GUIDES have secured a new deal that will boost their chances of raising money to revamp their hall.

Girlguiding Kidlington District, along with 33rd Oxford Kidlington Scout group, have launched a fundraising partnership with the Midcounties Co-operative, which will run for a year.

It is hoped the partnership, which has so far helped the guides by providing helpers for the summer fete and placing collection buckets in food stores, will allow for more lucrative fundraising projects.

In March, the Oxford Mail revealed the Guides had scrapped their £300,000 plans to rebuild their HQ in Green Road and instead decided on a refurbishment, costing £160,000.

So far, a total of £110,000 has been raised, and team organiser Hannah Masterson believes the partnership will provide a final push to reach the target of renovating the building by next summer.

Mrs Masterson, who has been a volunteer with the Guides for 14 years, said: “I believe this will boost our chances of reaching £160,000. It gives us a wider audience – having the access to their help should mean that we can do more.

“We are at £110,000 and if we can get £160,000 by next spring then we can renovate next summer and I’m optimistic that will happen.

“They [the Co-op staff] helped us with our fete where they provided the food and helped us clear up. It was brilliant.”

Should the Guides reach the target, their centre will see a new disabled toilet, a mezzanine sleeping area and kitchen refurbishment.

Leaders believe the revamp would give the girls more independence by being able to sleep at the base and host camp fires outside.

The Co-op will hold a series of meetings with Scouts and Guides to arrange fundraising event.

District manager Mark Corbett added: “Our local members chose the Scouts and Guides as the community groups for us to support this year and we look forward to helping so many young people in Kidlington and the surrounding area.”