Our HQ

Purpose-built as a Scout HQ by 1st Effingham Scouts in 1995

Now under threat due to dispute with EVRT, please support us to reach a fair agreement here: Effingham Scouts Call for Meaningful Negotiations in Ongoing HQ Dispute with Village Trust

For over 65 years, the 1st Effingham Scout Group has proudly served the local community, fostering teamwork, resilience, and creativity among hundreds of children through an engaging and vibrant Scouting program. Generations of Scouts have benefited from the invaluable life lessons learned within the walls of Milestone Scout HQ Hall, situated at the KGV Playing Fields.

As a fully volunteer-led charity, 1ES has never wavered in its commitment to providing meaningful opportunities for young people. Our members fundraised and oversaw the construction of Milestone Hall in 1995, taking full responsibility for its maintenance, security, and upgrades ever since (estimated to be greater than £100,000 so far). Raising at the time approximately £85,000 for construction, of which £46,050 was secured in grants from Surrey CC and Guildford GBC, donations of £9,330 and many Scout funding raising activities £20,186, interest free loans from parents and friends in the community.  There were more activities in the final months, plus more interest free loans (eventually totalling £7500) and at the AGM in June 1994, the contribution via the Scouts was £24,000.

BUT THIS WAS STILL NOT ENOUGH TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT.

Chris Boughey (Group Scout Leader for 1ES in 1995) recalls that Rotary paid for the toilets, Eddie & Pam Barnaville paid for the purchase and fitting of the kitchen, and the contractor was generous with his costs due to his link with Scouts.

In 1978, EVRT’s predecessor had actively sought out the Scouts to take over the financial responsibility for the prior building when they could no longer afford to manage it. It had been agreed that in return for 1ES bearing all of the costs relating to the Scout HQ, permission was given that the Scout Group had “de facto unrestricted use” of the building. We have stood by that agreement throughout funding the hall with expectation to continue to use it as a Scout HQ.

Planning permission granted on 27th October 1992 was given by GBC for “Erection of a Replacement Scout Headquarters Building”

Newspaper article at the opening of the HQ, Norman West (President of the Scout Group)