SCOUTS might be more used to Bric-a-brac but a group of youngsters are asking people to ‘Buy-a-Brick’ to raise cash for a new hall.

The 1st Wroughton Scout Group wants to replace its present hall – built by parents in 1954 – with a larger modern facility which will cost up to £200,000.

Group leader Hilary Bather said the present hall is in desperate need of replacement so the group can provide for young people in the area.

The Scouts have planning permission for the hall on the present site in Weirside Avenue and since the buy-a-brick campaign was launched 18 months ago it has raised about £3,000.

Members of the public are invited to pay £5 for a brick and all donors’ names will be engraved on a plaque to be displayed in the new hall.

Mrs Bather said a total of £50,000 has been raised towards the new hall over the past two years which includes the £3,000 so far collected through the buy-a-brick campaign.

There have been a number of donations – the largest so far worth £500 and a £7,000 donation has been promised.

She said: “The hall is a single skinned, block built building with a corrugated asbestos roof and metal windows. It suffers from subsidence, resulting in cracks in the walls and lacks insulation.

“We’d love to have a fairy godfather who would be prepared to donate a a large multi-thousand pound donation like £20,000 or £30,000 and we would be prepared to name the hall after a generous benefactor.

“The new hall would be L-shaped and bigger and would include a large room, kitchen and smaller room which would be used for sleepovers for the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts. We’d also be looking to hire it out for clubs in the village.”

The group has 170 Beavers, Cubs and Scouts whose ages range from six to 14 and there are also Scout Explorers aged between 14 and 18.

A number of fundraising events are lined up to help swell the coffers including a family quiz night at St Joseph’s Church Hall in Devizes Road on March 26, at a cost of £5 per team.

A concert featuring the Wiltshire Police Band is booked for June 18 at the Ellendune Community Centre.

There will also be other fund-raising events throughout the year including participation in Wroughton Carnival.

Anyone wanting to buy-a-brick for £5 should email buyabrick@1stwroughton.org.uk, or call Hilary on 01793 813089. Donations can be made with a credit or debit card online at www.1stwroughton.org.uk/wordpress/buyabrick/