A group of youngsters are already plotting their first adventure after hopping aboard their brand new minibus for the first time.
The 1st Methlick Scout Group won the 17-seater Ford Transit minibus after taking part in the Press and Journal’s competition, collecting thousands of tokens to land them the prize.
The popular competition, now in its third year, was once again sponsored by Nexen.
And it was smiles all round as they keys to the minibus were handed over to the group this week.
Scout leader Keith Hewitt said the 80 youngsters within the group will now hit the road and try out an array of new outdoor activities further afield.
He thanked the wider Methlick community for getting behind their effort to collect the tokens, with nearly 4,000 eventually gathered and sent in to the P&J – boosting their number of entry forms in the prize draw box.
Other groups in the area will be able to use the minibus, with requests from Guides and other Scout groups already coming in.
Mr Hewitt said: “It feels amazing to win. I think we’ve gotten over the shock now – it’s a brilliant achievement for the group and the surrounding community.
“We had the kids and committees cutting up tokens, we had boxes in various locations and folk were popping them in. You began to see tokens in your sleep.”
He added: “We’ve so many kids that need transport to various activities and camps that we do.
“Now we are a bit less reliant and more self-sufficient and we can get people to where we want them when we want them.”
Nearly 140 community groups across the north and north-east took part in the competition, before a special prize draw was held at Nexen’s offices in Kingswells last month.
Ray Riddoch, managing director of Nexen UK, said: “I think it’s hugely important to give them (the Scouts) the mobility and the means of transport, especially at the weekends when they do their trips away.
“It gives the kids that are involved an outlet and allows them to understand the importance of learning and working together as a team.”
He added: “It is very rewarding to see that our contribution along with the Press and Journal has resulted in a bunch of people out here that are just really looking forward to getting in the bus and start using it.
“I think it’s first class that we’ve sponsored it again for the third year.”
Groups could enter as many times as they liked, meaning the victorious Methlick Scout Group had nearly 80 entries in the draw.
Alannah Edwards, 17, said there had been a real sense of camaraderie as they all worked together to boost their chances of winning.
She said: “We all got involved and we felt that this was our project and we all came together to collect the tokens.”
Evie Mann, 12, was thrilled to win, while eight-year-old Cameron Taylor is already hoping they can head to Loch Ness.
Evie said: “It’s a great advantage to get places and not to rely on cars to come to the Scout hall.
“And the bus has great cupholders.”
