New archery range planned for Washington - scout group raising funds for sporting facility benefiting all

1st Fatfield Scouts, which has over 180 young members, is looking to add the archery range to their site in Washington in order to incorporate more adventurous activities into their group – and also to offer something new to the local community.

The group already budgeted to add the archery range this year, until the coronavirus pandemic scuppered their plans, instead forcing them to spend the money on improving their existing facilities in Fatfield and making them covid secure.

However, despite the cost of the pandemic, 1st Fatfield Scouts are hoping local residents will come together to support young people and the community by crowdfunding the £2,500 needed for the range.

Scout Leader, Adam Moss said: “As part of our ethos we offer young people a variety of skills for life and incorporate adventurous activities into this, broadening their horizons, offering challenges, and learning new skills.

“This would be a positive enhancement for the Group allowing us to offer more adventurous activities more often. It will also benefit the wider Scouting community within Washington and surrounding areas, as we make our facilities available for use to them too.

"Likewise, other community groups are always welcome to ask to use our facilities.

“These last few months have been quite challenging - as a team of volunteers used to delivering a face-to-face, primarily outdoor, programme of activities it was a major shift with little prior ability to plan. “

The scout group has been meeting in virtual sessions since March, but members are keen to resume face-to-face meetings as soon as they can.

The volunteer-led group is hoping to install an 10m archery range which would benefit scout groups from the ages of 6-18, as well as other interested groups within the community.

Volunteers at the group have also offered to construct the range themselves, meaning they can save on construction costs and only need to fund materials.

So far, 1st Fatfield Scouts have raised £867 of the £2,564 needed, to learn more and donate visit their crowdfunding page at this link.

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