Aim

Eaton Vale Activity Centre (Norwich) needs a new Kitchen to enable more young people to have the opportunity of a residential experience

Eaton Vale Activity Centre (EVAC) is jointly owned by Norfolk Scouts and Girlguiding Norfolk County and provides activities for young people of all ages from the age of 5. The centre is used by all sections of these charities from Beavers to Explorers and Rainbows to Rangers. The centre is also used by adult groups and an increasing number of schools looking to provide students with outdoor and residential experiences.  

In March 2020, EVAC closed as the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the globe.  Two weeks after this, a devastating fire in the roof of the main residential building, Iceni House, caused extensive damage.  The rebuild of the house is on-going and expected to be completed in August 2021.  As part of the rebuild, a redesign of the residential area has taken place, and two sole occupancy floors have been created, this will enable the house  to be used more flexibly allowing greater access to smaller community groups who will be able to hire just a floor rather than the whole building.  To complete this  redevelopment a second kitchen is required on the upper floor.  

Young people have been unable to meet face to face throughout the pandemic and they have missed opportunities for facilitated residential and outdoor activities and have been unable to have ‘fun' with others;  by creating  two self  contained floors in Iceni House EVAC can increase its offering to more young people.  The plan for providing a second kitchen will enable us to almost double the number of young people we can cater for, increasing the occupancy of the building and ultimately enabling young people to have a great time whilst learning skills for the future.

As things return to some sort of normality it is important that young people are able take part in outdoor activities and residential experiences. These type of activities have a huge positive impact on young peoples health and well being and we want to be able to offer more young people the opportunity to take part in them.

This project and request for funding from the Aviva Community Fund has been submitted to raise much needed funds to install and equip the kitchen.

This project successfully funded on 21st September 2021