New Activity Barn will Open for Young People in Winchester
Winchester Scouts to Revitalise Activity Centre with the Help of Major Donations
A nearly derelict activity space that provides shooting and archery practice for more than 1,000 local Scouts is to be renovated with the help of a massive contribution from local donors.
Colin and Viv Brooks, longtime residents of Winchester and supporters of Scouting, have donated £60,000 towards the revitalisation of the Activity Barn at the Pinsent campsite at Teg Down.
The current structure is falling apart and open to the elements; the money will be used to provide a lit, covered space so various supervised activities can continue all year round. So far this year, hundreds of Scouts aged between six and 18 have taken part in activities at the facility, practising air-rifle shooting and archery in particular. The renovation will allow many more people to participate much more often.
Part of the money has come from the sale of Leachpond Copse, which was originally given by the nation to Lord Nelson in thanks for his victory at the Battle of the Nile in 1798. This special wood near Fareham was bought in 1993 by Viv’s late father, Brian ‘Brandy’ Blunt, who became Mayor of Winchester in 1996. Brandy championed the development of young people in his home town of Bishop’s Waltham, and during his mayoralty he also became president of Meon Valley Scout District, where he remained for 23 years until his death in 2019.
Colin and Viv’s donation will make a considerable contribution to the cost of the barn’s renewal, which is scheduled for completion next Easter. There are also plans to add a bouldering wall, should enough additional donations come through.
“We are honoured and privileged to have been able to support Winchester, and our love of Pinsent,” they said. “On behalf of the Blunt and Brooks families we are fortunate enough to be able to leave a legacy to Winchester Scouts for the ongoing development, providing fun and skills training for both young people and the supporting adult volunteers who make it all happen. Pinsent was, is, and will be of great important to the young people of Winchester, through Scouting.”
Another main source of funding for this project has recently been received by way of a grant for £38,000 from the UK Rural England Prosperity Fund 23.
For more information about Scouts in Winchester visit www.winscouts.org .
(Captions for pictures:
1. Colin Brooks, Richard Mendelsohn Chair of Winchester Scouts, Viv Brooks and Robin Cook District Commissioner for Winchester District Scouts.
2. Former Mayor of Winchester, Brian ‘Blandy’ Blunt, Viv’s late father.)
Notes for editors:
Winchester Scouts are fortunate enough to have their own campsite local to the city. Pinsent is well known by all those who have passed through Scouting in Winchester. It has been in their possession since 1935, when it was gifted to Winchester Scouts by a Major Pinsent, who purchased the six-acre site with two colleagues, so as to provide somewhere for young people to enjoy the outdoors in a safe environment and help prepare them with skills for life.
The site has undergone many changes over the years, and it is a very popular venue for outdoor activities and camps. Winchester Scout groups also use the site for evening meetings where the people can light fires and cook on them, play wide games, and learn about the abundant local flora and fauna. Many groups from all over Hampshire and beyond use the site for both weekend and summer camps. This year there have been over 50 separate camps and over 85 evening sessions. The site is also used by other Youth organisations.
A dedicated Pinsent Activities team was formed in 2008 initially to provide crate stacking and archery for Scouts aged six to 18. In 2012 an old barn of 1940s construction existing on the site was cleared for use as an air-rifle and archery range, providing a safe and sheltered area for these activities. However, as the barn has no roof or lighting it can only be used during the spring and summer during daylight hours – when it’s not raining.
The new barn will enable these activities no matter the weather, the time of day or year. We are also planning to include a bouldering wall in due course when we raise more funds, something that could not be contemplated without a roofed building. In the last year the Activities team have supported approximately 1,000 Scouts. A year-round operation could take this up to over 1,400. All the activities are instructed and supervised by adult Scout volunteers who give their time freely.
To further enhance the outdoor experience for young people in scouts so as to develop their appreciation of the great outdoors in a safe environment, Winchester Scouts are also raising funds to build a new Campsite Amenity building at Pinsent. The site for this building is already set aside, architect’s plans are ready and planning consent has been obtained. The foundations have been laid, and fundraising has begun for construction.
The new Campsite Amenity building will provide support for campers at Pinsent in the form of showers, washing facilities, toilets and washing-up facilities as well as a large undercover space for outdoor activities to continue in inclement weather all the year round. It will also provide covered overnight stays for younger Scouts who are not old enough to camp outside. The new building will support more frequent use of Pinsent campsite all year round, whereas, at the moment, it is only suitable for the older young people. All these activities are aimed at developing young people’s experience of the outdoor world and educating them with skills for life.
For further information contact Robin Cook, the Winchester District Commissioner on 07976 123385