Clootie Wishes
You’ll need
- Rights challenge badge resources page 8
- One Strips of scrap fabric/ ribbon per person
- Large branch or tree
- Colouring pencils or pens
Before you begin
- Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Take a look at our guidance to help you carry out your risk assessment, including examples.
- Make sure all young people and adults involved in the activity know how to take part safely.
- Make sure you’ll have enough adult helpers. You may need some parents and carers to help.
Planning and setting up this activity
- If you plan to hang the ribbons on a real tree, please check out your local area and find one that is suitable and easy to travel to. . If you use a tree in a public place, it is important to tidy up and remove everything at the end.
- Alternatively, find a large branch or tree near your meeting place - in a local park, outside your hall, or bring a branch into your hall.
- Ensure you have enough badges and certificates to give out to everyone.
Running this activity
- Gather everyone around and tell them that todays activity is the final one for the Rights Challenge Badge and at the end they will receive a Certificate of Achievement and the Rights Challenge badge.
- Have everyone sitting together in a circle. Tell them about the clootie tree.
- Give each child a fabric strip.
- They need to think about their though or wish
- One at a time, children tie their strip onto the tree (with adult help if needed). As they tie it on, invite them (optional) to say out aloud what their wish is.
- Everyone has now completed their Rights Challenge Badge.
A Clootie Tree is a combined Scottish and Tibetan custom. In Scotland, Clootie Trees (often Hawthorn trees) were traditionally created beside spring wells. ‘Clootie’ means a strip of cloth or rag, and these are tied to the branches of trees near a well. The Clootie Tree is believed to have special healing powers. People use it to share kind thoughts and wishes.
Today, we’re going to think about how everyone matters and how we can help people feel happy, safe, and cared for.
Some Questions to think about:
- What helps you feel safe?
- What does kindness look like?
- How do we know someone is listening to us?
Reflection
Look at our Clootie wishes Tree and all the messages we’ve shared. They remind us that everyone matters and everyone deserves kindness, safety, and to be listened to. These are things that should be fair for all people. The tree will hold our messages, but we can take the kindness with us and use it to help others every day.
Safety
All activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get approval for the activity, and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.
You must run your activities in line with the Safeguarding Code of Conduct for Adults (Yellow Card) and report any concerns to the UK HQ Safeguarding Team.
- Sharp objects
Teach young people how to use sharp objects safely. Supervise them appropriately throughout. Store all sharp objects securely, out of the reach of young people.
- Outdoor activities
You must have permission to use the location. Always check the weather forecast, and inform parents and carers of any change in venue.
Make it accessible
All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.
