A South Yorkshire community has come together to help repair a scout hut vandalised by thieves
Damage to facilities at the 19th Askern Scout Hut near Doncaster in September last year left them unusable.
The vandals caused more than £30,000 of damage during a week of raids with copper piping stolen alongside heaters, tents, a barbecue and a flatpack kitchen which was due to be installed.
Shocked scouts also found a hole in the ceiling and damage to pizza ovens.
Speaking to ITV News in September, Lead volunteer Matt Nicholls said the hut was unrecognisable. He added: "The burglars have been coming back and forth over a seven-day period or more."
However, six months on looking at the fruits of his community's labour, he can now appreciate a remarkable transformation.
He said: "It felt like that was the end. A journey of 10 years of effort."
On the renovation, he added: "It happened because of the local community gathered together in a way that I would never have thought."
Efficiency North rounded up local tradespeople who worked for free to bring the scout hut back to life with a new ceiling, bathroom and shower room installed. They are a few weeks from completion.
One of those was Mark Denton, who helped to renovate the building. He said: "It's in a better state it's just a shame it's not done overnight because obviously the kids have missed out for the last six months."
Lisa Jackson used to be a scout and her children have followed in her footsteps. She said: "We've had so much support and we are so appreciative. To be donated this (new kitchen) is just amazing.
"The kids are going to be so overwhelmed, back to going on camping trips, everybody socialising together."
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Three fire crews from Dearne, Adwick and Edlington stations attended a three car road traffic collision at 7:15pm on Lundwell Hill, Barnburgh, Doncaster. Three casualties were extricated out of the vehicles. Crews left the scene at 8:40pm.
A skip was deliberately set on fire at 8:30pm on King Street, Goldthorpe, Barnsley. Firefighters from Dearne station attended the incident. They left at 9:10pm.
Central firefighters were called out to a deliberate wheelie bin fire at 9pm on Fleury Close, Sheffield. The crew came away at 9:15pm.
Firefighters from Askern station attended a deliberate van fire at 9:20pm on Rose Lane, Askern, Doncaster. The crew left the scene at 10pm.
A wheelie bin was deliberately set on fire at 11:05pm on Mutual Street, Hexthorpe, Doncaster. Firefighters from Doncaster station attended the incident. They left at 11:25pm.
Doncaster firefighters were called out to a deliberate fire involving a motorbike at 1:20am on College Road, Doncaster. The crew came away at 1:40am.
This content was last updated on January 31st, 2025
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Copper piping was taken from Askern Scouts' building in Doncaster along with heaters, tents, a barbecue and a flatpack kitchen which was due to be installed.
Substantial damage was caused to the interior after the burglars fell through the ceiling. They damaged two pizza ovens.
The scout group only discovered the damage on Monday, 9 September.
Lead volunteer Matt Nicholls said the hut was left "unrecognisable".
He said: "The burglars have been coming back and forth over a seven-day period or more.
"They have taken copper out of the building, wires, heaters, smashed barbecues, stolen tents and pizza ovens. It has been horrendous."
The damage has meant the scout group has been unable to meet.
Mr Nicholls added: "The community are in uproar - they want the burglars caught and the hut back up and running."
Ellie May Jackson has been attending Askern Scouts since she was six years-old and is now a volunteer leader.
She was among the group who discovered the damage.
She said: "Kids come every week to be safe and have fun. It's all been ruined and all the memories have been taken away.
"My mum came here, my grandad came here before her - it's a huge part of Askern."
South Yorkshire Police have released a CCTV image of three people they want to find.
PC Egan-Wyer, the officer in charge of the case, said: “This Scout hut was the fruition of ten years of local fundraising. We know how important it was to the Askern community and the amount of upset the incident has caused.
“We are working hard to identify those responsible and bring them to justice. If you know the people in the CCTV image, please contact us as we believe they may hold vital information which could help our investigation."
An online fundraiser has been launched to help the group.
The page reads: "This hut isn't just a building – it's one of the few safe spaces left for children in our area."
Dearne firefighters were called out to an accidental grass fire at 7:10pm on Houghton Road, Thurnscoe, Barnsley. The crew left the scene at 7:30pm.
A bin was deliberately set on fire at 8:55pm on Braithwell Road, Maltby, Rotherham. Firefighters from Maltby station attended the incident. They left at 9:10pm.
