Community rallies to renovate vandalised scout hut

A scout hut has been renovated and reopened after it was left badly damaged by vandals.

Several high-value items were smashed or stolen from the 19th Askern scout hut in Doncaster in September.

Following the incident, a number of local businesses have donated time and money to help it reopen.

Lee Parkinson, from social housing procurement organisation Efficiency North - which donated £2,000 to the project - said: "This incident is all the more distressing given the hut was initially established after 10 years of local community funding."

Stolen and damaged items included space heaters, tents, pizza ovens, and a flat-pack kitchen that was yet to be installed.

Copper piping was also removed from inside the scout base, which caused significant damage to the interior.

The repair work was carried out by Denton Nickels, R H Fullwoods & Co, DSR Demolition and Yorkshire Choice Homes.

Among the many improvements, they repaired ceilings, added a new electrical heating system, added fresh carpets, security doors, and security gates and fencing.

Allerton Damp Proofing contributed £8,000 to replace the Scout's camping equipment, which was rounded up to £10,000 by Efficiency North.

Denton Nickels group managing director Mark Denton said he had been thrilled to take part in the project.

He said: "It's genuinely rewarding to see our work making a difference to the lives of others and to have such a huge impact on the local community – we're always prepared to put a proportion of our profits back into the community as the benefits are so far reaching."

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