A GIRL guide group has another reason to celebrate after being awarded a council grant to install equipment for the disabled.

Girlguidng Beaconsfield moved into its new headquarters in October after a massive community fundraising effort which raised over £250,000.

Organisations across the town helped generate enough cash to replace the 80-year-old dilapidated wooden hut which was no longer fit for purpose.

And with South Bucks District Councillors pledging a further £2000 for a new disabled ramp

Cllr Anita Cranmer, policy holder for Community, said: “I am delighted to be able to award a £2,000 Village Hall Grant to support the new Girl Guide Headquarters in Beaconsfield.

“The money will be used to fund a disabled access ramp which will ensure all groups can use the hall including anyone who finds using stairs difficult and also parents using prams and buggies.”

Guides District Commissioner Morag Mason said the group has never been in better shape, with the latest funding the icing on the cake in a successful and long-running project.

She said: “It’s excellent news. We applied for the money some time ago and have been waiting to see if it went through.

“It’s been a long project overall, we’ve been raising money for about 10 years as the old hut was pretty old and just limping along.

“We raised all the money and it’s been a real local effort, it’s amazing what we’ve done really.”

Among the groups that rallied together to raise money were the Beaconsfield Lions, the Freemasons and Beaconsfield Old Town Residents Assocation (BOTRA).

A donation of £52,000 from The Veolia Environmental Trust allowed the building work to get underway a year ago, with architects Heighway Associates giving its design and project management services free of charge.

And the new HQ, which features a fitted kitchen, large hall and meeting rooms, opened its doors in October at a special ceremony.

With 10 guide groups meeting at the building and the launch of a new ‘Ranger Guide’ group for older girls, the organisation is making the most of its new home.

And Guides leaders have been inundated with requests from societies and clubs from pensioners to pilates asking to make use of the new facilities.

The Guide HQ was named ‘community building of the year’ at this month’s Beaconsfield Society AGM.

Mike Elliott, the society’s chairman, said: “This is a great example of the community pulling together to create a lasting asset for the town.

"Both for the guides and also as a venue for events for other groups, and fully deserving of the Beaconsfield Society Community Building of the Year"