Upgrade October 2008 - January 2009

The whole of the HQ is being insulated. 

Step 1 is to fix batons on the wall - made more difficult by the walls not being square and the requirement to fit around windows and electrical fittings.

Step 2 is to fix heavy duty insulation in between the batons.

Step 4 is to overlay the 18mm chipboard panels to provide a smooth wall finish.  This will not only help to retain the heat, but will absorb sound much better than the block walls.  Another very important benefit is the safety issue, chipboard is a much softer landing for heads and bodies.

Other projects have included:-

1. Adding a quick release safety bar to the main fire exit.

2. Creating a shrub bed outside the HQ.  This has tidied up the hazardous kerb stones, stopped the spread of the grass onto the car park and clearly shows drivers the stopping point before they descend into the drainage ditch.

3. New storage racks have been built for the games equipment, gym mats and tables.

4. Fittings to support the use of archery have been set up, which allowed us to hold our first Group archery competition in December.

HQ Development Plan - Project 50 / 40

The 1^st Measham Scout Group was registered in December 1961 and will thus celebrate 50 years in 2011, while the 1^st Appleby Magna was registered in April 1972 and will thus celebrate 40 years in 2012.  As the Scout Groups merged in 1999 we should celebrate the history of both.  It is proposed that Project 50 / 40 is adopted to significantly improve the HQ and grounds as part of the development of the Scout Group.

The proposals for Project 50 / 40 comprise:-

1.        Scouting Activities In The Headquarters Building - Make the HQ more interesting with Jungle Book and Beaver murals, as well as Lodge / Six / Patrol photos and badge charts.  Add indoor archery, air rifles and a model railway.

2.        Scouting Activities In The Headquarters Grounds – Dig a moat to create an island with a castaway hut, add outdoor archery and air rifle facilities.

3.        HQ Usability – Reduce the approx 20 tasks required to properly open up / close the HQ on a winter’s night to about 6 tasks. 

4.        Building Structure – Add a wood floor and paint the external cladding.

5.        Heating and Insulation – Replace the gas heating system with electric heaters, clad walls and roof with insulation and boards, consider a porch to reduce heat loss.

6.        Fire Safety – Designate 3 doors as fire doors and bring up to standard with push bar opening and illuminated exit signs, wall mount the fire extinguishers.

7.        Electricity And Lights – Move the fuse box to near the main door, split lights across switches, add mood lights, improve external lighting, procure portable lamps for activities.

8.        Toilets, Kitchen And Plumbing – Create a 2 WC ablutions unit at end of hall, revise kitchen, protect the plumbing from cold weather.

9.        Equipment And Storage – Replace the cabin and create a bulk store to hold pioneering poles, tyres etc. between the cabin and the HQ.

10.     Future – Have viable plan for extending the HQ after the proposals above have been implemented.

 Parents this is your chance to help.

15% complete as at 16th October 2008

Grounds

When we took over the land we inherited huge mounds of soil and waste, as well as nettles and brambles.  Most of the grounds were overgrown and unusable.

We did a deal with the caravan site residents and gave them some land for a parking area in return they levelled the grounds for us.

There is a limit to how smooth a digger can make the grounds.  So Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Leaders and Parents got stuck in digging out bricks and stones, as well as raking the land level.

The grounds are now starting to grass over and will provide a superb activity area for the future. 

2002

2006

We started planting trees in 1997 and some of the trees in our woodland area are now quite a size. 

When we planted another 50 trees in March 2006 it was hard to see them from a distance as they just had a stem. 

Now that the trees have been watered they are growing well and they have plenty of leaves on them.

Mural Wall

Other Improvements

Storage improvements never sound exciting for any organisation, but the changes we have made are helping to make it much easier to run activities by keeping the HQ clear and letting us find equipment quickly.

We have colour coded the pioneering poles and made a rack for their storage.  We have reconfigured the shelving at the other end to make it more suitable for the tents.

HQ Checks

Arrival

Departure

HQ Address

Rear of 48-62 Measham Road, Appleby Magna, Swadlincote, Derbyshire, DE12 7BN.

Don't be confused by the Derbyshire postal address as we are in Leicestershire.  Don't post us a letter as we don't have a letter box!!!!!!  Email or ring instead (Contacts page)

How To Find Us

We are behind the houses in  Measham Road and next to the Caravan Site.