Interview - Andrew Bollington, Scouts

Launched in September, Squirrel Scouts will be rolled out in the communities hardest hit by the pandemic. Children will be encouraged to get active and explore nature, earning them badges like other Scouts. It is the first time in 35 years the Scouts have launched a new programme.

WHAT WAS THE MOTIVATION BEHIND SQUIRREL SCOUTS?

We launched Squirrels to help four- and five-year-olds gain the skills they need when and where it matters most. Using our experience of delivering informal learning, especially in the outdoors, we encourage Squirrels to get active, to spark a sense of curiosity. It’s about helping to get them exploring nature and have fun outdoors with their friends. It’s an opportunity to get creative, grow in confidence and really shine.

Good-quality early learning is vital, and the research tells us that it has lifelong benefits. It gives these young people the best possible start in life, when early brain architecture is being set down, giving them a huge boost to their communication, and social skills. This is especially important for those growing up in the pandemic, who have spent two-thirds of their life in lockdown.

Scouts has inspired young people’s skills for life for over 100 years, and now it’s time for four- and five-year-olds to get involved. Crucially, we want to use this moment to reach out to new and different communities – those who haven’t considered Scouts before.

The Squirrels programme builds on some pioneering work, in Northern Ireland, where Squirrels has run for more than 20 years under the umbrella of a separate organisation. These groups have now become part of the wider family of UK Scouts. We’ve learned so much from them, about the power of play, and the capabilities of this age range. The 44 pilot groups we’ve run in England have also been invaluable. We learned through a process of test and learn about the power of play, routine, and engaging communities, parents and volunteers. It was enough to convince us that the model could work.

Our goal is to have 12,000 Squirrels in the first three years, which will then steadily increase further – with a plan to create 130,000 places within the next ten years.

WHY THE FOCUS ON CHILDREN MOST IMPACTED BY COVID?

Covid-19 has meant that children are falling behind, particularly those in our most deprived communities. That is why we’re focusing the launch of Squirrels in the communities where we can make the most difference. These are areas where opportunities for young people to develop skills for life can be transformational. They will help shape – even determine – these young people’s futures.

We particularly piloted Squirrels in areas of deprivation and with Black, Asian and other minority ethnic communities. We’ve seen how our young Squirrels really bloomed as a result, that’s a testament to the energy of the volunteers who support them so well.

We believe that it’s critical to offer young people skills for life, regardless of where they live in the UK, and to support them through their development. We’re proud to be there at the start of these young people’s journeys, and even prouder to be supporting communities that have been under-represented in Scouting.

WHAT CHALLENGES DO YOU THINK THESE CHILDREN WILL FACE?

The pandemic has demonstrated the disparities between the richest and poorest communities in the country. We know from Ofsted that children who live in places hit hardest are lacking basic skills. They’re also coming out of this crisis with higher levels of anxiety and feeling less confident. As a movement for young people, we won’t stand by and watch these young people struggle to develop the skills they need for life.

However, one of the biggest challenges these children will face is the shortage of volunteers needed to run these programmes. Without volunteers supporting and helping out, we’re unable to extend Squirrels wider. The good news is that you don’t need specialist skills to help out. We offer all the training you need, whether it’s running a game, or help building a den, and we make safety a priority for all. We’d love to recruit 5,000 new volunteers, which would not only benefit our new young Squirrels, but volunteers themselves. That’s the message behind our recruitment campaign, #GoodForYou – volunteering is great for your wellbeing, happiness and developing skills. Our volunteers are our lifeline. We can’t do without them.

WHAT ACTIVITIES WILL BE ON OFFER?

Our new Squirrels will have the chance to go on outdoor adventures, learn new things and make new friends. These are all fundamental to children’s development. They’ll be doing as much as possible outdoors, which is a particularly exciting place for young people to learn. There is something magical that happens between children and nature – it really brings their senses to life and accelerates learning.

Our Squirrels could be creating blanket tents, seed bombing a new area or learning how to handle money. Our focus is providing these young children with a safe environment where they can learn essential skills for life.

Our Squirrels take part in cultural activities too, such as experiencing religious festivals that may be different to their own family backgrounds. This encourages respect and understanding of different views and beliefs. There’s a whole world out there for our new Squirrels to explore.

WHAT BADGES WILL SQUIRRELS BE ABLE TO EARN?

Similar to our other age ranges, Squirrels will be able to earn a variety of exciting activity badges. Believe me, these have a powerful effect on young people. They can also earn four challenge awards, which leads on to our top Squirrels award – the Chief Scout’s Acorn Award. Being able to earn badges gives young people a real sense of achievement and something for them to be proud of as part of their journey through Scouts.

Our Squirrel Scouts have the chance to become Brilliant Builders, Exciting Experimenters and Outdoor Explorers. Through our badges, they will develop core and essential skills, such as teamwork, communication, community awareness and other core skills.

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