Practical tips for Leaders

Practical Tips for Leaders

• Be curious and approachable. If a young person opens up to you, give them space to talk. Talk with parents/carers and the young person about how their anxiety affects them and what we can do at Scouts to help.
  
  
• Ask whether there are any strategies used at home or school that helps the young person.
  
  
• Read about supporting Anxiety Attacks.
  
  
• The Anna Freud Centre have produced some useful resources to help support anxiety.
  
  
• Use a Now-Next structure and visuals to reduce pressure on memory, and to help young people understand what will be happening next in your session. Take a look at our visual support pages for more advice.
  
  
• Share your programme in advance with the young person and their parents/carers, and build time into your sessions for young people to ask questions or raise concerns. Consider whether young people are confident doing this in a large group or whether smaller groups may support this discussion.
  
  
• As a section, you could create a ToolBox to support mental health and anxiety – this could include breathing activities, a worry monster/place to put worries, break activities which help a person relax, sensory toys and more.
  
  
• Young Minds have advice on creating self-soothe boxes and managing anxiety, including social anxiety.

• Build activities into your programme which support Mental health and Anxiety – you can find activity ideas on our programme pages.

• Refer on – We're not experts in mental health. You may begin a discussion with a young person or adult volunteer and realise you don't have all the answers. Be honest about not knowing and agree how you will follow up.
  
  
• Encourage the young person or adult volunteer to speak to their family, or to a GP, about how they are feeling. You might also signpost them to support in your local area.
  
  
• In line with the Scout’s safeguarding procedures, if you a concerned that a young person is at risk of harm from themselves (or others) you will need to pass this information on. Inform the young person where possible that you're required to pass any concerns on. Agree with them on how you will inform their parents – will you do it directly, or support the young person to do so?
  
  
• If you're concerned an adult volunteer is at risk of harm to themselves or others, you should pass this on to the person’s line manager.