National Grid volunteers help power the future for Suffolk Scouts
Volunteers from National Grid’s Bramford to Twinstead Reinforcement project teamed up with Suffolk Scouts to provide essential equipment and improve facilities at the Hallowtree Scout Activity Centre, Ipswich.
Since 2022, the project team has contributed more than 1,000 volunteer hours and supported over 30 community events as part of National Grid’s commitment to leaving a positive legacy in the communities hosting its projects.
National Grid volunteers helped deliver a major site upgrade at the Hallowtree Scout Activity Centre. Eight members of the Twinstead Green Grid Supply Point team excavated a 200-metre trench, clearing tree roots and rocks to prepare the ground for new electricity cables, fibre-optic ducting, and water pipes. This essential infrastructure work will help support future events at the site, including Suffolk Punch 2026, a week-long camping event for more than 1,000 scouts.
In addition to donning their boots and gloves the team also donated 10 laptops to Suffolk Scouts. These will be used to deliver outdoor first aid training at Bramford Scout Group, enabling volunteers to lead adventure activities such as mountaineering, rock climbing, and sailing. The qualifications gained will also benefit the wider community, supporting volunteers who serve with Suffolk Lowland Search and Rescue and the Suffolk Ambulance Service Community First Responders.
Gary Burden, Lead Volunteer for Suffolk Scouts, commented:
We are incredibly grateful to National Grid for their outstanding support. Their team rolled up their sleeves at Hallowtree Scout Campsite to help us upgrade the site, which will benefit schools, cadets, and youth groups across the region for many years to come.
Jenny Minnis, Community Liaison Officer at National Grid, said:
We are pleased to have partnered with Suffolk Scouts to provide essential equipment and deliver a major site upgrade. Suffolk Scouts play a crucial role in helping young people build confidence and resilience. The donation of laptops and the work carried out to install essential services will help to ensure that the Scouts are equipped to host over 1,000 young people next year. As we upgrade the transmission network in Suffolk and Essex through the Bramford to Twinstead Reinforcement project, we are committed to leaving a positive legacy in local communities.”
For more information on Bramford to Twinstead project, please visit - https://www.nationalgrid.com/the-great-grid-upgrade/bramford-to-twinstead