{"alias":"blogEntry","byline":"Nicola Hilliard, Creative Content Producer","standfirst":"","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003EMeet George. George is currently in Scouts, has Down\u2019s Syndrome and is a keen performer. He\u2019s taken part in lots of gang shows and starred in a production of \u2018Matilda\u2019 on camp.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/20299/a-group-of-scouts-are-paddling-katakanus-on-the-water-min.jpg","width":6000,"height":4000,"altText":"George is in a KataKanu on some water. There are three boats on the water and George is at the front of the middle, red boat. He is holding a paddle and wearing a life jacket..","caption":"George in a KataKanu at Agoonoree - one of his favourite activities there!","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003EGang shows are a popular type of staged performance, where the cast are all Scouts or Guides. They work together to plan, write, cast, produce, and choreograph the show, which is usually full of a variety of singing, dancing, and sketches.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003EWe caught up with George and his mum, Carole, to find out all about his latest adventures. He loves healthy eating and boxing, and he\u2019s been learning more about his biggest passion, radio presenting.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3 class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003EHi George! Can you tell us what you\u2019ve been enjoying in Scouts?\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003EYes, I go to a mixed Beaver, Cubs and Scouts group. It\u2019s a group for people with disabilities.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003EWe do lots of exciting things. We\u2019ve been on a canal boat, done some litter picking, and we do lots of arts, crafts and cooking. I went on my first camp called Agoonoree with Scouts, too.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3 class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003EWhat did you do at Agoonoree?\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003EMe and my sister, Libby, went to Agoonoree. It was my first time, and my first Scout camp. I did radio production for the first time and people, especially my family, were very surprised to hear me on the radio.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003EThe food was great. We had things that I hadn\u2019t tried before, like ham and pea soup, and lots of three-course dinners. I enjoyed the boats and canoeing. That was lots of fun, and we went swimming.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003EWe had a pirate\u2019s day and a movie day. For movie day, we had to recreate a film. My group chose Roald Dahl\u2019s Matilda. We watched the original Matilda film, and did lots of songs from the musical, including \u2018School song\u2019, \u2018Naughty\u2019 and \u2018Grow up\u2019. Me and Libby were in the same group, so got to do it together. I really enjoyed the acting. I was Mr Wormwood and had to pretend my hat was stuck on my head!\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/20457/db-20220802-590-42130.jpg","width":4000,"height":2667,"altText":"George is stood in a field on camp. There are tents and trees behind him. He\u0027s in a green Scouts top, red necker and sunglasses. He\u0027s looking over to the right.","caption":"George at Agoonoree in 2022","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3 class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003EWere you nervous about going to camp?\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003EThe camp was for a whole week. I felt quite nervous, but it was lots of fun. I want to go again. I missed friends from home but made new friends in my patrol. We had to pay money to go on the camp, so I fundraised by doing a cake sale at home. We told our neighbours about it and had lots of different cakes for them to buy. We raised all the money!\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3 class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003EWe can tell you love performing, George. What shows have you seen?\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003EI\u2019ve seen lots of shows. We\u2019ve seen Aladdin, Mamma Mia, Hairspray, Beauty and the Beast and Lion King. Mamma Mia is my favourite. I love all of it.\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003EGeorge\u2019s mum, Carole, adds that they try to go to relaxed performances, such as at a recent local pantomime. At the relaxed performances, they leave lights on, take the pyrotechnics and loud bangs out, and have lots of extra staff on. They also don\u2019t sell every seat to give people space. It\u2019s been a great, inclusive way to enjoy theatre!\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/21106/george-wearing-headphones-and-holding-a-microphone-for-buck-scout-radio.jpg","width":1198,"height":1025,"altText":"","caption":"George helping at Bucks Scout Radio","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3 class=\u0022p2\u0022\u003EWe know you\u2019ve been on the stage too. What do you do in your gang shows?\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p2\u0022\u003EI\u2019ve been doing gang shows since I was eight years old. My mum produced the show, and I took part. My mum doesn\u2019t produce the show any more, but I still take part, with my sister, Libby. We need to practice a lot and learn lots of songs. I feel ready for it this year.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p2\u0022\u003EI used to have a one-on-one on stage to help me, but I don\u2019t need one any more. We get downloads of songs and rehearse at home. We rehearse for three months and then we go into the theatre to practice without the audience.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p2\u0022\u003EThere\u2019s lots of people coming to see me and lots of staff from school. I\u2019ve signed and given everyone a flyer. This year I\u2019m cueing everyone to come on stage, so I\u2019m very excited.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3 class=\u0022p2\u0022\u003EWe\u2019re sure you\u2019ll be giving out even more autographs soon. Can you tell us what you want to do when you\u2019re older?