Now it's Scouting for girls too!

Completion of new HQ means that everyone can join

Chiswick’s oldest Scout group is opening its doors to girls in all sections, thanks to the successful completion of a £65,000 extension to their headquarters.

The 3rd Chiswick, based in Prebend Gardens, used to only admit girls to the Scout section for 10 – 14 year olds, but will now take girls into the Cub Scout Section (8 – 10 year olds) and the Beaver Section (6 to 8 year olds).

“This move opens up Scouting to many more children in the area – which is exactly what we intended when we planned to extend our HQ” said Group Scout Leader Neal Andrews.
The group have added an extra meeting room to the front of the building, modernised the toilet facilities and introduced disabled ramps, toilets and other facilities to help future members who’s mobility may be impaired.

The project is being paid for out of proceeds of a £65,000 fundraising drive that was launched exclusively on ChiswickW4.com last year. “We had some hugely successful events, including a wonderful concert at St Michael and All Angels in June 2002” said chairman of the fundraising committee, Peter Wolton.

The extension is operational and an official opening is planned for next May to coincide with the group’s 95th anniversary. “But there is still money to be raised” added Mr Wolton “which is why we are running another of our bag-packing events at Sainsbury this weekend, which we hope Chiswick residents will give their full support”.

Commenting on the new hall, Beaver Scout Leader Shaun Joynson said “This extension greatly improves what was already a fantastic facility and means we will be able to offer the highest possible Scouting to Chiswick’s young people for the next 95 years too”.

December 15, 2003