Guide groups begin fundraising drive to save Guide Hut from closure

Melksham Guides have launched a major fundraising campaign to raise £25,000 for vital roof repairs to their Guide Hut – or risk losing their long-standing home.

The Guide Hut, located off Bath Road near King George V Park, is facing serious issues due to a leaking roof. Without the necessary repairs, the building will become unsafe to use and could be forced to close within 18 months, threatening the future of Girlguiding in the town, which dates back to 1922.

Built in 1959, the hut hosts weekly meetings for over 100 local girls in Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers. It also supports other community groups, including Slimming World and Melksham Ukulele Club.

“A few months ago, some of the parents of the girls who use the hut discovered that there is a serious need for repairs to the building that will ensure its future use – not only for the girls, but also for other hall users,” said Brownie leader Helen Short.

“If the hut has to close, we will all be devastated. The girls do so much in there. We run six different activities and various things for the girls to earn their badges.”

The group initially aimed to raise £40,000, however they have since found a firm which has halved the cost, making the target far more achievable.

“Our initial goal of £40,000 just for the roof seemed like a pipe dream, to be honest,” said Helen. “Thanks to the new quote, we are now aiming to raise around £25,000 instead, to include some other maintenance repairs and updates to the hut.

“We, as Guides, own the hut, so we are responsible for fundraising for the repairs,” she explained. “If we can’t raise the money, the building will become unsafe and we will have to close or find somewhere else – but that won’t be easy, because hiring a venue costs money. There is the hut in Atworth, but not all the girls would be able to go there.”

Despite the challenge, Helen is confident the group can meet their target and says fundraising has already got off to a ‘flying start’.

“We’ve already raised £101 through a raffle at the Assembly Hall and plan to run a chocolate bingo event on 29th June at the Assembly Hall. Melksham Town Council gave us a £200 grant to cover the rent for the bingo, and Melksham Area Board has also given us a £1,000 grant. Paul from the Tile and Bathroom Centre is giving one of the bathrooms an update.

“On 10th May, we held a table-top sale which had a host of games and activities, from hook-a-duck to biscuit decorating, as well as live music from Melksham’s Ukulele Club.

“We also have lots of fundraising ideas in the pipeline, including a treasure hunt and a Bottle Bingo evening for adults. These events are yet to be planned.”

As well as applying for grants, the group is determined to raise the money through community efforts.

Helen said, “We want to show the girls that we need to be proactive and we want them to be involved. It will be amazing if we can do it. I firmly believe we will – I just hope we can do it sooner rather than later.”

Anyone interested in supporting the fundraising events or helping with hall repairs can contact the group via Facebook, or email mggfundraising@yahoo.com. Tickets for Chocolate Bingo can be purchased via the ‘Melksham Girlguiding Fundraising’ Facebook page.

Pictured: Melksham Brownies outside the Guide Hut, which requires £25,000 of repairs to prevent closure