Recipe for success with Great Lyde Scouts

THE Great Lyde Scout Group based in Yeovil can now cook up a storm thanks to its newly refurbished kitchen.

Magna Housing Association and Barratt Homes teamed up to support the local group by installing a new kitchen. Magna provided a gas installation upgrade, new cooker and flooring, whilst Barratt installed a brand new kitchen.

Magna has a number of homes in a nearby development at Wyndham Park and used the Scout hall for its celebrations in 2011 to mark building its 8,888th home. It was at this event that the housing provider was made aware of the scout group’s predicament and offered its services.

The project was driven forward by one of Magna’s community reps, John Coombe, and employee, Ken Bodycombe. John approached Barratt to see if they would be willing to come on board and help.

John said: “The project has turned out even better than we hoped, it’s a facility for the whole community. The kitchen looks absolutely superb and shows what can be achieved when two organisations work together.”

PHOTOS: Members of Great Lyde Scout Group and representatives from Magna celebrate the opening of the kitchen, above. While, right, Scouts Jack Curtis, 12, and Stephanie Doyle, 11, with Scout leader Simon Harrison.

The Scout group is an important part of the community with around 110 children aged six to 14 using the facilities every week.

Neil Curtis, Great Lyde Group Scout leader, said: “The whole building is 31-years-old and we were still using the original kitchen, which you can imagine had seen better days and was in truth beyond repair.

“The new kitchen has made life so much easier for us.  We can now prepare meals for up to 60 people and the facility meets all the hygiene standards. We can’t thank Magna and Barratt enough, especially John Coombe and Ken Bodycombe who drove the project forward.”

Barratt sales director, Lee Monk, said: “The Barratt team was delighted to be involved in providing these excellent new facilities for local scouts.”

“We are always keen to establish strong links within the communities we are helping to create. And this joint project with Magna was a wonderful chance to do just that. I wish all those involved many happy gatherings in the years to come.”

The scout group held a celebration barbecue event during half term to open the kitchen, where Magna and Barratt were presented with framed scout shirts and toggles as thanks for their involvement.

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