Member Article

Huddersfield firm donates installation services to Scout hut renovation project

Commercial glazing specialist Dortech Maintenance has taken part in a CSR project, installing new doors at 1st Rugeley Scout Hut for free, to improve its safety and security.

Forming part of the Staffordshire-based 1st Rugeley Scout Group – the oldest in the area and operating for over 50 years – the hut provides social opportunities to children and young adults in the local area. The club’s entrance and fire escape doors were showing key signs of wear-and-tear, and needed replacing, to ensure safety for its members.

Pauline Holmes – Group scout leader for the 1st Rugeley Scouts – and her husband John have been involved with the Group for over 40 years and are committed to the upkeep and running of the hut.

Dortech Group’s managing director James Sutherland explained: “We were approached by Phill Williams at BAM Construction – one of our customers – to take part in the project, and after we’d seen the pictures of the old doors we had to help. They were falling to pieces!”

With 43 scouts, cubs, beavers, and leaders enrolled at the troop and multiple activities carried out there each week, the building gets lots of use and needed to be compliant with current fire escape regulations.

Commenting on the project, Pauline said: “We’re delighted with the support and generosity we’ve received. We’re also aiming to increase the club’s members over the coming year, so the fact we now have modernised facilities will greatly help our growth plans.”

Phill added: “The hut was very dated and hadn’t had any renovations for years. There were complaints about the old timber doors posing a safety hazard – blowing open in the wind and at risk of falling off – so they were one of the primary areas requiring improvement.

“The old installations opened inwards – which was also a fire risk – whereas they now open outwards and are not only better for security, but insulation and soundproofing too.”

James concluded: “It was for a great community cause, so we reached out to our friends at Senior Architectural Systems – who supplied the materials free of charge – and our team then set to work installing them and making the site safe.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Katie Mallinson .