Firefighters from Askern station attended a deliberate grass fire at 9:45pm on Lakeside Rise, Askern, Doncaster. The crew came away at 10:10pm.
Adwick firefighters were called out to a deliberate rubbish fire at 9:55pm on Rushy Moor Lane, Askern, Doncaster. The crew left the scene at 10:30pm.
Two fire crews from Thorne and Doncaster stations attended an accidental rubbish fire at 12:15am on St Lawrence Road, Dunscroft, Doncaster. The crews came away at 1:10am.
A motorbike was deliberately set on fire at 1:55am on Middle Lane, South Herringthorpe, Rotherham. Firefighters from Rotherham station attended the incident. They left at 2:20am.
Central firefighters attended a deliberate fire involving a sofa at 5am on Claywood Road, Sheffield. The crew came away at 5:25am.
This content was last updated on June 21st, 2024
Doncaster Council’s licensing sub-committee would not issue the licence over public safety concerns
This has forced the organising team to move Askern Music Festival to June 2025 and find a new venue
Askern Music Festival was set to take place on July 13
A statement read: “The decision to postpone comes after extensive work from the team to explore alternative venues within the area
all of which failed to meet the stringent safety requirements imposed by the council
Despite our team’s intensive efforts to keep the festival in Askern
we have outgrown the town and can no longer feasibly hold the event here
“Our preparations for a return to Askern involved developing a comprehensive Event Safety Management plan
with an additional road traffic management Plan
This work covered various aspects including event organisation
“We exhausted every possible avenue to address all aspects of safety
The site’s limitations combined with the rigorous safety standards set by the council presented a challenge that was just too much for us to overcome.”
The organising team is now collaborating with Club Doncaster to secure The Eco Power Stadium for June 7
2025 with the main stage located on the pitch
and the surrounding areas of the stadium also being used for further performances and entertainment
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Developer Yorkshire Choice Homes has bought a 10-acre plot of land in Doncaster that has had planning permission since 2011
It will now work to submit a new planning application for residential housing at the former Askern Saw Mills site
said it is “progressing” with the disposal of two other 10-acre plots on the same brownfield site
Planning permission was previously granted for mixed use redevelopment
said: “This deal brings with it the opportunity to transform a currently disused
derelict site with a view to delivering much needed housing in the local area.”
Aura Residential – Land and Property worked with Yorkshire Choice Homes to advise on the acquisition of the land
Three generations of the same firefighting family attended an extra special ceremony to mark the graduation of the latest recruit to join the ranks at Askern fire station
has became the third generation of her family to serve at Askern
Doncaster after completing her initial training and ‘passing out’ in front of family and friends at South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue’s Sheffield training base
Amongst those watching were Ellie’s dad Steve Adams and grandad Michael Jackson who both served on-call at Askern fire station
On-call firefighters are paid for their training
for being on-call and for each incident they attend – but they must live or work within a five minute drive of their closest fire station
who retires from South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue after 35 years’ service later this month
said: “It was an incredibly proud day for the whole family
Firefighting isn’t something we’ve necessarily pushed on Ellie as a family
but as soon as she heard that we were recruiting at Askern fire station she wanted to give it a go
she’s had to work really hard to complete her initial training
but the way she’s applied herself to it all has made me really proud.”
Ellie’s grandad Michael Jackson joined Askern fire station in 1960 aged 17- combining his firefighting role with a full time job at the nearby colliery
before retiring from the fire service in 1981
He’d been inspired to sign-up by his older brother Fred- a D-Day veteran who joined Doncaster Fire Brigade in 1947
before going on to become Chief Fire Officer in Hong Kong
who began work at Askern in 1987 before becoming a full time firefighter with South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue in 1996
Now daughter Ellie has followed in both their footsteps
She joined South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue in September after completing a pandemic disrupted university degree
She’s been working towards completing her initial training
South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue is currently recruiting on-call firefighters at Askern
For more information on the role of an on-call firefighter or to apply, visit the service’s website here
This content was last updated on March 16th
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Regional law firm Banner Jones has advised Westmill Limited on the sale of a 10-acre
The family-owned developer Yorkshire Choice Homes
has acquired the brownfield site for an undisclosed figure
Planning permission was previously granted for mixed use redevelopment of the land which houses an old sawmill which closed in 2013
Yorkshire Choice Homes will now work to submit a new planning application for residential housing
Aura Residential – Land and Property
a Yorkshire based land and property business
worked with Yorkshire Choice Homes to advise on the acquisition of the land
Westmill Limited are now progressing with the sale of a further 2 x 10-acre plots of land on the same site
Ben Couch from Banner Jones’ commercial property team who advised on the deal
added: “This deal brings with it the opportunity to transform a currently disused
derelict site with a view to delivering much needed housing in the local area
“We wish Yorkshire Choice Homes well with their plans for the future which will also create further job opportunities as the remainder of the site is developed
and will undoubtedly be a boost to the local economy.”
