{"alias":"blogEntry","byline":"","standfirst":"Rehneesa Inez joined Scouts as a quiet 14-year-old. Thanks to a brilliant volunteer, who went out of his way to make her feel welcome and included, she\u2019s developed a lifelong love of Scouts. Now, as a key member of our Regional Services Team and the Race Equity Project Board, she shares her story of inclusive Scouts in action.","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/18685/rehneesa-inez.jpg","width":5000,"height":3333,"altText":"Rehneesa, wearing a blue t-shirt and necker, speaks at a Scouts event.","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EI joined a Muslim Scout Group in Nottingham as an Explorer Scout, around the age of 14. I went along because a family friend was the Group Scout Leader. My siblings decided to go and, in the end, I thought I\u2019d go too. This was actually a big deal at the time. No one had ever joined Scouts in our family. In fact, we\u2019d really never heard of anyone going.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHowever, at that stage, I really wasn\u2019t sure if I\u2019d stay. I\u2019m glad I did, because I ended up staying for nearly four years as a young person (and the rest!).\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003EA nervous start\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWhen you\u2019re 14, you\u2019re still figuring things out about yourself. You\u2019re working on your social skills. I was introverted, but still liked hanging out with people.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe were the only predominantly \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.ukmsf.org\u0022\u003EMuslim Scout Group\u003C/a\u003E in the District, and I was the only female Muslim teenager there. Even though everyone was very friendly, it still felt a little alienating.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWhen we\u2019d go to district and county Scout camps as a group, I noticed the District Commissioner would always come and say hello. He knew who we were and he knew us all by name. I was like: \u2018Oh, the District Commissioner knows my name!\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt felt like we were all being seen and acknowledged, not left in the corner. He always came over for a chat and did all he could to help me feel included. This mattered a lot.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003EFeeling valued and included\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOne really special moment I remember was when the same District Commissioner asked me to do the flag break at one of the camps. It was such a privilege to be chosen, especially as I wasn\u2019t expecting to be asked.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAt another camp we were cooking, and I was hanging out with other girls in the kitchen. Realising they\u2019d be cooking bacon and pork, he came in and, acknowledging my faith, said: \u2018You don\u2019t have to be here if you don\u2019t want to be.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThat was really thoughtful. He wasn\u2019t over the top about it. It was just a way to say: \u2018I\u2019m here, and we value you being here too.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/18684/rehneesa-inez-2.jpg","width":1080,"height":1440,"altText":"Rehneesa, in Scouts uniform, is presented with an Explorers award.","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003ELasting impact\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAfter those first few camps, I then went to every single one I could. I really enjoyed the sense of belonging they gave me.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThese positive experiences made me want to keep going in Scouts, so I went on to become a Young Leader, then a Beaver Scout Leader, until I left for university and work.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMy experiences have shown me what inclusive Scouts means in an everyday setting. So, when I saw that Scouts was looking for people to join its\u00A0\u003Ca href=\u0022/about-us/our-people/race-equity-project-board/\u0022 title=\u0022Race Equity Project Board\u0022\u003ERace Equity Project Board\u003C/a\u003E, I jumped at the chance to help more young people have the positive experiences I had. And now I\u2019m working in the Regional Services Team too!\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003EThe power of being part of something bigger\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHere\u2019s the important thing for me. Although I was part of a predominantly Muslim Scout Group, it was still very involved in District and County activities \u2013 attending camps and so on.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBecause of the actions of this District Commissioner, I felt included as part of the wider district and county. This gave me the chance to connect with other groups which I found super fun.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EScouts is very heavy on community and belonging. That\u2019s one of the great things about it.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWhen we went to these camps, we felt we were part of this bigger thing, not just a small group keeping themselves to themselves, which can sometimes happen.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWhen we went to the camp it felt like: \u2018Wow there\u2019s something much bigger and even better out there\u2019.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe were able to mingle with other Scouts. It\u2019s exhilarating when you\u2019ve got a whole campsite filled with 200 or 300 people, who are all getting along and supporting each other.\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/18686/rehneesa-inez-3.jpg","width":450,"height":600,"altText":"Rehneesa aims a bow and arrow while taking part in archery.","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003ETaking your first step with inclusive Scouts\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EEveryone starts from somewhere. If there\u2019s a person from a minority ethnic background and they\u2019re the only one in the room, they\u2019ll notice it. They\u2019ll feel that difference, as that\u2019s automatic and it happens.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe important thing is to notice and acknowledge that person by saying hello, introducing yourself and make an effort. Just simple words, such as \u2018If you need anything, I\u2019m here\u2019, can make a huge difference.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAlways take some time to think things through and prepare as well as you can. For example, you can ask everyone beforehand if they\u0027ve dietary restrictions or any other needs, such as a prayer room, then accommodate their needs.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt\u0027s good to be conscious of dates and times, such as if a meeting might clash with a faith or cultural festival. It\u2019s also important not to make assumptions just because someone looks like they may be of a particular faith or cultural background.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe all need to be more open and understanding. Just acknowledging that there are differences, but that these aren\u2019t a burden, is so powerful.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003ESharing experiences\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESpeak with others who\u2019ve been in a similar position, and who\u2019ve already done some work on inclusion, diversity and \u003Ca href=\u0022/about-us/strategy/our-programmes-of-work/race-equity/\u0022 title=\u0022Race Equity\u0022 data-anchor=\u0022#\u0022\u003Erace equity\u003C/a\u003E. They were once in the same place you are now. That peer support is so important, knowing you\u2019re not alone.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAs Scouts, we\u2019re here to work together, not judge people. As long as you\u2019re kind, respectful and open to learning you\u2019ll get there. Think about what you\u2019re scared about specifically and what you could do to overcome that fear.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAnother good idea for bringing people together from different backgrounds is to talk about race equity as a group. You can plan a meeting to generate ideas and then potentially approach another Scout group, maybe one you\u2019ve already got a connection with, and join them for some activities.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt\u2019s about doing simple things together, having fun and keeping an open mind, which is also good description of Scouts!\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"26 September 2022","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[{"caption":"","title":"Race equity at Scouts","url":"/volunteers/equity-diversity-and-inclusion/race-and-ethnicity/race-equity/","newWindow":false},{"caption":"","title":"Meet the Race Equity Project Board","url":"/about-us/our-people/race-equity-project-board/","newWindow":false}],"relatedLinks":[{"caption":"","title":"Share your race equity stories","url":"/volunteers/equity-diversity-and-inclusion/race-and-ethnicity/race-equity/share-your-inclusion-stories/","newWindow":false}],"id":48165,"nodeName":"How a warm welcome (and some chilly camps) made all the difference","title":"How a warm welcome (and some chilly camps) made all the difference","type":"blogEntry","image":{"url":"/media/18685/rehneesa-inez.jpg?cc=0,0.093342667600093354,0,0.062822948961562736\u0026width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1d9becd207d5c80","caption":"Rehneesa Inez","type":"jpg","size":5026321,"width":5000,"height":3333,"altText":"Rehneesa, wearing a blue t-shirt and necker, speaks at a Scouts event."},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"How a warm welcome (and some chilly camps) made all the difference","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"Thanks to a volunteer who went out of his way to make Rehneesa feel welcome and included, she\u2019s developed a lifelong love of Scouts.","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC80ODE2NSJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2022/september/how-a-warm-welcome-and-some-chilly-camps-made-all-the-difference/"}