'Why would someone do that to our Scout Hall, Akela?'

This is sadly the question Cubs at 1st Radstock Scout Group asked when they turned up for their meeting on Monday evening to discover their beloved scout hall, home of fun and friendship had been broken into, mindlessly vandalised, with many items stolen and burned. The hall is home to 1st Radstock Scouts, Mercury Explorers and Radstock Guides, whose ages range from 6 to 18.

The Scout Group has been at the heart of the community for over 100 years providing activities and fun for generations of young people. On top of the usual Scouting activities the leaders and trustees have been working tirelessly to fund the installation of new heaters, accessible showers and toilets so that the wider community can also benefit from their wonderful facilities.

With a plan already hampered by the pandemic, the Group has now been hit with very significant additional costs to repair and replace the damage caused and to install CCTV. They are working closely with the local police who have been excellent.

The Group Scout Leader, Janet Turner said: "I don't think I will ever forget the look on the Cubs' faces as they tried to process what had happened. We are all volunteers, committed to supporting the young people but we don't have endless reserves. We are totally self-funded and now have even more money to find." For details of how to donate to help the Scouts, please e-mail [email protected].