Stroud Valley Scout Group has deep roots in the town and is proud to be part of the Stroud & Tetbury District.
Scouting has been running on our site for generations — helping young people gain skills for life and a sense of belonging in the community.
Our story begins with two separate Scout groups based around local churches: St Lawrence Scout Group (founded 1936) and St Peters Scout Group (founded 1952).
Both groups served generations of young people in Stroud, running weekly meetings, camps and community events.
The original St Lawrence Scout Group was set up in 1936 by local philanthropist and Scout Commissioner Netlam Bigg.
He played a significant role in the cultural and community life of Stroud and cared deeply that young people had opportunities beyond school and work.
In the years after the Second World War, he founded what became the Stroud Festival of Religious Drama and the Arts.
Wanting to lift the gloom of the post-war years, he encouraged young people to take part in drama, music and other creative projects.
A religious play staged in Stroud parish church in 1947 — sponsored by St Lawrence Scout Group — became the foundation of the annual Festival,
which later grew to include music, dance, visual art, exhibitions and commissioned works.
As well as championing the arts, Netlam Bigg gave practical support to Scouting by donating the land and buildings that we still use today.
Thanks to his generosity, young people have been able to meet, learn and explore on this site continuously since the 1930s.
By the late 1970s, Scouting in Stroud was still thriving, and it made sense to bring the two existing groups together.
In 1981, St Lawrence and St Peters Scout Groups merged to form Stroud Valley Scout Group — continuing to meet on the original St Lawrence site while serving a wider community.
Although the group name changed, our connection to the history and heritage of both St Lawrence and St Peters remains an important part of who we are today.
Over time, the programme at Stroud Valley has expanded so that young people of different ages can find their place in Scouting:
Older teenagers in Stroud have also benefited from Scouting on our site. What many people will remember as the Venture Scout “Venture Den”
is now used as part of our Explorer-age provision, supporting young people up to 18.
The main Scout buildings on our site date back to the early days of the St Lawrence Scout Group in the 1930s, and they have been in continuous Scouting use ever since.
These buildings have been modernised over the years to meet safety standards and support a growing programme, while still retaining their original character.
One of the most recognisable parts of our site is the Coach House — the original St Lawrence Scout building.
If you visit the refurbished building on Hollow Lane, on the south side of our site, you can still see the St Lawrence signage proudly displayed on the front.
The Coach House, formerly known for many years as the Venture Den, was fully refurbished and reopened in 2024.
The updated space now provides a flexible, modern environment for older sections and community activities while honouring its historic roots.
Throughout all these changes, one thing has stayed the same: Stroud Valley Scout Group exists at the heart of its community.
For decades, our young people and volunteers have taken part in local events, supported good causes and represented Scouting at parades, services and town activities.
Many local families have a connection to the group — as current members, former Scouts, parents, grandparents or leaders — and we are proud to be part of Stroud’s story.
Our history gives us a strong foundation, but our focus is firmly on the future.
We want to make sure that the land and buildings gifted to us are ready for the next generation of young people.
Our current ambitions include:
With the continued support of volunteers, families, donors and the wider community, we hope Scouting will keep thriving on this site for many years to come.
An explorer, adventurer and TV presenter, Dwayne's been seen in BAFTA nominated Channel 5 series Race to the Pole, on BBC Springwatch, Countryfile, National Geographic and Disney+.
Find out more