{"alias":"newsItem","byline":"Words: Annabel Rose | Photography: Dan Kenyon ","standfirst":"To give more young people the opportunity to experience the benefits of Scouts, we\u2019re trying it out with four and five year olds in different trial areas. We went to visit a group in Blackburn to find out how they\u2019re getting on.","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/6414/dkscouts-373.jpg","width":5760,"height":3840,"altText":"","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EFrom the outside all looks calm, but inside, a school in Blackburn is bursting with noise and energy.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EYoung people are arriving for Scouts, picking up spare neckers, handing in forms, and sitting in a (fairly) neat line. They\u2019re much smaller than the rest of their group, though, and they\u2019re wearing bright purple. They\u2019re not lost (and it\u2019s not a well-coordinated uniform rebellion) \u2013 \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.facebook.com/1VScouts/\u0022\u003EOne Voice Scout Group\u003C/a\u003E is one of 40 early years pilots trying out Scouts with four and five year olds.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe pilots are putting the idea of Scouts for early years to the test to find out what it could look like, what impact it may have on existing groups and volunteers, and its potential to capture the imaginations of people who aren\u2019t (yet) part of Scouts.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThey focus on areas that are underrepresented in Scouts, exploring whether early years Scouts helps us extend into harder to reach communities and get the adults there on board, too. Like any good researchers, we\u2019re making the most of the opportunity to try out a few different methods of delivery. In Blackburn, One Voice Scout Group is among the lucky few chosen to host a Scout-led pilot.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018We applied because we thought it could be an extra offering that could bring so much to our community,\u2019 Nisbah Hussain, Group Scout Leader, explains. The adults in the group (some of whom work in early years settings) had noticed that young people \u2018seemed to be further behind in all sorts of skills,\u2019 including speech, dexterity, and even gross motor skills. \u2018I know the benefits Scouts can have,\u2019 Nisbah continues, \u2018especially in a community from a more disadvantaged area, and I thought an early years pilot could make a massive difference\u2019.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERoutine manoeuvres \u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOnce Nisbah\u2019s welcomed everyone, the corridors spring to life. The four and five year olds know exactly what to do when they reach the library: put their coats away, sign in by finding their name badges, and gather in a circle. Once everyone\u2019s settled, Tahseen and Sana (the adult volunteers, also known as Snowflake and Lightning) start the welcome song, and everyone (even the quietest of young people) takes it in turns to sing their name.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ERoutines like this are crucial for young children. They help them settle and create a safe, familiar space for them to challenge themselves.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EEach meeting is crafted around the same predictable structure so young people can focus on learning and play, without worrying about what might happen next.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOnce everyone\u2019s settled and they\u2019ve remembered last week\u2019s activity, it\u2019s time for a story. This week, they\u2019re reading My Dream For Every Child by Michelle Nkamankeng, an 11 year old from South Africa. Beginning every meeting with a short story sets the scene and helps young people to engage, while boosting their language development and general understanding of the world.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018What do you think every child should have?\u2019 Tahseen asks. The answers range from practical (\u2018beds to sleep in\u2019 and \u2018food\u2019) to the slightly less tangible (\u2018family\u2019 and \u2018dreams\u2019).\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWith the help of an animation by \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.unicef.org.uk/what-we-do/un-convention-child-rights/\u0022\u003EUnicef\u003C/a\u003E, Tahseen and Sana explain the concept of human rights to the four and five year olds: \u2018They\u2019re the things children need to be happy and healthy.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOnwards and upwards \u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThings don\u2019t stay still for long as everyone begins to decorate strips of paper to represent rights. Some of the children practise their letters, and everyone gets to release their creativity.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EA sunshine and flowers represent the right to play (and the idea that everyone should be able to go outdoors), woolly jumpers remind everyone of the right to warm clothes, and ice creams show the right to food (and, obviously, the right to freedom of thought when debating the best flavours).\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe four and five year olds are keen to show the adults what they\u2019ve drawn, and aren\u2019t shy about sharing their ideas. \u2018When we started, they were so quiet and withdrawn,\u2019 Tahseen laughs. \u2018They\u2019re so different now\u2019.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBefore long, \u2018join those to that\u2019 rings out around the room as the children transform their works of art into a giant paper chain. Then it\u2019s time to tidy up and, again, a predictable routine makes the whole thing painless. Everyone knows what needs to happen, and it\u2019s also a handy sign that the session is nearly over \u2013 though no one\u2019s going home until the all-important stickers are awarded.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe adults hand out log books, and the young people proudly stick a sticker under \u2018Understanding our rights\u2019.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFinally, it\u2019s time to award a \u2018star of the week\u2019 who will get the privilege of choosing how to say goodbye to everyone. This week\u2019s star opts for a high five; other popular choices have included fist bumps and waves.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhen a plan comes together \u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ENone of the carefully crafted programme happened by accident. Scouts worked with \u003Ca href=\u0022https://wearefutures.com/\u0022\u003EWe Are Futures\u003C/a\u003E (an education and youth engagement agency) and the charity \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/\u0022\u003EAction for Children\u003C/a\u003E to make sure it aligned with England\u2019s compulsory \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2\u0022\u003Estandards\u003C/a\u003E for people working with children from birth to five.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAs a result, it\u2019s all about encouraging young people to play, explore, give things a go and pick themselves back up when things get tough. Sound familiar? It\u2019s similar to your average Scouts\u2019 programme, which encourages young people to develop skills like problem-solving, respecting others, and valuing the outdoors. Most of all, it\u2019s a lot of fun.