Cranham Scout Centre Consultation
We wanted to write with some news about Cranham and to invite you to help us consider its future.
By the end of July Ruth and Cal will have both retired after several years of service to the Centre. We know that many of you will want to join us in thanking them and wishing both a happy retirement.
This leads us to a moment of reflection about Cranham and its future.
Scouts have been allowed to camp at Cranham Scout Centre since the early days of our movement. The site was gifted to the County in 1945 and formally opened as a campsite in 1947. It occupies around 16 acres of prime land across the Main Site and Daniel’s Grove.
Recent investments include solar panels on the main building, which is generating electricity and helping to cut out costs, while making the Centre more environmentally friendly. We have also invested in new shelters with electric, lights and Wi-Fi.
However, in recent years what people want from activity centres has changed significantly while the costs of running and maintaining such sites have risen. There are several centres within an hour’s drive from Cranham that cater to these requirements.
For more information about Cranham Scout Centre, visit the centre’s website which provides details on facilities and activities offered.
What is being proposed?
To understand the options available to them the Trustees have undertaken various pieces of research in recent months.
We estimate that the cost of developing Cranham to offer the activities and services demanded in a modern site could be more than £250,000. This development would include modernisation of activities, accommodation, and operations. Despite the County’s strong financial position, we can’t fund this. Therefore, we’d have to seek external funds and continue using young people’s membership fees for the foreseeable future.
Trustees are open minded to a situation where our membership decide they no longer see the need for a county activity centre, or to re-locating to a new site. To this extent we have undertaken commercial valuations of the site which suggest it could achieve a price of around £1m. Although, we have no certainty on how long a sale could take, given Cranham’s unique offering.
We need your feedback!
We want to know what our members think and where they see our future. We’re especially keen to hear from parents and young people, as stakeholders who directly support Cranham’s funding.
Now is your chance to have your say. The Trustees intend to make a decision that will last at least 10 years, so don’t miss your chance!
We will share their decision at the County AGM in September, to which all members are welcome.
Online consultation open until 31st July 2025.