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Business Doncaster is Doncaster Council’s Inward Investment team – here to promote a thriving location with a wealth of investment and development opportunities for any size or type of business
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The operator will invest £1.6m to cover 3,000 homes and businesses in the location
Surrounded by the South Yorkshire countryside, Askern will join some of Zzoomm’s other nearby towns
But the provider hasn’t said when the local rollout in Askern will start or complete
customers on the new network will be able to pay from £33 per month for an unlimited 150Mbps (symmetric speed) package on a 24-month term with an included Icotera router
which goes up to £99 if you want their top 2Gbps tier (or £66 for 900Mbps+)
Most packages do attract a £20 one-off activation fee
but they’re also offering the first 6 months of service for free
The catch is that Askern is also being targeted by similar full fibre builds from both Openreach and FullFibre Limited
which is quite a lot of infrastructure level competition (possibly too much) for such a small location to be able to sustain
“It’s fantastic to be continuing our expansion across South Yorkshire
ensuring homes and businesses in Askern join nearby towns in receiving future ready broadband
Our latest investment will give residents unmatched speeds that is not reliant on the slow
unreliable copper used by traditional broadband providers in the area
which aims to reach 1 million premises across 85 UK towns by the end of 2025
has mostly focused its rollout on smaller towns in parts Berkshire
The operator has already covered 50,000 premises (July 2022)
which is up from 10,000 in December 2021 and rising fast
A brand-new wellbeing suite is opening its doors at Askern Leisure Centre this month to help the local community stay active and fit
The new low intensity power-assisted exercise circuit provides a full-body workout that is safe for all adult age groups and abilities but with a specific aim to support active aging and those with long-term health conditions stay healthy
The power-assisted exercise fitness equipment has been especially designed for older and specialist rehab populations
It complements traditional leisure centre fitness kit
helping to provide for a wider section of the community by increasing social inclusion
coached by an expert team of qualified fitness instructors
will take place in the suite that includes a seated 12-station circuit taking approximately 45 minutes to complete
the sessions provide an opportunity for attendees to socialise and meet new people with similar health conditions.
is included in Doncaster Culture and Leisure Trust’s (DCLT) Choose Fitness membership scheme or individuals can attend on a ‘Pay As You Go’ basis for £6.50 per session
Places per session are limited so booking will be required either on-line or at the leisure centre
said: “Here at DCLT we are always looking at new ways we can support our local communities to stay as fit and keep active as possible so we’re really excited to open our new wellbeing suite at Askern which offers a fully inclusive exercise programme that can be used by anyone
irrespective of mobility issues or fitness levels
“The circuit is scientifically designed to work all the major muscle groups and increase strength and flexibility in a safe and progressive manner
Regular use of the exercise circuit can help facilitate mobility to allow people to perform everyday chores with greater ease
“It is particularly designed for the over 55s
poor mobility and those living with long term conditions and anyone who feels intimidated by a traditional ‘gym’ environment who wants to try a different and fun way to exercise
“The exercise kit uses power-assisted technology to provide a low-impact full-body workout circuit
that can be adapted by our instructors to provide as much assistance as needed
to make it individual to the needs of everyone
It caters to a wide range of health conditions
including mobility limitations and obesity and those suffering from health conditions such as
“We hope people will come and give the suite a try and find out how it can be the perfect solution for those looking to stay active as they age or to support long-term health conditions in a social
Local people can come along and try a class for free
this can be arranged by contacting the leisure centre team.”
The timetable will run seven-days a week, with classes available every day. Numbers are limited and pre-booking is recommended via www.dclt.co.uk
Askern Leisure Centre is managed by Doncaster Culture and Leisure Trust