CULCHETH Scouts are celebrating their 65th birthday next month.

From camping to kayaking, 3rd Warrington East 1st Culcheth Scouts have been offering fun and life skills for youngsters since August 30, 1949.

Christine Housby, group Scout leader, said: “I think it’s fantastic. I’ve seen a lot of changes over the years but what hasn’t changed is what the young people pick up.

“Like confidence, respect and team building skills right through from being a Beaver to a patrol leader.

“It’s not just camps and knots.”

The first meeting of the Scout group was in Newchurch Hall almost 65 years ago.

Eight months later, a Cub pack started with six boys.

This carried on for about a year until October 1950 when the Scouts moved to Newchurch Parish Hall.

Then in the mid 1950s, they moved to a wooden hut left over from the war years in Jackson Avenue.

A Beaver group was established in 1984 and the youngsters moved to their current headquarters in Jackson Avenue in April 1990.

Culcheth Scouts’ 44 children, aged between six and 14, meet there every Tuesday.

Christine has helped run the group for 19 years and her son Thomas, aged 28, is also an assistant Scout leader.

The Moss Lane resident added: “What gives me the most satisfaction is seeing the children achieve something.

“It doesn’t have to be much. It could just be learning to relate to another child or seeing their face light up when they get a badge.”

Twelve Scouts helped design a special badge to commemorate the 65th anniversary and there is expected to be a family barbecue to celebrate on the day.

For information on 1st Culcheth Scouts or if you can help run the group, contact Christine on 077297 84121 or email gsl@1stculchethscouts.org.uk