A SCOUT group in Wivenhoe is celebrating after winning thousands of pounds to spend towards the costs of renovating the building they have used for over five decades.
The Wivenhoe Scout & Guide Association has been handed £5,000 by Lloyds Banking Group Community Fund as they look to raise £27,000 to renovate their Toad Hall building on Colchester Road, which has been the home of the group since 1964.
The group beat off stiff competition from other community groups to land the prize, after polling 31 per cent throught the public vote organised by Lloyds through its Community Fund.
The effort to gain the fundraising was spearheaded by the three-time mayor of Wivenhoe Peter Hill, who has been Chairman of the association for 35 years.
The Toad Hall building is a key part of the Wivenhoe community and Hill believes this is reflected in the fact the public threw their backing behind the group.
"It's fantastic the public threw their support behind us," said Hill. "A lot of hard work went into getting the fund so it's rewarding once we have secured it.
"The building has served us well but it's time for a bit of a renovation – we'll make it look nicer, build new toilets and things like that which make it a lot nicer for people to come to.
"We're not just used for scouts – people across the community use the building so it will benefit a wide cross-section of people.
"That's why it was so important we got the public behind us – it's not just a project for the Scouts and Guides but something for the entire community and I think that was important in the public getting behind us."
More than 200,000 people across the UK took part in a public vote between May and September to select the charities they wanted to receive the cash, part of £660,000 Lloyds Banking Group is investing through the Community Fund.
In total, 132 projects are set to receive £5,000 as part of the Lloyds Banking Group campaign.
Lloyds Banking Group's Community and Sustainable Business Director, Paul Turner added: "Becoming the best bank for customers means being the best bank for our communities. The group has 30 million customers and has a clear role to play in society helping communities thrive.
"The Community Fund highlights the Group's ongoing commitment to the communities we serve and doing more to help Britain prosper.
"We are proud to be able to help the Wivenhoe Scout & Guide Association Group continue the great work they are doing in Wivenhoe and we look forward to seeing the difference the award will make."
Lloyds Banking Group, the largest financial services investor in UK communities, has provided funding to 132 organisations around the UK through its Community Fund in 2012. To find out more about the Group's community investment, visit www.lloydsbankinggroup.com/community
By Nate Saunders, Sportsbeat
