Squirrel stories: Quality family time
Louise and her son, George, are part of a Squirrel Drey in Wales. They’ve already gained so much from their group, from spending more time together to learning lots of new skills.
As soon as a Drey opened near their home, Louise made sure George was one of the first to get a place. When she took him to his first Squirrels session, he felt unsure and wanted her to stay. Louise sat in the background to begin with, but she was quickly drawn into the fun activities.
Louise is now an Assistant Squirrel Leader, going along with George every week to help at the group. They've no other family in the area, so Squirrels is a great place for them to spend time together and meet new people.
Louise had previously struggled with her confidence and leadership skills, but she gets so much out volunteering. She’s now running various parts of the evening, including running games, telling stories or even organising the main activity.
It’s a chance for her to grow and develop her own skills, while getting to spend more time with George and seeing him enjoy the activities.
Louise’s favourite thing about Squirrels is that the volunteers give her time and space to do whatever she feels comfortable with. Louise says there’s never any pressure, and they understand and appreciate how much she can give.
George loves going to Squirrels. It’s a place for him to run around with young people his own age. He gets to make friends outside of an educational setting, and he learns new things every week.
It's lovely to hear that Squirrels is an enjoyable experience for both volunteers and young people alike.