Volunteering at Scouts is changing to help us reach more young people
Volunteering is changing to help us reach more young people
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(Links to Module A and D).
Below are optional activities for running this module. However, it's important to run activities and methods that best suit your ESYLs, ensuring you fulfil the aim and objectives of the modules.
The Scout Association is committed to being inclusive of all young people. This means everyone is welcome regardless of how much money they have or where they come from, what their gender is or how they identify, what their sexual orientation is, whether they have a disability or mental health issue, and no matter what their religion is or whether they have one at all. All ESYLs should be ready to do their best to support the inclusion and full participation of all young people in Scouting.
Note: Remember that modules can be delivered by anyone with the relevant experience and knowledge of the subject matter in the module. If you do not feel confident with the content of this module, speak to your District or County/Area or Region to find out who would be best placed to support.
This module will teach you how to create an environment that is inclusive and welcoming for all young people in the section. It will give you an understanding of some different additional needs a young person might have, and show you how to make reasonable adjustments to make the programme more inclusive for all.
By the end of this module, you'll be able to:
You'll need:
(10 minutes)
Start the session by introducing the topic of the module: inclusion and accessibility in Scouting. Discussing what the terms ‘inclusion’ and ‘diversity’ mean.
Promoting diversity in Scouting means that we welcome members from all and any backgrounds and celebrate what makes every person different.
When we talk about inclusion in Scouting, we are talking about the act of ensuring that Scouting is open to all and supporting anyone to overcome any barrier to participating in the Scouting programme.
As part of being inclusive, we need to ensure that our programme and meeting place is appropriate and that we have considered any additional needs members might have.
Ask the ESYLs if they have come across additional needs before. They will have done at school. Explain that everyone is different and that everyone has needs in some way. This is what makes the world interesting. What do the ESYLs understand by the terms ‘special educational needs’ and ‘disability’?
Additional needs and disabilities may be visible or invisible, and the needs of each young person will be unique. Some may occur for a limited period of time. For example, a broken arm, an illness, or some emotional needs due to a family break-up, are all temporary needs.
However, many additional needs are permanent conditions. These include conditions such as asthma, ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), dyslexia or physical disabilities.
Some additional needs can fluctuate and may be affected by a range of different factors, such as stress. Additional needs and disabilities should not prevent a young person from being able to participate in Scouting. By making reasonable adjustments (doing things differently or providing additional support), most young people can access Scouting and develop to their full potential.
In Scouting, adults need to be aware of any allergies, medical needs, and faith-based or cultural needs a young person may have. You may need to cater for vegetarian, Halal and Kosher diets, for example. Or, you may need to cater to a young person who is coeliac or has a nut allergy. It's important to ensure
that everyone’s needs are incorporated into section meetings and camps.
(suitable for groups of any size, approx. 10 minutes)
(suitable for groups of any size, approx. 15 minutes)
(suitable for groups sized 7+, approx. 10 minutes)
Note: before you hand out the coloured cards, give some thought to the person who will play ‘the green’ character. The activity will inevitably lead to this person feeling temporarily isolated and ‘left out’. This can be a frustrating and unsettling experience. It's therefore important to choose an ESYL who you know will respond well to this. Activities about special educational needs and additional needs There are lots of different types of Special Educational Needs (SEN) that ESYLs may come across in their role. It's really important not to label people. Instead, they should get to know individuals, as discussed in the previous activity. Different needs can present differently in different people, so it's important not to generalise or stereotype. That said, there are often some commonalities within different SENs. Understanding these commonalties will help them to best support young people to have a fun and rewarding time in scouting.
Below are some games and activities that can be used to support ESYLs to develop an understanding of both additional needs and SENs.
(suitable for groups of any size, approx. 15 minutes)
(suitable for groups of any size, approx. 10 minutes)
(suitable for groups of any size, approx. 10 minutes)
(suitable for bigger groups, approx. 10 minutes)
(suitable for groups of any size, approx. 20 minutes)
(suitable for groups of any size, approx. 20 minutes)
Sometimes ESYLs may find themselves in a situation where they have to adapt a game or activity they are running on the spot. An example of this might be if they are running an opening game and a young person turns up with a broken leg. This requires them to be able to adapt at speed, and to think creatively, so everyone can join in.
There are some very useful resources to help ensure a scouting programme is inclusive for all. These
include:
These can all be found on scouts.org.uk
Summarise the module by revisiting the objectives. Ask the ESYLs whether they feel they have covered all of the objectives satisfactorily. Before they go, carry out a review or an evaluation of the session.