About Us
The Group
The Group has over 100 young people attending Beavers, Cubs and Scouts and some 15 leaders providing support to the various sections. All sections are open to girls and boys.
The 19th Wimbledon Scout Group can trace its origins back over 100 years and is now one of the largest and most successful Groups in the Wimbledon & Wandle District.
We have had a presence on our HQ site at Cottenham Park Road since the 1960s and a cub pack at the Sacred Heart School for at least as long. Most recently in our history the 19th was formed from a merger of the 15th and 4th Wimbledon Scout Groups in 2002. We have a very strong partnership arrangement with the Raynes Park Explorer Scout Unit ensuring that, together, we can provide Scouting for boys and girls from 6 through to 18.
We enjoy the support of St Matthew's and Sacred Heart churches. The Phoenix emblem has been associated with the Group since the hut was rebuilt following a fire in the late 1980s.
Our Group Headquarters
The Group HQ of the 19th Wimbledon Scout Group & the Raynes Park Explorer Scout Unit is at 106 Cottenham Park Road, SW20 0SZ (at the junction with Oakwood Road). We are very lucky to have our own site with meeting huts, storage huts and outside areas for games and campfires but it does need cleaning, maintenance and general repairs. Over the years, with the help of volunteer parents & leaders we have undertaken many jobs to keep HQ running, and avoiding resorting to expensive professional contractors. We hold regular Tender Loving Care (TLC) days for everyone to come along and help do a few jobs - we hope you can help, there are jobs for all abilities and skills!
Our main building, the Phoenix Hut, was actually donated from the Bentall Centre building site over 20 years ago and is now in need of replacement. Some parents and leaders are working on a plan to design a new building, raise enough money and/or grants and then contract builders to start work. The Site Development Plan is is a BIG project and we need more help to achieve it.
Leadership Team
We are fortunate to have a mix of both experienced and new leaders, young and old, in our team led by our Group Scout Leader, Paul Wilkins (gsl@19thwimbledonscouts.co.uk). All our leaders are both CRB and Scout Association checked and undertake regular training (including regular first aid qualifications).
Executive Committee
This is a committee of parents, leaders and supporters of the Group who meet on a regular basis to govern the Scout Group and ensure it is run in accordance with Scout Association Policy and Rules. The Committee is chaired by Richard Bowyer (chairman@19thwimbledonscouts.co.uk), the Treasurer is Adrian Chapman (treasurer@19thwimbledonscouts.co.uk) and the Secretary is Ian Haynes (secretary@19thwimbledonscouts.co.uk).
Fundraising
In addition to subscriptions, we also try to raise money to fund activities in other ways, involving the young members themselves and parents. In recent years we have enjoyed running a very successful cake stall at the annual Wimbledon Village Fair. We have also held sponsored events, family barbecues and quiz nights. Or you could consider joining the 100 Club for a chance of winning a cash prize every month.
