Prague will extend the current lease to the Scout Institute in the block of town hall buildings at the Old Town Hall by an additional space. An addendum to the contract, which was approved by Prague city councillors, also adjusts the annual rent to CZK 4.5 million. The Scout Institute, popular with the public, plans to expand its activities to include other civic activities.

"We want to preserve the Scout Institute in its premises and gradually expand it. There should be more than just purely commercial premises in the centre of Prague aimed at tourists. Junák as an organisation has a strong tradition and is a good partner for the city. By expanding the Scout Institute, the city will not only value its premises financially, but will also give them a deeper social overlap," summarises Adam Zábranský, Councillor for Property, Transparency and Legislation.

Until now, the Scout Institute has leased 1,555 m² of space from the city in the City Hall building. It paid CZK 1.7 million annually to Prague. An amendment to the contract sets the leased area at 2,625 m² with an annual rent of just under CZK 4.5 million. Simply put, it is an extension of the subject of the lease by two thirds and an increase of the price to more than 2.5 times. The Institute also operates a café on the site, the proceeds of which it invests in the operation of its project. Approximately 15 000 people visit the Institute every month.

The Scout Institute also runs the Svitlo Community Centre in the Town Hall building, which has been helping Ukrainian citizens since the beginning of the crisis linked to Russian aggression. The Institute will continue the activities of the community centre, which now serves as a stable base for about 3,000 newcomers from Ukraine, thanks to the increase in rented space.