Community news

Radford Semele Scouts to visit scouting’s birthplace after housebuilder donation

- 06 Jun 19

Scouts in Radford Semele will visit the birthplace of modern scouting thanks to a donation from a housebuilder in Leamington.

Bovis Homes has contributed £100 to 1st Radford Semele Scouts for their week-long visit to Dorset, which includes a ferry trip to Brownsea Island and scout founder Robert Baden-Powell’s first camp in Poole Harbour.

The housebuilder, which has a location in the village called Semele Park, on Southam Road, has donated money to help the scout group’s ferry crossing trip next month.

Dave Alcock, leader of 1st Radford Semele Scouts, says: “We’re so thankful for Bovis Homes’ donation, making our visit to Brownsea Island possible.

“Brownsea Island and Baden-Powell’s first camp promises to be an absolute highlight of our expedition and we can’t wait for our scouts to discover our foundations.”

On Brownsea Island, the scouts will retrace the steps of generations of scouts at the site of Robert Baden-Powell’s first camp more than a century before. The National Trust reopened the island in 1963 and young people from around 75 different countries visit the island every year.

Paul Bennison, regional marketing manager at Bovis Homes, added: “Bovis Homes colleagues in Warwickshire are delighted to support our local scouts’ group with their trip to Dorset, where they’ll explore some wonderful landscapes and historical sites.

“We chose to pay for the ferry trip to Brownsea Island as this is where the group will see for themselves how scouting has evolved and learn first-hand why it’s so important to communities.

“Many will be away from home for the first time, experiencing camping and new activities and we wish them all a brilliant time and hope they bring back some great memories of the south coast.”

The group will camp in the New Forest National Park, take part in coasteering and work as a team as they navigate their way along the coastline. The explorers will also visit a fort initially built by Henry VIII, which overlooks the Solent.

Through exploration and play, the trip will provide opportunities to explore the natural landscape of Dorset and its Jurassic coastline.

The scouts’ group is looking for more donations for other parts of the trip. To contribute, email secretary Clare Woodhead at radfordsemelescouts@gmail.com.