Explorer Scouts with family and friends ready
to abseil down the Europa Hotel in Belfast.
THERE was a hair-raising experience for
members of First Hillsborough Scout Group recently as they
abseiled down the front of Belfast's Europa Hotel to launch
their fundraising campaign to rebuild Hillsborough Village Scout
Hall.
From the comfort of the pavement on Great
Victoria Street, family and friends watched the 15 volunteers
safely scale down the front of the building, knowing that their
efforts were going to contribute �2,500 towards the Scout Hall
Redevelopment Fund.
Jessica Kidd, who has been involved with
Hillsborough Scout Group for nearly 50 years recalled the bold
decision back in the late 1970's to fund raise in order to
purchase the current Scout Hall site. The new Scout Hall was,
however, a second hand building.
With a life expectancy at that time of 25
years, it is now operating on borrowed time. Whilst still
structurally intact, wear and tear has taken its toll. With over
100 young people using the hall every week the facilities fall
well short of modern expectations, not to mention changing
legislative parameters.
In 2007, the Centenary Year of Scouting, the current Scout
Group Committee brought forward a vision to plan for the
redevelopment of the existing site to provide more modern 'Fit
for Purpose' facilities. The launch of this new fund raising
campaign takes place exactly 25 years from the date when the
existing hall was formally opened in April 1983. To find out
more about Hillsborough Scout Hall redevelopment proposals or to
pledge a donation please email
poundhill@btinternet.com.