{"alias":"newsItem","byline":"","standfirst":"Young people face constant change, and it can be overwhelming. Here\u2019s some advice on tackling a selection of issues that might come up in each section.","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/5064/cub-high-ropes-1-jpg.jpg","width":1000,"height":667,"altText":"Cub on the high ropes","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBeavers:\u00A0experiencing change at home, such as divorce or moving house\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAt this age, you can focus on the emotional impact of change and how to cope. Give young people the chance to talk about their wishes, worries and fears, and let them work through them. For some Scouts experiencing change, attending Beavers will give them a chance to take their minds off what\u2019s happening, so they might not want to talk. For others, being able to speak to their friends about how they\u2019re feeling is really valuable. All you need to do is create a safe space.\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThis is also a great time to start introducing messages about change often being positive. Emphasise this when new members and volunteers start, and if you have to move locations or change the time of your group.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECubs:\u00A0moving into secondary school\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAccording to\u00A0\u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http://www.joomag.com/magazine/state-of-education-survey-report-2016/0604114001462451154?short\u0022\u003Eone in 10 school leaders\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/u\u003E, over 50% of young people don\u2019t achieve the right levels of \u2018school readiness\u2019 when they start secondary school. According to leaders, the most common ways young people are under-prepared include lack of resilience (53%), lack of social skills (46%) and low self-esteem/confidence (47%).\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBy becoming Scouts, young people will already get a boost in these areas. However, almost everyone gets nervous about moving into secondary school. Hold a session where older Cubs can discuss the move, and bust some myths together! If they\u2019ve been told that having to attend so many different lessons is overwhelming, you can reassure them by drawing a connection between their new timetables and the range of badges they work towards\u00A0\u003Cstrong\u003E\u2013\u00A0\u003C/strong\u003Efor example, young people who were excited about their Backwoods Cooking Badge can look forward to food technology, and those who got stuck into their Science Badge will be able to explore physics, chemistry and biology in more depth.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt\u2019s also good to remind older members how expectations of them at secondary school will be different to primary school. They\u2019ll have more responsibility over their time management, learning, clothing and equipment. Having them prepare for trips and activities will teach them these skills anyway but you can remind them that at their new school, they\u2019ll need to pack their own bags and learn to prepare properly every single evening. You can also talk about how they can plan their own journeys to school, emphasising the importance of safety. Linking this to their Personal Safety Badge is a great way to do this.\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EScouts:\u00A0coping with exams\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E90% of success is preparation. You can show your young people how to prepare for exams by creating timetables (except with something more fun than revision\u00A0\u003Cstrong\u003E\u2013\u003C/strong\u003E\u00A0like preparation for a trip or a new badge).\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EYou can also talk about relaxation techniques. Introduce your Scouts to mindfulness apps and gentle forms of exercise like yoga, and emphasise taking regular breaks. Getting into nature has also proven to be beneficial for mental health, reducing brain fatigue, stress and anxiety. A 2010 study found that participants who walked in a forest had lower blood pressure and levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) afterwards than those who strolled through a city. So plan an expedition into the nearest forest or green area around the time of exams to help everyone relax.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EExplorers: leaving college\u00A0\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOne of the best ways you can support your young people in preparing for further education is by helping them work out what they\u2019re passionate about. What badges have they particularly enjoyed working towards? Are they happiest when teaching and helping others, or do they come alive when they\u2019re using their hands to create something?\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOnce they know what they\u2019re going to do, encourage independence by getting them to take their Scouting to the next level. It could be a good time to discuss going for their Queen\u2019s Scout Award or their Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award, for example. These awards involve committing to activities such as learning a skill, taking up a physical activity and providing a service, for six months to a year \u2013 demonstrating commitment and dedication, and preparing them for the reality of a minimum of three years at university or similar environment. They also involve overnight stays in unfamiliar environments with people that are unknown to them \u2013 an excellent way to get them ready for leaving home.\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFinally, although Scouts always look out for each other, it doesn\u2019t hurt to remind them to support each other during times of transition and to look out for any other young people who seem vulnerable or lost during periods of change. It\u2019s not just about getting each other through difficult times, but about helping others to get through them too.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"07 January 2020","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[],"relatedLinks":[],"id":50749,"nodeName":"Supporting young people through periods of change","title":"Supporting young people through periods of change","type":"newsItem","image":{"url":"/media/5064/cub-high-ropes-1-jpg.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1d9becd0602f310","caption":"Cub on the high ropes","type":"jpg","size":91508,"width":1000,"height":667,"altText":"Cub on the high ropes"},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"Supporting young people through periods of change","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC81MDc0OSJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2020/january/supporting-young-people-through-periods-of-change/"}