A run-down Scout hut in Caerphilly is set for renovation after its resident group were awarded funding by the council.
The 1st Caerphilly Scouts have been meeting under the leaky roof of their hall, off Nantgarw Road, Caerphilly, and Group Scout Leader Sarah Donovan decided enough was enough.
The hall, which has stood since the 1950s, will undergo a thorough facelift thanks to a £23,000 Community Regeneration Fund grant awarded by Caerphilly County Borough Council.
Sarah said: “The hall really is in a state of disrepair.
“We’ve been lucky in that we haven’t had to cancel any meetings, but with the leaky roof we now have damp patches on the ceiling and are struggling with the inadequate heating and plumbing.”
To supplement the council grant Scouts, leaders and parents alike have been raising funds for the hall through bag-packing at local supermarkets and holding raffles.
While the hall is owned by the UK Scout Association, the organisation holds no responsibility for maintenance upkeep, so local groups must self-fund repairs.
Sarah added: “I want to ensure that this old hall isn’t left standing, rotting away. I want to get it up to standard so we can explore the possibility of renting the hall in the daytime.
“It’s a fantastic space which could be used by community groups and people who are struggling to find spaces for their meetings.”
The hall is predominantly used in the evenings, and anyone interested in joining the 1st Caerphilly group should contact gsl1stcaerphilly@gmail.com.