Scouts to hold first Christmas market to help fundraise for hut extension

The 1st Fareham Scouts have been busy organising their first Christmas market which will include a hog roast, Santa's grotto, Christmas cocktails and stalls from many local businesses and charities.

Chairwoman Linda Wells said: '˜We've been very busy arranging the stalls, we have Sharon's Cake Delight, who specialises in dairy free and gluten free cakes and treats, the Body Shop also have a stall as well as a local pottery business that will be offering the kids a chance to decorate pottery.'

Linda added: '˜We have a Santa too, who will be inside the scout hut along with the market stalls. During the day we'll be having a hog roast and selling mulled wine and cider, as well as a Christmas jumper competition, raffles and a tombola.

'˜In the evening we'll be hosting a curry and quiz night in the scout hut.'

All the funds raised from the event will go towards an extension to the scout hut which is needed due to the group expanding.

Linda said: '˜'˜Where we're gaining popularity we need this extension because we have so much equipment and need more space.

'˜While some scout groups get financial help from the churches they're based in, we don't, we're entirely self funded.

'˜We recently opened an '˜Explorer's group' for ages 14 to 18 and had 16 members on the first night, we now have over 100 members aged six to 18, we're like a big family, it's a really lovely group.'

The scout group have been doing a summer fayre for many years to raise funds for the group but found this year they were overshadowed by other events.

Linda said: '˜The issue with the summer fayre this year was the incredible heat, and an England game being played at the same time, we joked '˜what a time to have a World Cup game!

'˜We did still raise around £600 and it was a lovely community event, everyone was friendly and chatting to each other.'

The market is free entry and will take place on December 1 from 1pm at the Scout Hut in Crescent Road, PO16 0HJ.

The quiz and curry night will start at 7.30pm. 

For more information call 07754479880 or email [email protected]