Chief Scout Dwayne Fields officially opened the brand-new Nottinghamshire Scouts Activity Centre at Hoveringham on Saturday 6 June, marking a major moment for young people across the county.
Dwayne Fields unveiled the new facility alongside the Lord-Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire, Professor Veronica Pickering. The purpose-built centre is designed to help young people build confidence, resilience and practical skills through outdoor challenges.
The centre, set beside a 150-acre lake, offers a wide range of water and land activities, including sailing, canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding, climbing and archery.
The new, fully accessible changing spaces at the centre support year-round programmes that welcome every young person who wants to try a new activity.
Representing a near-£500,000 investment, funded by Nottinghamshire Scouts and community supporters, the new centre increases capacity to more than 60,000 activity hours a year, significantly expanding opportunities for adventure and skills development.
The opening day brought together 120 Cub Scouts aged 8–10 and 50 Scouts aged 10–14 for a programme of water and land activities.
Chief Scout Dwayne Fields said, “Opening this incredible centre filled me with pride. These facilities will give thousands of young people the chance to grow, challenge themselves and discover what they can achieve.
“Centres like this change lives, but none of it happens without volunteers. If you’ve ever considered helping, now is the perfect time.”
An 8-year-old Cub Scout said, “It was the best day ever! I went sailing for the first time and didn’t know I could do it. I felt brave and proud. I want to come back every weekend!”
Opportunities like this are made possible by volunteers. Nottinghamshire Scouts is calling for more adult volunteers to support activities and help young people gain skills for life.
