Girl Guiding Renfrewshire receive £10,000 in grant funding from The Merchants House towards a new outdoor play area at South Newton Training Centre.

For over 50 years Girl Guiding Renfrewshire has owned the site at South Newton which is visited annually by over 2,500 Rainbows, Brownies and Girl Guides from Gourock, Greenock, Port Glasgow, Inverkip, Kilmacolm, Kilbarchan, Linwood, Johnstone, Paisley, Renfrew and Cardonald. Other youth groups also spend time there. It is estimated that around 3,500 children will benefit from the new play area.

Maureen Buchanan, County Secretary of Girl Guiding Renfrewshire said “We have been fundraising for years to upgrade the play area as the costs were high. We were very lucky to receive a legacy from the estate of a late Guider, some of which will be used for the play area, and further funds were raised through donations from our members and other organisations. With the £10,000 grant from The Merchants House, we have successfully hit the target, and are very grateful for the funding.”

“Work begins in early March and includes removing an existing trim trail and levelling off the ground which is very uneven before the new play frame can be constructed. The site is hoped to be fully operational by the end of March 2023.  A plaque showing all of the contributors will be put on the play frame to show our appreciation for all the donations we have received.”

Pictured below are Guides, Brownies and Rainbows attending a Remembrance Service, exploring outdoors, and having a sleepover at the centre in South Newton.

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