About our Group
What we do…
Our Scout Group was formed on 13th Dec 1909 and ever since have been an active part of the community, helping to shape and develop young lives through challenging activities.
Currently we have 2 Beaver Colonies, 2 Cub Packs, a Scout Troop and Young Leaders / Explorers and are open to all young people.
We are a very active group with our members participating in a large variety of activities and camps as well as International Scouting, including Blair Atholl, Explorer Belt to Romania, World Scout Jamboree in South Korea and regular trips to Kandersteg International Scout Centre in Switzerland.
Our Leader team are very active too and are proud to be running one of the largest groups in Scotland. We are always looking for new people to join the team.
Hall history…
Since our formation we have used numerous halls in Troon.
In 1952, Scouts and parents joined local tradesmen to build our current hall, which was extended in 1968.
In 2014, we took over the old Youth Centre, which was in danger of closing, from South Ayrshire Council on a full repair and maintenance basis. A new 25yr lease was taken out which also included all the land which both buildings sit on and this is where we are today.
Plans and fundraising campaign
including and expanding community use
When we took on the lease of the front building, we kept all the original tenants and have accommodated many more over the years. Currently we have Fitness classes, Irish Dancing, The Creation Station, Schools Out, SAC Mental Health Drop in Group, Tai Chi classes, Yoga classes, Skills Development Scotland, Art classes, Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Rangers and Explorers.
We have hosted International Scouts, birthday parties, car boot sales / Bazars, Race Nights, Rugby and Football training, First Aid Courses and a variety of other events. We also fundraised for and provided Troon’s first 24hr access Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Installed in 2019 on our front building, it has been accessed numerous times and has actually been crucial in saving at least one life.
We are very community focused and wish to accommodate as many different groups as we can. With this is mind we are looking at creating disabled access showers and facilities, proper overnight sleeping accommodation, upgraded toilets and a long list of other improvements. Both buildings, (but in particular the rear one) require a lot of maintenance and repair work to keep them operational with running costs rapidly increasing. To date we have spent in excess of £50,000 of our own funds on the front building, replacing windows, upgrading decor, installing a new kitchen and a lot of other essential works.
We can no longer attract the type and level of funding required to run/ maintain both buildings and also to pay for our long list of proposed improvements. Income from our tenants and group fundraising are not enough. Capital funding such as we need is only accessible to owner occupiers and not lease holders, which we are currently. We therefore approached SAC last year with a view to purchasing the front building and all the ground that it and our own building sits on. We are now launching our major fundraising campaign to help fund the project and are looking for every bit of help that we can get in accessing grants, funding bodies, sponsorship. Our JustGiving page is now active. Should you wish to make a donation just visit:
www.justgiving.com/campaign/28thAyrshireScoutCentreCampaign
Once we have ownership, we can throw every effort into making this a flagship facility that Troon can be proud of. It will serve Scouting and
Guiding and equally as important all aspects of the wider community. Making the facility as available as we can is vital to the success of the
project.
Any help that any individuals or businesses can give will get us one step closer to the magic number. Buying the assets of course is only the first step. We
then need to access funds for capital projects however, one step at a time. Please email us, speak to us or pop a note through our door if you think you are able to assist in any way.
Thank you!
groupchair@28thayrshire.org.uk
