Building work starts!

We've started building today.  If you don't believe me, look at this:

Yesterday, the final details on the plans were agreed, so this morning a digger and a dumper arrived and started digging out the earth ready for the foundations, as you can see.  So far, they've dug out perhaps 1/3 of the floor area.  Once it is all dug out, the ground underneath will be compacted then filled with concrete, ready to lay the base on which the building frame will sit.

Meanwhile, the frame is being built off site, ready for erection in about 6 weeks time.  The time will fly, I'm sure, and we'll soon have the frame, then the roof and cladding and we'll start fitting out the ground floor.  I can't wait for opening day of Phase 1.

Well done for all whose patience and hard work is now paying off.  We're going to have a wonderful facility here and it is just fantastic to see work start.

A few more photos to prove to us all that it is really happening:

 

Current Status and Next Steps

You will have noticed that pages keep being turned on the calendar and you haven't yet seen an announcement that building has started!  So what is going on?

We have had some further to-ing and fro-ing with Building Control to sort out various details.  We have also had a series of discussions between overall design engineer and the timber frame builders to ensure we have every detail right before they actually start making the timber frame.  The last thing we want is a frame that doesn't quite fit on the footings, or that doesn't quite meet the needs or fit together right.  So we're very frustrated by further delays, but resisting the urge to start work on something that could yet prove to be wrong.

The good news is that these discussions are looking very close to completion.  The issues we've recently been sorting out with Building Control are now resolved (and we have written confirmation of these).  That's not to say there will be no more, but we believe all current issues are resolved and we don't expect any further significant issues to be raised.  We expect the timber frame design details to be finalised this week so they can start construction off-site ready for erection once built.  And the building contractor doing the foundations will therefore start digging about 3 weeks before the timber frame is ready for erection, to minimise the time we have empty trenches in the ground or foundations sitting idle (and vulnerable to anyone who wants to cause damage).

Security and insurance arrangements are in place ready for the build phase.

Meanwhile, the Scout Group have just participated in an excellent weekend's camping with New Forest North Distrct, including St George's Day celebrations.  Thanks to everyone who helped organise and lead this camp; I'm sure lots (300+) of children across the district had a great time.

And coming up on 15 May, we're having a Group Fun Day at the Lakes.  Boating will be the central focus, to let the wider group's families see what the Sea Scouts (older sections) are all about, but there will be other activities, food on offer and a chance for everyone to find out more about what is going on around the Sea Scouts Group, the building project, fundraising activities and how they can get more involved.

Fundraising update

Two great successes to report today.

Over the last few weeks, most of the members of the Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers took home a tube  of Smarties.  Having eaten the sweets to build up some energy, they took on the challenge of finding ways to raise money in the form of 20p's to refill the tubes.  Once full, the tubes came back in and those who raised the most won a prize.  I know of 2 Scouts who raised over £30 each, and with some tubes still to come back in, we have a running total of over £780!

And last Friday evening, the fundraising team and their helpers organised a Barn Dance.  There were about 100 people there, each having paid for the privilege.  A ploughman's supper was thrown in as part of the price, and a prize draw, cake stall and drinks stall all added to the pot of money raised.  We all had a fantastic evening, led by a very accomplished caller, her husband on the music, and her trainee son calling some of the dances.  Lots of fun, great to see so many people enjoying the evening, and some excellent money coming into the project fund into the bargain.  We raised over £490 on this event alone.

Of course, both of these sums go into the overall project fund and become eligible for the Big 20/20 match funding, so these 2 activities have raised an amazing £2540 towards the Aquativity Centre.

Well done and a huge thank you to all involved.

More details on the building phase

Just a very quick update today.

We've had some good discussions over the last few days on getting some details in place for the building phase of the project - heating, water, electrics etc.

We've also got approval from the local planning authority for the proposed cladding and roofing materials.

And we're starting to get things in place for actually starting to work - fencing and security arrangements, access for the contractors, sourcing equipment and materials, and pulling together a sign to go up on site to let passers by know what we're up to.  Here's a first draft.