\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p2\u0022\u003EWhen I\u2019m older, I want to sing on stage or be a radio producer and make my own radio podcast. I\u2019ve done two lots of work experience with Bucks Scouts Radio and tried radio production at the camp, Agoonoree.\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p2\u0022\u003ERecently, there was big Scout walk locally. I helped with Bucks Scouts Radio and Gary, who runs it. With my mum, I thought of a list of questions to ask the people taking part, and I interviewed people when they finished the walk. I also had a lot of songs requested and shout-outs, including from my mum, my family and my friends. I had to ask their favourite song and artist, but I wasn\u2019t allowed to sing live with the songs!\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/21107/george-and-his-sister-libyy-sat-outside-their-house-selling-poppies-for-remembrance.jpg","width":713,"height":615,"altText":"","caption":"George and his sister, Libby, selling poppies","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3 class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003EThat sounds great, George! How has Scouts helped you with your confidence?\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003EKatie and Gemma, two volunteers, help me get ready for the show. Everyone needs to stay in time, and I can sometimes be a little ahead of everyone else. Katie and Gemma help me to slow down and be at the same time as everyone else.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003ESometimes, because I have Downs Syndrome, people don\u2019t always understand what I\u2019m saying. I get excited and I talk faster, so I like to practice. We say practice does make perfect. Me and mum make little films at home and listen back to them. We do voice messages and practice to make them clearer. This has helped my confidence.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3 class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003ESo, George, what do you want to do next?\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003EI want to make YouTube videos. I want to make them about healthy eating and gaming. We learned about internet safety at Scouts, so I don\u2019t use my full name. With mum, I make sure videos are safe for me to put out online.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003EI want a YouTube shop and I want to do shout-outs, produce songs and giveaways. I have a range of water bottles for my YouTube channel that say #BeStrong, #BeBrave and #BeKind on them for fans. I\u2019d like to be a children\u2019s television presenter, like George Webster on CBeebies.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003EI also want to do more at Buck Scouts Radio and have my own radio show. I listen to Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden on Heart on my way to school. They have lots of jingles that I like. I want to do more with Buck Scout Radio and go on camp again in summer. I need to get my own jingle!\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/21108/george-as-a-young-cub-making-a-scout-salute-hes-stood-outside-a-meeting-place.jpg","width":542,"height":576,"altText":"","caption":"George as a Cub Scout","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3 class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003ECarole, how has Scouts supported George?\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003EDuring the ten years I produced the gang show, George was born and then, as he was coming up for Beaver age, I thought about joining Scouts. We wanted to find a local unit that would embrace George for who he is and, luckily, we found that unit.\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003EGeorge was in a mainstream Beaver Section and mainstream Cub Section. He was always supported, and Scouts has been inclusive from start. When he made his Promise, he did it with a friend, Theo, in both Beavers and Cubs. We learned it all in Makaton too, as George did some signing.\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003EAs he got older, the gap widened, so we found Scouts a little bit trickier. This was the same as we found in school, so George really benefits from more specialist support. His current group has a more appropriate peer group, and the activities are supervised appropriately for everyone\u2019s needs. We\u2019ve found out the volunteers are always engaged with inclusion, there\u2019s lots of support and people want to help.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003EScouts has given lots of opportunities to George. Now, he looks at these things and thinks I can do that, which is fantastic. Until you see people doing those jobs, such as producing radio programmes, you might not believe it could be you. It\u2019s a big hurdle to champion yourself, but Scouts has grown George\u2019s confidence. It\u2019s now a more inclusive world for George, especially seeing people like CBeebies presenter George Webster, who also has Down\u2019s Syndrome. It has helped give him the self-belief that he can achieve anything he wants to.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"20 June 2023","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[],"relatedLinks":[],"id":50446,"nodeName":"Meet George, the gang show superstar","title":"Meet George, the gang show superstar","type":"blogEntry","image":{"url":"/media/20298/a-group-of-scouts-are-paddling-katakanus-and-holding-paddles-min.jpg?cc=0.032679738562091595,0.11812625430211336,0,0.06579928441731145\u0026width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1dae4bb5199c460","caption":"Scouts paddling Katakanus and holding paddles","type":"jpg","size":865248,"width":4000,"height":2667,"altText":"A group of Scouts in life jackets hold paddles sitting in a Katakanu on the water."},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"Meet George, the gang show superstar","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"George is currently in Scouts and is a keen performer. He\u2019s taken part in lots of gang shows and is here to tell us all about it!","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC81MDQ0NiJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2023/june/meet-george-the-gang-show-superstar/"}