Edgar’s Story: Simple supports for neurodivergent Scouts
Edgar’s a Squirrel Scout in Aylesbury. He loves the weekly activities and finds Squirrels a lot of fun. He’s also on the pathway to assessment for ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) and autism. We spoke to Edgar’s mum to find out more.
At school, he has an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) to help support him.
At Squirrels, the volunteers understand Edgar’s needs and adapt each session, so he’s fully included and can always join in.
‘Edgar’s very happy at Squirrels and always looks forward to seeing his friends and having fun,’ Edgar’s mum tells us, ‘Two of Edgar’s classmates were already in Squirrels, so I asked their parents a few questions before applying. I wanted to make sure it was a good fit for Edgar.’
When Edgar first joined Scouts, his mum had a chat with the volunteers to tell them about Edgar’s strengths and what he might find challenging. They were very welcoming and happy for Edgar’s mum to stay with him for the first few sessions if needed too.
They worked together to make sure Edgar could join in, meaning Edgar’s mum can be confident that he is supported and happy while at Squirrels.
‘The fact that Edgar is treated the same as the other Squirrels helps him to not to feel different,’ explains Edgar’s mum. ‘However, we work together to make small adjustments when needed. For example, during today’s craft activity, Edgar was able to complete it on his own, as he can find sharing difficult at times.’
Edgar recently took part in his first Squirrels trip to the RAF Museum in London. His mum had a chat with the volunteers about the trip, as she wanted to make sure it wasn’t too overwhelming or overstimulating for him. Edgar didn’t want to travel on the bus, so his mum was able to drive him and arrive a bit later, making it a shorter day.
Edgar has been enjoying his time with Scouts. He loves being with his school friends and collecting badges!
He also knows he can ask for support from his volunteers. He says: ‘When it’s too loud for me, the leaders will ask Squirrels to be quiet. Hands on the top, everybody stop!’
His mum adds: ‘A big thank you to our volunteers at Squirrels for giving Edgar the opportunity to learn new skills. I hope our story encourages more parents and carers with neurodivergent children to give it a go!’
At Scouts, we always encourage parents, carers and volunteers to have a chat when a young person joins a Section. This helps everyone understand how to best support them.
It’s a good opportunity discuss any adjustments that might be needed to make sure young people feel included and can enjoy their time at Scouts, just like Edgar!
Making reasonable adjustments in Scouts
Everyone can easily be included in Scouts by making small adjustments to the environment, the activities and the programme. It’s best to always listen to the young person and their parents or carers when making reasonable adjustments and be led by them.
Adapting the Scouts programme and badges
In Scouts, every young person should have a similar challenge. You can adapt the activities, badges and awards to fit each person’s needs and make sure the challenge is right for them.
Find out more about adjusting badges and awards.