SCOUTS in Neilston are quids in after they were handed a donation to help meet the costs of their garden project.

Neilston Scout and Community Hall burned down in 2004 after yobs broke into the Main Road building and started a fire.

Although the hall reopened in 2012, the garden remained untouched until last year, when a fundraising committee took charge of the long-awaited renovation.

Now, thanks to a £500 donation from leading housebuilders Taylor Wimpey, the second phase of the Centenary Garden Project can get underway.

The latest windfall will be added to a £5,000 grant awarded to the Neilston Scouts earlier this year by East Renfrewshire Council under its participatory budgeting process.

Anwar Rafiq, chair of the 1st Neilston Scout Group’s fundraising committee, said: “We have now appointed Chris Mitchell, of landscape contractors SJ Mitchell Ltd, to complete phase two of our garden project, which will take around six weeks.

“When our hall burned down, we ran out of funds to do anything to the garden and, since them, the committee has been working hard, along with our groups, to do something about that.

“Now the end is in sight.”

Kirsty McGill, Head of Sales for Taylor Wimpey West Scotland, added: “We are proud to be able to support the Neilston Scouts and Cubs with a fundraising boost.

“We do more than just build high-quality homes. Being able to work with local businesses and organisations that surround our developments means a great deal to us, and it’s great to know that we are helping to make a difference to the lives of people in local communities."

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