The BIG 20/20

We had a Sea Scouts Group Executive meeting yesterday, where we discussed all the usual business, including an update on fundraising plans through the summer.

The campaign we are running is called the BIG 20/20.  If we can raise £20,000 by the end of September, our benefactors have pledged to double it - so raise £20k and get another £20k, hence the name.

So far we've raised approximately £3,000.  After a few big events and activities at the end of the year, we've slowed down, but we have a packed programme of activities through the summer to achieve our target.

The biggest 2 potential money earners in the programme are:

• The annual Donkey Derby on 2 July 2011 at Eling Recreation Ground, Totton.  Donkey racing, bouncy castles, stalls, rides and general good fun.  This year it is the climax of the Totton Carnival week, which kicks off the previous weekend with a Carnival procession.  We also have some early ideas of what else we can do at the Carnival, and we'll firm up those plans in the coming months.  Meanwhile, Donkey Derby preparation is going well - the small but dedicated team are getting it all in place and we're looking forward to a bumper year in 2011.
• The Aquativity Grand Draw, with a big cash first prize and plenty of other excellent prizes.  Tickets are being prepared now for selling at every opportunity through the summer, with the draw at the end of September to maximise the time we have for raising money.

Alongside these, we have a Barn Dance on 1 April, bag packing, litter picking, a family fun day at Ferny Crofts (a chance to drum up interest in getting involved in the fundraising effort) and a Group Boating Day in September where I am sure we'll take the chance to run some side stalls, food etc.  The members of the Group are also busy filling smartie tubes with 20p's, selling things on eBay, buying things through easyfundraising, and I'm sure more ideas will come along through the year.

We all owe a big vote of thanks to the fundraising team (including the Donkey Derby team and the Beaver, Cub, Scout and Explorer leaders of course) for getting all this arranged.  We have an exciting summer ahead - plenty of hard work, but plenty of reward.  More volunteers are always welcome!

The momentum builds

First, the headline news - we have formally received Building Control approval - the design is acceptable to the local authority so we can proceed to construction.  Hooray!

We're finally in the process of making the last few arrangements to start building - getting approval of the facing materials to discharge our planning condition, completing the necessary forms for risk management, Health & Safety Executive notification etc.

We've had some really helpful discussions with our building contractor to sort out who is doing what towards actually starting.  The momentum is building...getting quite exciting now.

Next step - Sea Scouts Group Executive meeting next week and then further detailed discussions about various aspects of the contruction phase.  Meanwhile, the fundraising team are driving through a number of great ideas to help raise the remainder of the money we need.

If you want to contribute to the project in any way (money, materials, any other support), now would be a great time to get in touch!

First post of the new year

Sorry for the delay since the last posting; Christmas, New Year and then getting back into the swing have interrupted normal service.  But we are very much back into the swing now...

We're within grasping distance of having building regulations approval!  We've been told we've done everything that is required, just the paperwork to get sorted, and that is in hand.

We've reviewed the planning conditions associated with our planning permission:

• We need to start work within 3 years of getting planning permission - this will definitely happen, we're on about 18 months at the moment
• We need approval that we are not disturbing any archaeology - we have a letter confirming that this is the case
• We need the Environment Agency to approve our drainage plans - we have a letter confirming that this is the case
• We need to comply with the Biodiversity Report prepared during the planning phase - we have a copy of that report and will work with our contractors to ensure we comply
• The building, once in place, must only be used in compliance with the Section 106 Agreement governing our use of the Lakes site - we are already obliged to comply with that, and will continue to do so
• We need approval of the facing and roofing materials before we start work - samples are being acquired and prepared as I write

So all of that is in a good state, and only the last condition (materials approval) needs immediate attention, which it is getting.

Detailed discussions are now well underway about actually starting building work - who is involved, when (weather and daylight permitting), what materials we need to choose, gain approval for, procure (and when we need them) etc.

Oh, and more fundraising going on, of course!

Yes, 2011 has really started for us.