We are absolutely thrilled to announce that the first major milestone of our “Support Our Hall” transformation project is officially complete! As of this week, the Scout Hall at Arkley Road is now powered by the sun.

This is a massive leap forward in our mission to create a sustainable, modern, and energy-efficient home for our Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, and the wider Herne Bay community.

Why this matters

By generating our own clean energy, we aren’t just reducing our carbon footprint; we are significantly lowering our running costs. Every penny saved on electricity is a penny that goes straight back into our youth programme – funding more adventures, better equipment, and more skills for life for our young people.

A Huge Thank You to Veolia

This project was made possible thanks to a generous grant from the Veolia Environmental Trust. Their support for community and environmental projects is helping us turn our 100-years vision into a reality.

To see how the Landfill Communities Fund is supporting other projects, use the hashtag #TheLCF on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or check out the website link above.

A True Community Effort

Beyond the funding, this has been a real team effort. The Trustees would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the volunteers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes. From the initial scoping of the works and the complex grant application process to liaising with contractors and being on-site to oversee the installation – this wouldn’t have happened without your dedication. It is a testament to the strength of our Scouting community.

What’s Next?

While we’re taking a moment to celebrate the sunshine, we aren’t stopping here! The solar panels are just the first “tranche” of our planned improvements. This year, we are moving full steam ahead into our next set of goals, including:

  • Acoustics and Soundproofing: Ensuring our hall can mitigate noise inside and out
  • Damp proofing: Fixing the damp to enable other interior works to take place

Get Involved!

We will be launching our next round of fundraising shortly to kick-start these interior works. Whether you can help with a donation, offer trade skills, or help us organise an event, we need you!

Check out our Support Our Hall page to see how you can help us reach the finish line for the next stage of development.

Let’s keep the momentum going!