We aim to secure the Methodist Church building for our scouting, healthcare and social community uses, to provide educational value through, actively engaging and supporting young people in their personal development, empowering them to make a positive contribution to society, providing an accessible place for elderly and disabled in our community and to provide an ongoing social community space.
Fundraising
The purchase of the hall is a major undertaking for the group and despite the support of Derby Methodists and the National Scouts Association, we only have a few years in which to raise the money needed to secure our permanent home. Darley Abbey Scouts are members of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, who guide charities at many levels and on whom we can call for advice. To oversee our fundraising efforts, we have a Trust (formally a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, ‘CIO’) who are separate to Scouts, but work very closely with us, to ensure we are making the right decisions in our fundraising.
The Trustees all have strong links with Scouts and the village and their guidance is invaluable. When we eventually raise the money to buy the hall outright, the Trust will become the owners on behalf of the Darley Abbey Scouts and the village. Working in this way, the fundraising should not divert the attention of our Leaders from the main business of Scouting, although some activities of the group will help the fundraising greatly. Scouting is above all, about our young people; ensuring they have fun and develop the skills and values needed for life!
We will rely on three main mechanisms for fundraising:
Charitable giving- We have already received a number of generous donations for which we are very grateful indeed. If you are considering helping in this way and are a tax-payer, please contact us about claiming tax relief on your gift.
httpps://mydonate.bt.com/charities/63rdderbyscoutshallfund
Fundraising events- From the annual Scouts Field Day (coordinated biennially with Darley Abbey Day celebrations), sponsored events, car-washing days, shows and concerts, our Scouts group has a full programme of events throughout the year. To see what events are planned, please see our calendar http://www.63derbyscouts.co.uk/save-our-hall/our-events/
Grant applications- We are very much dependent on grant income to achieve our goals. Grant-writing is an exacting, time-consuming and competitive process and we would be grateful for any support you may feel you can offer in these tasks. If you have previous experience of grant applications, or know of an organisation which is committed to charitable support of youth or local groups, we would be very pleased to hear from you. Does your current (or past) employer support local charities? Have you heard of an organisation which might? Please get in touch with any ideas which might help us in this way.
In-kind support- The running of the Scouts group and maintaining the hall, naturally takes time and money to do effectively. If you are willing to lend a hand in any practical way, such as gardening, decorating or any of the many ‘domestic’ tasks needed to keeping the hall and group running well, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Perhaps you might consider running a fundraising event (become an event leader for us) in the scouts hall such as musical event, theatre, comedy or a quiz? These are great fun to organise and take part in and we would be very happy to see these sorts of events make good use of the building.
Please get in touch if this appeals to you and remember that any money saved or raised in this way, is going to the long-term support of the group and the wider village community. Please contact us at 63rdDerbyScoutHall@gmail.com if you can help.
Ultimately, we hope the Darley Abbey Scouts Hall will be a great asset to the village, complementing the main Village Hall, Darley Barn and the St. Matthews Church Fellowship room. Darley Abbey is a thriving village and as a result, the demand for meeting space is increasing. If we can secure the future of this building, it will remain a facility for future generations of villages and of course, for the Darley Abbey Scouts.