Introduction

Read each of the sections below and complete all the activities. Once you reach the end, there is a link to OSM where you can upload evidence of your work from the activities. OSM is how we keep track of your progress so you must complete it to have evidence of this module. You can either write your work digitally or take a picture of any pieces of paper you use. However you choose, make sure you keep track of your work to get the recognition.

This module will take you 45 minutes to an hour to complete.

Objectives

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 the module, you will have an understanding of:

• that every young person is different
• that every young person is welcome in Scouting
• your role in contributing to a positive and inclusive environment
• a range of additional needs may affect participation in the programme
• how to adapt programmes to meet the needs of all young people within the section
• where to get further information and guidance

Diversity and Inclusion

The concept of diversity encompasses recognising people as individuals, understanding that everybody is unique and that we should respect our individual differences. These differences may include but are not limited to:

• age
• gender identity
• race
• religion
• social or economic background
• abilities or disabilities

Encouraging diversity in Scouting promotes respect for different ideas and perspectives as well as an understanding of differences that can impact on others.

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.

It is important to consider diversity and inclusion as at its core Scouting is an inclusive, values-based movement and membership is open to all those who share our fundamental values. A person’s differences and uniqueness should be encouraged and celebrated.

Activity 1

Write down what inclusion and diversity mean to you, and why they are important in Scouting. Do you think your section/group is fully inclusive?

To run activities in your section that will help to explore the themes of diversity and inclusion, have a look at the following badges for your section level:

Squirrels: Let’s Celebrate, Local Superhero, Community Impact
Beavers: Faith, International, My World, Community Impact
Cubs: My Faith, International, World Faiths, Our World Challenge, Community Impact
Scouts: My Faith, International, World Faiths, World Challenge, Global Issues, Community Impact

Additional Needs and Disabilities

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.

It is also important to be aware of any allergies, medical needs, faith or cultural needs a young person may have. For example, you may need to cater for vegetarian, Halal and Kosher diets or a young person who is coeliac or has a nut allergy and ensure that their needs are incorporated into section meetings and camps.

Activity 2

Match the celebrity with their additional need:

All these celebrities have some form of additional needs, but they have not prevented them from excelling in their respective fields. Just because someone has some form of additional needs, it should not stop them from joining in and pursuing things that they are interested in.

To run activities in your section that will help to explore the themes of Disabilities have a look at the following badges:

Squirrels: Local Superhero, Community Impact
Beavers: Disability Awareness, Community Impact
Cubs: Disability Awareness, Community Impact
Scouts: World Challenge, Community Impact

Additional Needs and Inclusion

Additional needs and disabilities should not prevent a young person from being able to participate in Scouting. By making reasonable adjustments most young people can access Scouting and develop to their full potential. Most adjustments take the form of adding something to or removing something from the activity. Adjustments could include:

• Altering a game’s rules to make it no contact
• Providing one to one support
• Having one young person read the instructions for another
• Having different food options available

Activity 3

Have a look at the following term programme and decide what, if any, adjustments may be needed to overcome the situations below. If you are viewing this on mobile you may need to scroll sideways to see the full table.

Date	Activity	Description	Venue	Challenge area
19 Sept	Harvest festival	Bring in a selection of fruit and vegetables; Colony discusses where food is grown and how it gets to shops	HQ	My World
26 Sept	Dinosaur models	Make paper mache models on wire coat-hanger frames, decorate with poster paint	HQ	My Skills
3 Oct	Scavenger hunt	Collect a variety of leaves and twigs from the woods to compare & spot differences, think about seasons	Woods	My Outdoor
10 Oct	Puppet storytelling	Create finger puppets and use them to tell well-known stories using puppet theatre	HQ	My Skills
17 Oct	Visit a Synagogue	Look at the key features of the building and explore Judaism	Synagogue	My World
24 Oct	Making biscuits	Make biscuits and ice them	Kitchen	My Skills

Scenarios:

1. You have a young person who is on the autism spectrum and will need additional support to understand and follow instructions.
2. You are planning your camp and a young person who is Jewish and follows a kosher diet will be coming along. The young person will also need time and space to pray during the event.
3. You have a young person who wears a headscarf in your group. Are there are considerations you need to make to ensure everything is inclusive in the Programme?
4. You have three young people with glasses in your group.
5. You have one young person who can’t eat wheat and one young person who has asthma.

Further information

There are some very useful resources to help ensure a Scouting programme is inclusive for all. These include:

• Deaf Friendly Scouting resource
• A Million Hand’s resources: Mind, Leonard Cheshire, Guide Dogs
• Refugee resources
• Makaton promise
• Alternative versions of the promise

These can all be found on scouts.org.uk

If you ever have any questions about specific situations relating to additional needs and inclusion then don’t be afraid to discuss it with an adult leader. Not knowing how to deal with certain circumstances at first is okay if you are open minded and willing to learn.

Conclusion

Look back at the objectives at the top of this page and see if you think you are confident with each of them. If there are any parts you are unsure of then you can contact the YL training team with any questions. If you do think you know everything then go to OSM to upload your evidence for each activity there or email it to your leader. You need to complete this to be signed off.

If haven’t used OSM before, check out our step-by-step guide by clicking here.

Once you are logged in:

1. Click on the “Badges” tab on the left side under your name
2. Click on the “Young Leader Modules” badge under “Challenge Badges”
3. Click “Complete at home” and follow the instructions

Go to OSM

Thank you for taking the time to do training at home :)