THE Covid pandemic has not made things easy for Ledbury Scouts and Guides, but a generous donation from a local company is a real boost for future activities, as the UK moves out of lockdown.

The 1st Ledbury Scouts and Girlguiding Ledbury say they are "delighted" to have received gifts of £50,000 each, from The Helping Hand Company – a successful local business, based on the Bromyard Road Industrial Estate in Ledbury.

Group Scout Leader, Edd Hogan, said: “This is a wonderful and generous donation that will improve the programme we are able to offer as well opening an exciting chapter through closer collaboration with Girlguiding UK.”

Ledbury’s Girlguiding District Commissioner, Lesley Bennett, said “We are immensely grateful to The Helping Hand Company for this donation and are looking forward to working with the Scouts in our community on this amazing venture.”

Referring to both donations, Managing Director of The Helping Hand Company, Gavin James said “I hope that these donations go on to support a great many young people in the years to come, and that by donating as we have, we encourage other businesses to similarly invest in our local community and in the youth in particular. Scouts and Girlguiding have always been part of our town and I wish them every success for the future.”

Girlguiding Ledbury District has been operating virtually throughout lockdown. The Guides have held several successful District Days and even held a virtual County sleepover, "keeping the girls engaged and supporting them in this difficult time".

Scouting in the Ledbury has been paused for a year now because of COVID-19 but Mr Hogan is hopeful that face-to-face Scouting will be allowed again after Easter subject to the restrictions being lifted and Scouts UK giving it the go-ahead.

The 1st Ledbury Scouts was founded in 1919 and is part of the Malverns District of the UK Scout Association.