A SCOUT group in Studley has been given a £1,000 boost to help towards modernising their headquarters.

1st Studley (St Mary’s), based in High Street, were handed the cash by Persimmon Homes South Midlands as part of the company’s national campaign Community Champions.

The scout group are modernising their toilet and washroom facilities to make them accessible to all as increasing numbers of boys and girls with mixed abilities and needs.

The Community Champions programme offers charities and groups a chance to apply for funding up to the value of £1,000 to match money they have already raised themselves.

Gloria Jenkins, from the scout group said: “Our headquarters was constructed in the early 1970s before disabled access was considered necessary or girls were part of the movement.

“Consequently, there are no disabled toilet facilities for use by the young people, their parents and the volunteers who run the scout group.

"The first stage, of converting the existing one female toilet to allow disabled access, will cost about £5,000 so the donation from Persimmon puts us a huge step closer to reaching our initial funding target. Once that is completed we will be working towards upgrading our male toilet facilities to a modern unisex facility”

Carol Selway, from Persimmon Homes said the group do fantastic work in the community.

“Scouting is a fantastic way for young people to develop life skills and by modernising its headquarters more youngsters will be able to get involved with everything scouting has to offer,” she said.