PLANS are already afoot to relaunch scout meetings in Ledbury, following the Covid lockdown.

And a Government grant will help the group to do just that.

Meanwhile, in a year without an official Remembrance Sunday parade, the local group still remembered the fallen at the War Memorial.

Group Scout Leader, Edd Hogan said: "Scouting in Ledbury has been paused since the first lockdown and plans are afoot to get young people in Ledbury meeting again once the November lockdown finishes.

"In the meantime, several leaders were able to lay a wreath on Remembrance Sunday to recognise the sacrifices made by previous generations. The leaders could come together in a socially distanced way in line with the government exemption around Remembrance Sunday."

He added: "Scouting has not stopped entirely though and the 1st Ledbury Scout Group is actively encouraging young people to get out onto the hills and to undertake sponsored hikes with their families as part of the national #RaceRoundTheWorld fundraising campaign which aims to raise money to support Scout Groups in other parts of the UK who have seen their finances wiped out by the pandemic.

Mr Hogan added: “In Ledbury we received a government grant of £10k which was linked to the fact that we have our own premises. Many groups, mainly in urban settings, don’t have their own premises and therefore didn’t qualify for the grant funding and yet they are the groups who help the most disadvantaged young people in society. This is our way of coming together right across the country to support those involved in Scouting who are so much less fortunate than us. We have some fantastic walking countryside in our back yard, which also helps with the challenge we’ve been set.”

Young people who record their hikes will see their efforts count towards their Hikes Away staged badge. Anyone wishing to support this effort can do so online at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/1stledbury.

Mr Hogan added: “Ledbury normally brings in generous donations each year at Hellens Garden Festival, and through a Christmas Bag Pack at Tesco and both of these aren’t happening in 2020; but the Government grant does make up for that shortfall, plus of course we haven’t had the same outgoings. "