A SCOUT troop based near the home of Lord Baden-Powell’s late daughter Betty Clay may have to fold after more than 110 years because of a shortage of volunteer leaders.

The 1st Wiveliscombe Scouts has been part of the community since its foundation in 1912, five years after Lord Baden-Powell founded the worldwide scouting movement.

Mrs Clay, who served as Taunton Division Commissioner, lived outside Wiveliscombe in the hamlet of Ford from 1964 almost until her 2004 death.

The Wiveliscombe pack has struggled to keep its five sections going in the past few years and now faces ‘crunch time’.

It has taken a decision to stop its cub pack for children aged eight to ten-and-a-half years at the end of term because of a lack of adult help.

And it is worried how it can keep running its beavers section for youngsters aged six to eight years and its scouts for older youths between ten-and-a-half and 14 years.

The sections, including squirrels for four to six-year-olds, and Explorers for those aged 14 to 18 years, meet in a headquarters in Old Brewery Road in the evenings from Tuesday to Friday.

However, a spokesperson said the cubs wold now close ‘until at least February half-term, as we simply do not have enough volunteers to support it’.

The spokesperson said: “Unfortunately, although we all know the huge benefits that scouting brings to a community and the individuals, we simply cannot continue being overstretched.”

They said the troop’s five sections had been running with a ‘very limited number of volunteers’ giving local youngsters an opportunity to build skills, confidence, and friendships.

The spokesperson said: “For the last few years we have struggled to keep running, we are now at crunch time.

“There is research that shows that if you were involved in scouting as a young person you are less likely to suffer with your mental health in adult life.

“With a mental health epidemic in young people going on, it is more important than ever.

“We are looking for one to two people who can commit to working with our experienced volunteers to run cubs.

“We have support available from the wider area and there really is not a better time to get on board.

“Volunteering with scouts is hugely rewarding and can lead to all sorts of adventures.

“If you have any time to commit, please consider getting in touch to see where you could help, either behind the scenes helping to manage our premises, or, the best job of all, supporting our people learning those all-important life skills that make active citizens of the future.”

The spokesperson said scouting volunteers would be helping to build leadership and teamwork skills and making a real impact on young lives in a fun and rewarding role.

Volunteers did not need any experience, just a passion for ‘helping kids grow’ and the hours committed could be flexible, and even occasional, to suit a person’s availability.

Anybody interested in helping should email to [email protected].