Ten years ago, we set out with a simple goal, to upgrade the toilets in our Scout HQ. Today, we stand on the brink of a £400k+ redevelopment project, with planning secured, funding in place, and, most importantly, ownership of our site. This is the story of how a small facilities improvement became a once-in-a-generation transformation.

Back in 2016, the aim was straightforward, improve the toilets and add disabled access. However, that simple plan uncovered a much bigger issue. To secure grant funding, we needed a long lease on the site, but our lease was due to expire in 2025. St Martin’s Church, who own the site, offered us a new 21-year lease, but only if the Forge was included in the agreement. The Forge was owned by the District Scouts and was little used beyond the 3^rd Epsom Scout Group weekly meetings.

So, in 2018, the Group made a big decision, we took over the Forge completely. This meant paying for it and taking on all the responsibility for running and maintaining another building, a significant commitment for a volunteer-led organisation, but it also gave us control of our future.

By 2019, we had secured a long lease on the whole site and began thinking more ambitiously. Instead of just upgrading toilets, we started planning to improve and extend the Forge to create better space for our young people. Fundraising began in earnest, and the community responded brilliantly.

But progress wasn’t straightforward. Our planning application was blocked because of concerns about a protected tree on the site, and even after an appeal, permission was refused. Rather than give up, the team dug deeper, literally. With help from specialist volunteers and professional advisers, we carried out detailed investigations to understand the tree’s roots and redesigned the plans to protect it.

While planning stalled, fundraising grew. The incredible effort by volunteers, parents, and supporters kept the vision alive, steadily growing funds over the last seven years through events, donations, and local support, even through the challenges of Covid. A wide range of activities took place, including cake sales, Asda and Sainsbury’s bag packing, triathlons and other races, the Squirrel sewing service, sponsored swims, quizzes, making money boxes to collect small coins, cycle rides, clothes sales, wine tasting, second-hand uniform donations, carol singing, book sales, and an Auction of Promises.

A key milestone came in June 2023, after several years of effort, when planning permission was finally granted. At the same time, discussions with the Church opened up a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire the freehold of the site. The sale of the St John Chandler Hall by St Martin’s Church, in front of the HQ, meant we were able to secure our part of the site outright. After extensive discussions, in November 2024, 3rd Epsom became the freehold owner of the site, a huge milestone that secures its future for generations to come.

Alongside this development, a major programme of fire safety and compliance work was undertaken across both the HQ and the existing Forge meeting space. This included a new fire detection and alarm system, improved emergency lighting, upgraded fire doors, clearer escape routes, and enhanced safety procedures and risk management. In addition, significant investment has been made in the fabric of the existing HQ, including a new roof, replacement of the internal ceiling, and wider refurbishment works to ensure the building remains safe, watertight, and fit for continued use. These improvements are critical, not only to meet current regulations, but to ensure that the buildings are safe, resilient, and suitable for the large number of young people and volunteers who use them every week. This focus on safety and compliance, driven by our HQ Committee, has been central to safeguarding the Group’s activities both now and into the future.

The confirmed planning permission allowed the Group to obtain formal quotations for the extended Forge and external areas of our site. Costs had increased, specialist piles were now required to protect the sycamore tree, and formal ground surveys were needed. This transformed the initial £120k estimate into a £400k+ build. Recognising that this was beyond what we could raise alone, key members of the Committee submitted a number of applications to grant providers during 2025. Through a combination of hard work, expertise, and persistence, we were successful in securing grants for both the HQ fire safety works and the Forge development, ranging from £10k to £255k. Thanks to these major grants, alongside continued parent and community support, we now have the funding needed to move forward.

In early 2026, key steps have been completed, including knocking down the old Forge garage, finalising detailed designs, discharging planning conditions, and appointing a contractor. The contract has now been signed (today), with construction starting on Monday 13th April 2026. The build is expected to take around six months.

What started as a simple plan to improve the hall’s toilets has grown into a once-in-a-generation transformation, securing the site, expanding facilities, and creating a sustainable home for Scouting in Epsom for many years to come.

This journey has only been possible through the dedication of volunteers, trustees, leaders, parents, and supporters across the community. In particular, we recognise the leadership of Richard Ascough, Pete Danks and Nick Poyntz, supported by the Trustee Board, the Headquarters Committee, the Forge Development Team, and specialist contributors such as Caroline Marginson, whose expertise helped us overcome key planning challenges. This is alongside many others, too numerous to mention, who have contributed their time, support, fundraising efforts, expertise, and energy over the past decade.

Thank you to everyone who has helped get us to this point and we look forward to opening the new building in the autumn.