over 100 years. The new building will secure the future of Scouting in Consett hopefully for another 100 years.
There is still along way to go, however, with a further £150,000 needed to complete the headquarters, which the groups hope will come from grants and donations. 
At a time when Scouting is more popular than ever, with numbers increasing at record rates the headquarters will provide state of the art facilities and space for both groups to grow.
Work is due to commence demolishing the old hut, which was donated by Consett Iron Company in the 1960's, in early February 2013.

Fantastic Fund Raising Weekend raises £4000

Consett and Blackhill Scout Groups took part in a weekend of fund raising activities last Saturday and Sunday, raising around £4000 towards the new headquarters.
On Saturday they spent a day bag packing and selling raffle tickets at Morrisons in Consett, and then on Sunday Beavers, Cubs and Scouts were joined by parents for a joint sponsored walk.
The ten mile walk took in a circular route from the site where the new headquarters will be built in Constance Street, via Allensford picnic area, and back along the Waskerley Way. Although a bit wet underfoot the weather was great, and despite some sore feet everyone finished.
Thank you to everyone who made this such a successful weekend.

Annual General Meeting Monday 24th September

1st Consett Scout Groups Annual General Meeting is being held on Monday 24th September, at 6:30 p.m. in St. Patrick's School, Consett.
All members, parents and supporters are invited to join us.

Planning Permission granted for new headquarters

1st Consett and 1st Blackhill Scout Groups have been granted planning permission to build their new headquarters and Constance Street in Consett.

The building will be of mainly brick construction and 260 square metres in size. The total cost of the building is over £280,000, but it will provide a permanent home for Scouting for decades to come, as well as providing an exceptional community facility for the people of Consett.

We hope to start the demolition of our old wooden hut before the end of the Summer.

Our website has more photos and video tours of the new building.

BBQ and AGM on Saturday CANCELLED

Unfortunately we have taken the decision to cancel the Family Fun Evening, AGM and BBQ on Saturday due to the continuing rain and risk of severe downpours.

The event will be rescheduled for later in the year, by which time we hope Summer may have arrived.

Olympic Torch honour for Consett Fund raiser

1st Consett Scout Group's fund raiser, Kirstie, has been given the honour of carrying the Olympic Torch as it passes through Sunderland. Kirstie was recognised by her employer for her hard work over the last few years organising the many fund raising events to help Consett and Blackhill Scouts raise money for a new headquarters.

Kirstie will be carrying the Olympic Torch on Saturday 16th June, at 10:08 am, on Stockton Road in Sunderland.

i.DID 2012 - Did you?

Fifty Beaver Scouts, Cubs, Scouts and leaders from Consett took part in the District i.DID weekend over the Jubilee Bank Holiday. The largest contingent from any of the six Groups who attended. In total 220 scouts from Derwentside took part.

The weekend started on Saturday, with everyone arriving at Moor House Adventure Centre near Durham in rain. However, this soon cleared up and after pitching the tents the fun began with the opening ceremony followed by the i.Olympics. 

Sunday was a fun packed day, with activities all day including three inflatables, climbing, crate stacking, archery, toboggan run, string trail, survival skills workshop, off road buggies and segway racing.

Following this the whole district of 220 people enjoyed a Sunday Dinner served for them in Moor House by the Explorer Scouts.

The Beaver Scouts left us on Sunday night, and on Monday Cubs and Scouts took part in section activities. Cubs went to Nature World in Middlesbrough and the Scouts went Go-karting in Durham. Cubs then went home, leaving just the Scouts and Explorers to enjoy the i.Fest; a BBQ followed by music, dancing and karaoke. 

Tuesday, the last day. Scouts and Explorers took part in Operation X2. A series of 10 exciting incidents around Moor House.

Overall it was a fantastic weekend, and a big thank you must go out to the i.DID team of five Explorer Scouts who organised and ran the event.