6th Winchester (Abbotts Barton & Hyde) Scout Group was set up in 2014 by a group of parents keen for their children to get involved with Scouting. The Group now offers over 160 children and young people a varied and exciting programme of learning and activities which they may not otherwise have access to.
The quest for the group to have their own building was prompted by the extreme pressure on hall facilities in Winchester which couldn’t accommodate the group as it expanded. Currently the group rents two church halls which is not a viable long term solution due to limited availability and lack of outside space and storage. Run entirely by volunteers the group embarked on plans to provide a multipurpose community building within walking and cycling distance of Winchester.
In 2025 Winchester City Council granted 6th Winchester Scout Group a 99-year lease of a vacant plot on Hillier Way in Abbotts Barton on which to build a Scout and community hall.
Designed by award-winning architects, McLean Quinlan in close consultation with 6th Winchester Scout Group the Barn’s design is sympathetic to its surroundings and comprises two independent halls, a well-equipped kitchen, storage, washrooms and a meeting space as well as a large outside area.
The thoughtful layout will allow multiple groups to use the facilities at any one time including offering Winchester’s young people to become Beavers, Cubs and Scouts and start an Explorer Scout group to help meet the high demand for Scouting beyond the age of 14.
The Barn will also provide an important community focus in an area of Winchester that has been troubled by the loss of public space allowing groups and individuals to use the facility.
Due to the increase in building costs the project will be split into two phases. Phase 1 will commence next Spring with construction of the larger activity hall which contains all of the amenities required to create a fully-functional Scout hall and community space. Phase 2 – the construction of the smaller meeting hall which will serve to enhance the existing facilities will follow.
To donate or find out more please visit: http://6thwinchesterscouts.org.uk