{"alias":"blogEntry","byline":"Andrew Bollington, Early Years Programme Board Sponsor","standfirst":"Find out what we have measured during our first year of Squirrels, and how we\u2019re planning to make your experience even better as a result.","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022NormalTextRun SCXW251081182 BCX0\u0022\u003ENumbers matter. We want to make sure we\u2019re reaching a wide range of young people, and those who need it most. That\u2019s young people living in areas of deprivation; young people from a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic background and young people with disabilities/additional needs. Scouts makes a difference wherever it happens \u2013 but in these communities, our impact can be much more significant.\u003C/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/ingbhbv4/db-20230610-1233-109167min.jpg","width":6000,"height":4000,"altText":"","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022EOP SCXW251081182 BCX0\u0022 data-ccp-props=\u0022{}\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022TextRun SCXW207133051 BCX0\u0022 data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022NormalTextRun SCXW207133051 BCX0\u0022\u003EWhat do we know so far?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022EOP SCXW207133051 BCX0\u0022 data-ccp-props=\u0022{}\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E700\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E Dreys opened in the first 12 months since Squirrels launched \u2013 and there are lots more in the pipeline.\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-ccp-props=\u0022{}\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E27%\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E of new Dreys that have opened in the most disadvantaged communities in the UK.\u003C/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E35% \u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003Eall Squirrels are girls.\u003C/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003EOver a third of Dreys have\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E10% or more Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic representation.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E1,200\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E volunteer adults are completely new to Scouts.\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-ccp-props=\u0022{}\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003EWhat do these numbers tell us?\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-ccp-props=\u0022{}\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESquirrels is a huge success: \u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003EWe\u2019re on track to create 100,000 new places in the next five years. We\u2019ve shown that this is possible by recruiting lots of new volunteers who are excited and motivated to work with 4- to 6-year-olds.\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-ccp-props=\u0022{}\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EReaching new communities:\u0026nbsp;\u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003EWith 27% of Dreys opened in hard-to-reach communities, we\u2019re making a real break-through in Scouts\u2019 reach. These were the communities where COVID lockdowns hit hardest and where kids are most likely to lack the developmental opportunities that Scouts offers. \u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-ccp-props=\u0022{}\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStill more to do: \u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003EWhile 27% of Dreys opened in hard-to-reach communities, only 17% of children actually came from these communities. There are more girls in Squirrels than in other sections, we\u2019re still a long way off 50/50.\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-ccp-props=\u0022{}\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003EHow we\u2019re using this to get better\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-ccp-props=\u0022{}\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOffering support:\u003C/strong\u003E There\u2019s grants and resources to support opening Dreys in the most disadvantaged communities. \u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003EApply to our \u003C/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/5831912734c447fdb7832de339391ed4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022none\u0022\u003Enights away and start-up grants\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E so \u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003Ewe can support you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-ccp-props=\u0022{}\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPrioritising\u0026nbsp;areas of deprivation: \u003C/strong\u003EWe\u2019re prioritising towards areas of deprivation, but we\u2019re not saying \u2018no\u2019 to other areas.\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;Even if you open in a more affluent area, you could still be reaching young people who would benefit from Scouts. We welcome Squirrel Dreys being opened wherever there\u2019s an appetite for them.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-ccp-props=\u0022{}\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EInspiring Dreys to reach out: \u003C/strong\u003EWherever they are located, we\u2019re keen for Squirrel Dreys to be proactive in reaching out to other communities.\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E We know people can often have misconceptions about Scouts. For example, \u2018Scouts is for Boys\u2019 and \u2018Scouts isn\u2019t for people like me\u2019 can be common perceptions within many communities. \u003C/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/growing-scouts/furthering-reach-toolkit/\u0022 title=\u0022Furthering Reach Toolkit\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022none\u0022\u003EGet some tips for furthering reach with our toolkit\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003EFinally, a big thank you\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-ccp-props=\u0022{}\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003EThere\u2019s no escaping the reality that measurement takes time and effort. So, everything we know so far has only been possible because many people, including hundreds of Squirrel volunteers, have helped us to track what\u2019s happening across the UK. We\u2019re also very grateful to the \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://www.crec.co.uk/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECentre on Research in Early Childhood (CREC)\u003C/a\u003E and their latest report for helping us to analyse the numbers.\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-ccp-props=\u0022{}\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"14 November 2022","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[{"caption":"","title":"Local support to help Squirrels reach more communities","url":"/news/2022/november/local-support-to-help-squirrels-reach-more-communities/","newWindow":false},{"caption":"","title":"Find out more about Squirrels","url":"/squirrels/","newWindow":false}],"relatedLinks":[{"caption":"","title":"Read the latest news at Scouts","url":"/news/","newWindow":false}],"id":50421,"nodeName":"Numbers that matter: results you should know about Squirrels","title":"Numbers that matter: results you should know about Squirrels ","type":"blogEntry","image":{"url":"/media/16872/squirrels-07-jpg.jpg?cc=0.09807891935767749,0.06766058022749262,0.11089657921782113,0.26524604338377866\u0026width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1dcbd42b5d18290","caption":"Three Squirrels are in the woods, with two crouched down and looking at the sticks and leaves. One is in the background smiling. They\u0027re wearing red jumpers.","type":"jpg","size":740611,"width":2000,"height":1334,"altText":"Three Squirrels are in the woods, with two crouched down and looking at the sticks and leaves. One is in the background smiling. They\u0027re wearing red jumpers."},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"Numbers that matter: results you should know about Squirrels ","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"Find out about the latest stats and figures relating to our first year at Squirrels.","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC81MDQyMSJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2022/november/numbers-that-matter-results-you-should-know-about-squirrels/"}