In 2017 The Shanly Foundation ran a nationwide competition offering Scout groups the opportunity to design their ideal hut. The competition received a huge number of entries, and the judges had a tough job selecting an overall winner. Loughborough-based Woodhouse Eaves Scout Group were desperately in need of new facilities and put forward a compelling application convincing the judges that they should be awarded the top prize of £120,000 funding towards the project.

Over the next six years, the Scout group worked with the local community and the Parish Council to secure the land, gain planning permission, and achieve additional funding.

Works began on the new hut early in 2023 and completed in August 2023 enabling the group to open their doors on 1 September. Their new hut not only provides improved facilities including a fully equipped kitchen, but also enables the group to be more inclusive with a fully accessible cloakroom.

Clare Junak, Awards Officer for the The Shanly Foundation, attended the launch of the new hut and said “It was a pleasure to attend the launch of this fantastic new facility which will not only make a huge improvement to the scouting experience of the Woodhouse Eaves Scout Group, but will also benefit the local community. The new hut is superb, and you can see the thought that has gone into its design. We are delighted that The Shanly Foundation has enabled the Group’s vision to be realised and we are really impressed with their dedication and hard work over the last six years to deliver the hut.”