GIRL Guides desperately trying to raise £300,000 for a new centre are hoping the winter weather does not leave them out in the cold.

A fundraising appeal was launched eight years ago to rebuild the Guide Centre, in Green Road, after it fell into disrepair.

Fundraisers reached the £100,000 mark in July, but donations have dried up since then and they are still only just one third of the way there.

And as the cold weather approaches, Guide leaders are hoping the building sees them through the winter season.

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Unit guider for the 1st Kidlington Guides group Christine Justice said: “The building is just falling to bits. It would be a shame to see it close and not be part of Kidlington’s community anymore.”

Girlguiding Oxford City 2 Division president Sue Moss added: “It’s such a danger with winter. You never quite know what the winter weather is going to bring and the heating system is not what it used to be but we try to make the best of it.”

The centre is used on a daily basis, catering for different Guiding units made up of more than 250 members aged between five and 20, led by more than 40 adult volunteers.

But the pre-fabricated 1970s building is in poor shape, and it was decided to raise funds to rebuild it.

Mrs Moss said “It is rather concerning because of the nature of the building and the age of our heating system. Without the building we can’t continue to meet. It’s a priority that we keep it going as long as we can.

“We have really got to the point when it’s not economic to replace what we have got.

“We don’t think it’s worth spending money on the building because it’s degenerating so rapidly.”

But recent grant applications have proved unsuccessful, including an application to the Big Lottery Fund within the last year.

Mrs Moss said the application to the Big Lottery Fund was rejected after Kidlington was not seen as a deprived area.

But with a big push still needed to reach their target, Mrs Moss said she thought grants were the only way to reach the £300,000 mark.

She added: “We are really at the stage where we need grants so we can reach our target and start building.

Mrs Moss said she was also concerned about the effect on the community if Kidlington were to lose the centre.

She added: “I think the children would be heartbroken. It would be a huge loss to the community and all the individuals and their families. We are all there as one family.”

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