Numbers that matter: results you should know about Squirrels

Numbers matter. We want to make sure we’re reaching a wide range of young people, and those who need it most. That’s young people living in areas of deprivation; young people from a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic background and young people with disabilities/additional needs. Scouting makes a difference wherever it happens – but in these communities, our impact can be much more significant. 

What do we know so far? 

• 700 Dreys opened in the first 12 months since Squirrels launched. Amazing – and there are loads more in the pipeline. 
• 27% of new Dreys that have opened in the most disadvantaged communities in the UK. 
• 35% all Squirrels are girls. 
• 36% of Dreys have 10% or more Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic representation. 
• 1,200 volunteer adults are completely new to Scouting. 

What do these numbers tell us? 

Squirrels is a huge success. We’re on track to create 100,000 new places in the next five years… and we’ve shown that this is possible by recruiting lots of new volunteers who are excited and motivated to work with 4- to 6-year-olds. 

We’re opening Dreys in harder to reach communities. With 27% of Dreys opened in hard-to-reach communities, we’re making a real break-through in Scouting’s reach. These were the communities where COVID lockdowns hit hardest and where kids are most likely to lack the developmental opportunities that Scouting offers.  

But opening in hard-to-reach communities is only part of the story. While 27% of Dreys opened in hard-to-reach communities, only 17% of children actually came from these communities. And though there are more girls in Squirrels than in other sections, we’re still a long way off 50/50. 

How we’re using this to get better 

Offering you grants, time and resources to support opening Dreys in the most disadvantaged communities. Apply to our nights away and start-up grants so we can support you. 

Prioritising effort and resources towards areas of deprivation, but not saying ‘no’ to other areas. Even if you open in a more affluent area, you could still be reaching young people who would benefit from Scouting. We welcome Squirrel Dreys being opened wherever there is appetite for them.  

Inspiring every Drey, wherever they are located, to be proactive in reaching out to other communities. Like it or not, Scouting comes with a reputation. For example, decades after the reality changed, “Scouting for Boys” is still a frequently held misconception. So is the perception that “Scouting isn’t for people like me” within many communities. Get some tips for furthering reach with our toolkit.

What next? 

Clearly, numbers matter. They allow us to adapt resources and offer tailored support to help make your volunteering experience better. That’s why we’re looking for your help – we'll be asking you to complete the census to help us find out more about Squirrels in the new year.

Although we know where Squirrel Dreys are set up, we want to get a more accurate snapshot of who those Squirrels are. So, we’ll also be asking you for postcode data for each of your Squirrels. We appreciate this is extra work, but the more we know, the more we can help. The data will not be used to identify individuals but will be used to support the development of the Squirrels programme and ensure the content is inclusive and reflective of all our local communities. 

Finally, a big thank you 

There’s 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 leaders, have helped us to track what’s happening across the UK. We’re also very grateful to the Centre on Research in Early Childhood (CREC) and their latest report for helping us to analyse the numbers.