Do you know that 130 young people use the tired Wells Scout Hut each week and another 70 are on the waiting list?

Through fun and adventure, they gain resilience and learn teamworking, all skills for life.

But the 40-year-old hut in the Blue School grounds does not meet their needs. 

"We do not currently have level access into, or within the building, impacting negatively on people with mobility issues," said Wells Scouts' lead volunteer Heather Anderson. 

"Our toilet facilities desperately need refurbishing. Our youngest Scouting members do not like using them as they currently are. Our hall needs sound dampening as the noise level is stressful for young people with sensory issues.

"And our ceiling has asbestos which must be removed by a specialist company before any sound dampening improvements can be made.

"In short, our building does not meet the needs of our young people, so we are campaigning to refresh the Scout Hut."

Strongly supporting is Wells Mayor Jasmine Browne, who has decided to raise money for Wells Scouts as her Mayor's Charity.

"I wanted it to be a local charity for my year in office and Wells Scouts are personal to me," said Jasmine.

"As a mother of two boys and former Scout Assistant Section Leader, I have seen at firsthand the difference Scouting makes to the lives of young people. 

"My children have experienced activities they never would have had access to had they not been in the Scouts such as kayaking, caving, night hikes on the Mendips, and having the privilege of being part of the city's Remembrance Sunday Parade.

"Our city's Scout leaders do wonderful work and I want to raise their profile and funds for the much needed improvement of the Scout Hut so they can give opportunities to more of our young people."

Support has also come from local architect Nigel Clarke who put his hand up at the last Wells SOUP! and offered to do the design drawings for the new toilets free. Within days he visited the Scout Hut, discussed the design, measured and produced a draft drawing.

"Jasmine has organised a charity concert in aid of the refurbishment in Wells Town Hall on Saturday 23^rdNovember," said Heather, "with amazing donations from local businesses being auctioned there. With her help we hope to complete the biggest part of the refurbishment, estimated to cost £60,000. We have a lot of work to do, but we will get there."

Tickets for the charity concert cost £20 and are available from the Wells Town Hall reception desk, cash only.

The 5th/7th Wells Scout Group is a registered charity and their fundraising page is

 justgiving.com/campaign/wells-scout-hut-appeal