Dear Sir,
The Scout Supporters Association based at Bluebell Way would like to thank everyone who has helped them with the refurbishment of the hall and the extension to the bar/lounge, and those who helped following the recent break-ins.
After many months of planning and building our premises have now got a fresh new look and are proving to be very popular with new and old customers. The association raise the funding needed to maintain and run the Scout Centre. Most of this funding is generated from the bar sales and hall hire which is one of the reasons an extension to the bar was considered to be necessary.
This has enabled us to increase our customer base and generate more income. For the year ending 31/12/2012 the cost of the heating, lighting, rates, water, insurance and cleaning amounted to £15,427, so you can see that a great deal of money is required.
We do not get any funding or grant aid from the Council or scouting organisations – all the money is from our supporters. The centre is run by volunteers and the scouting groups use the premises free of charge.
The money spent on the building and renovations was raised over a number of years from donations and a few small grants which had been applied for to hopefully extend the premises on a much larger scale. Due to rising costs and some problems with the original plans the second hall which was planned could not be built. It was therefore decided to use the money to improve the existing building, and we are planning a small extension to the hall to provide additional toilets and a couple of small meeting rooms when funds allow.
Unfortunately due to the losses suffered during recent break-ins and the cost of repairing the damage, much of the money which was available to put towards this has been used so we do not know at the moment when we will be able to complete this part of the plan.
We would like to thank everyone who has helped with the building in any way in particular we would like to thank Bespoke Flooring, PAR Design and Build Services Ltd, B & C Building Contractors, Wades Group, Halls Plant Hire, Lee Bates Flooring, Homeflair Blinds, New Wave Furniture (who gave us contact details for our seating), the owner of the Black Boy Pub Hetton le Hole for the seating, and the members who helped with the carpets and seating, and Clearance Bargains for the TV.
Following the break-ins we also thank Chris from C & G Cash registers, Andy Bruce Trading, Newton Aycliffe Police and last but not least Ross Wright in particular Eddie and Danny who worked all night to make  new doors. We are also grateful to Newton News for all publicity given. I apologise if I’ve missed any one, but a big thank you to you all. Please come and visit us and help us fulfil our plans.
Don’t forget there’s a £500 reward for information leading to the conviction of the people who carried out the break-ins. Contact the Police on 101 with any information thanks.
Karen Gray