Animal loving scouts help raise funds for Chester Zoo

A love of animals has helped a Staffordshire scout group mark its emerald anniversary with a fundraising challenge.

Beaver John Foxall, aged 8, with fellow members of the group who took part in the fundraising challenge by 6th Stafford (Trinity) which is celebrating 90 years

The members of 6th Stafford (Trinity) Scout Group have worked to raise more than £1,000 for Chester Zoo as a way to celebrate its 90th year as a scout troop.

Scouts from the group had pictures taken of themselves dressed as their favourite animals from the zoo as part of the challenge, which group scout leader Justin Williams was part of a campaign to keep the group together during lockdown.

He said: "We've tried to do as much as we can to keep things going as we were afraid of the group fizzling out due to nothing going on, so this campaign rose from that.

The group has been active in Stafford since the 1930s

"We'd had a big group visit there last year and several of the leaders, including myself, are very fond of the zoo, so it's a place close to our hearts.

"When we read on social media about the trouble they were having being able to look after the animals, we felt it was a worthy cause to try and help."

The campaign was originally set up to raise £900, to mark 90 years, but has so far raised £1,007 through the Just Giving page.

Justin has been involved with 6th Stafford (Trinity) since he became a beaver at the age of six in 1989, becoming group scout leader three years ago.

The 37-year-old from Stafford said the campaign was a special way to celebrate the 90th year of the group, which formed in 1931 and is the second oldest scout group in Stafford still running.

He also looked at the changes in scouting over the years and what it meant to be able to help people through campaigns like Chester Zoo.

Many members of 6th Stafford (Trinity) have enjoyed camps and sing-a-longs by the campfire

He said: "My entire scouting career from beavers to scouts was with 6th Stafford and I've seen a lot of changes in that time, such as it becoming co-educational in the 1990s.

"I've seen the uniforms change, such as different neckerchiefs for beavers and cubs, but it's always been a familiar place and very much part of my life.

"By doing this campaign, it's nice to show that we care for more than just our own little world and we care for the whole community as a whole."

To find out more about the campaign, go to justgiving.com/fundraising/6th-stafford-trinity-scout-group