Brick Foundation helps Scouts build for a better future

The Brick Foundation, the Jersey Construction Council's charity, has completed the refurbishment of the 1st St Ouen Scout Hall. The official opening of the Hall will take place Wednesday 12 October at 12pm with the ribbon cut by Mike Vasse, the longest serving member of the St Ouen troop.

‘Over the years we have needed to focused on maintaining our boats and keeping them sea-worthy’, said Group Scout Leader Anthony Houiellebecq. ‘The result has been that the Hall has often lost out on funding so this incredible support by the JeCC’s Brick Foundation has restored our much loved home into a fitting base for the scouts. We may need to create a new badge to recognise the work of everyone who took part!’.

‘It seems especially fitting that Mike Vasse should have been chosen to mark a new chapter in the history of the Sea Scouts of the 1^st St Ouen’, said Anthony. ‘His dedication to the Group is an example of the community spirit that maintains the Scouting movement throughout Jersey’.

Mike, who has over 20 years of dedicated service, joined in 1995 at what was then the 5^th Jersey Sea Scouts.  Following the group’s change of location and amalgamation into the 1^st Jersey Sea Scouts, Mike has taken on many active roles, including working as a leader in both the Cub and Scout Sections.  Mike is also one of the Islands “Nights Away Advisors” offering training and support to adults which enables them to take young people on camp.

Andy Fleet, a member of the JeCC and Director of Bridgewater Project Management, who had responsibility for the project management, said: ‘This has been a substantial task, to refurbish the Hall.

‘We have fully inspected the building to check and replace wiring, put in new glazing and repaired damaged woodwork and refitted the kitchen and other utility areas, to name just some of the work undertaken. With support from many companies through the Brick Foundation, time, resources and over £28K of funding has seen the JeCC return to the scouts a greatly valued facility that meets the needs of all their members’. 

Previous projects have included an extensive refurbishment of the toilet facilities in Dodo Cafe at Durrell Wildlife Park, a complete external renovation of Maison des Landes and the refurbishment of the League of Friends Café and shop at the General Hospital.

Nominations for projects to be undertaken in 2017 can be made by contacting Caroline Harrington on 862983 or by email at info@jerseyconstruction.org outlining the project to be undertaken and the reasons why the organisation should receive this help.