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOne Voice\u2019s pilot has made a massive difference. \u2018One of the younger ones doesn\u2019t talk much at home \u2013 he was really struggling to interact with others,\u2019 Nisbah tells us. \u2018Now he comes to Scouts \u2013 he might not be the chattiest boy there \u2013 but he does everything.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe young people\u2019s parents are full of stories about the changes they\u2019ve seen. \u2018I wanted something that would push her out of her comfort zone a bit,\u2019 one mum explains. \u2018She was super shy; she\u2019d get so anxious about new situations. I don\u2019t know what it is about here \u2013 I credit the leaders \u2013 but her confidence has grown.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018Mine doesn\u2019t stop talking about it!\u2019 another explains. \u2018She wants to do it all at home \u2013 whatever they\u2019ve been making, or doing, or practising. And the nature walks\u2026 when they went out in the dark with torches, she loved it. I\u2019d never have thought of that! I even do this at home,\u2019 she laughs, as she puts her hand in the air, \u2018to make them shush.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETaking it with you\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThis family\u2019s not the only one taking Scouts home. Homework gets a bad rep but the programme\u2019s full of linked ideas that are much more fun.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThey\u2019re designed to help parents and carers develop the home learning environment and create connections between a young person\u2019s learning and the adults who look after them. We\u2019re also hoping that by introducing parents and carers to Scout activities (and showing them that they\u2019re fun and not too scary), we\u2019ll encourage more to help out as volunteers.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ENisbah\u2019s a positive force, always on the lookout for solutions. The biggest challenge? Restricting the numbers. They\u2019re not taking any new members as the pilots have an end date, but, \u2018Lots of people have asked \u201CWhen can we join?\u201D\u2019 she says. The demand from young people is definitely there.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe biggest question on many people\u2019s minds is finding the leaders to meet that demand. We know we\u2019d need more adult volunteers to make early years Scouts work \u2013 and that drawing from existing volunteers isn\u2019t an option. We also want to welcome volunteers from a wider range of backgrounds\u2026 so what better place to start than with the parents already getting stuck in with their children?\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe\u2019re not the first Scouts to use this logic. Countries who already have early years provision (including \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://www.scoutsni.org/squirrels/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022Squirrels Scouts NI\u0022\u003ENorthern Ireland\u003C/a\u003E, the \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouting.org/programs/cub-scouts/what-cub-scouts-earn/the-advancement-trail/\u0022\u003EUSA\u003C/a\u003E and \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://kfumspejderne.dk/spejder/familiespejder/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022Family scouting in Denmark\u0022\u003EDenmark\u003C/a\u003E) say one of the many benefits is that it encourages more volunteers to give it a go. In the USA, 75% of parents who volunteer with Lions continue as their children move through the sections.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAt One Voice Scout Group, there was no shortage of keen parents. \u2018We started with 16 children,\u2019 Nisbah says, \u2018and 14 parents came forward to help\u2019. Other pilot groups have found that the early years programme attracts a different age of volunteers: lots of grandparents have the children when they go to early years. One Voice also gained a new volunteer whose children had already been through Scouts, who wanted to join because she works in early years.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhere do we go from here? \u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThings are going well at One Voice Scout Group, but it\u2019s important to remember that the pilots are only trials \u2013 we\u2019re still exploring their impact, including whether they attract more adult volunteers and encourage people from underrepresented backgrounds to join Scouts.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe know it\u2019s important that any early years provision doesn\u2019t negatively affect existing sections, so we\u2019re also looking at how the pilots affect groups, Districts and Counties.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/about-us/our-people/board-of-trustees/\u0022\u003EBoard of Trustees\u003C/a\u003E (the people who make the big decisions about Scouts in the UK) expect to make a decision about early years Scouts in July 2020. They\u2019ll either give the green light to develop a plan for rolling it out, ask people to continue piloting so they can learn more, or decide it doesn\u2019t work and reject the concept.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ENot all the evidence is ready yet (for example, we\u2019re waiting for an external evaluation), so we don\u2019t know what the Board will decide. If it\u2019s given the go ahead, though, it\u2019ll be optional, with a phased roll-out so we can make sure the right support\u2019s in place.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe decision on whether it starts in your area is likely to be down to local line managers.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ERemember, you can\u2019t offer early years Scouts locally yet (no matter how exciting it seems) \u2013 groups don\u2019t have permission to start early years provision outside these pilots. Unofficial provision is against our rules, could affect the pilots and wouldn\u2019t be insured. The existing Squirrels programme, run under a Memorandum of Understanding with Scouts NI, isn\u2019t affected by the pilots.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIf you\u2019ve got any questions or suggestions, we\u2019re all ears. \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/32b8dca7f1cc4111b9038a2e0b546707\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ELet us know what you think here\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"27 May 2020","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[],"relatedLinks":[],"id":48512,"nodeName":"Reaching more young people","title":"Reaching more young people ","type":"newsItem","image":{"url":"/media/6413/dkscouts-293.jpg?width=800\u0026height=800\u0026v=1d9becd376e02f0","caption":"DK.Scouts 293","type":"jpg","size":3008854,"width":5760,"height":3840,"altText":""},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"Reaching more young people ","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC80ODUxMiJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2020/may/reaching-more-young-people/"}