Demolition work starts on Jessopp Road Scout hut in Norwich

The 33rd Norwich Scout Group was given a £915,000 government grant last August as part of the Youth Investment Fund to develop its Jessopp Road hut in NR2.

The previous hut had been infested with mould and was “falling down” before news of the grant.

Parents, volunteers and the Scouts themselves kick-started the demolition process on Saturday, as the government fund only covers the costs of the building itself.

Andrew Parle, the group’s lead volunteer, said: “It’s very much in the spirit of how we have got this far.

“Parents and Scouts are all helping out to keep costs down.

The 33rd Norwich Scout Group is set to get a new hut in Jessopp Road (Image: 33rd Norwich Scout Group)Almost £1m in funding was secured to redevelop the Jessopp Road Scout hut (Image: 33rd Norwich Scout Group)

“We will be able to offer our fantastic opportunities to so many more young people and the community as a whole will be able to use the new facility.”

The new Golden Triangle community centre on the one-acre woodland site should be up and running by December.

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The Scout Group will then be able to tackle its current 18-month waiting list, as the new centre will double the number of young people who can join.

Scouts, parents and volunteers have started demolishing their derelict 1950s hut in Jessopp Road (Image: 33rd Norwich Scout Group)The 33rd Norwich Scout Group were thrilled to learn that nearly £1m of funding had been secured last August for their new Jessopp Road hut (Image: Denise Bradley)

Diana Hare, coordinator of fundraising, added: “There was a real heads-down attitude and the kids were joining in where they could.

“There was a real community feel.”

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Mr Parle added that items including tables, benches and first aid kits are still needed, as well as equipment to set up a kitchen so that cooking skills can be taught.

The 1950s hut in Jessopp Road is severely run down (Image: Denise Bradley)An artist's impression of the new Jessopp Road hut (Image: Denise Bradley)

£4,000 of the additional £10,000 needed to kit out the hut - which will be fully accessible and carbon neutral - has been raised so far.

The Scout Group is also calling for new volunteers to run groups and classes so as many young people in the local area as possible can benefit from the new facility.