Special needs scout group is 'really inclusive'

Confidence is growing and friendships are being forged at a scout group for children with additional needs.

When 66th Coventry Scout Group was set up in September, about eight or nine parents brought their children to the Wednesday meetings and many were timid.

Over three months, the youngsters have become happy and excited about joining in and their confidence has grown.

The group, which meets at Sherborne Fields Special School and takes boys and girls, is now oversubscribed with a list of nearly 70 children waiting to join.

Eleana's mother Francesca described her daughter's excitement on Wednesdays and the anticipation of looking forward to going to scouts.

She said: "We always know it's Wednesday, because from the moment she comes into school in the morning, she tells everybody 'it's scouts tonight'."

Francesca said by the time Eleana gets home from school on, everything has to happen "really quickly" to get to scouts and when they arrive, she is "always the first one through the door".

Eleana said: "I feel happy and excited when I come to scouts and see my friends."

Scout leader Ian Brown said the main thing was building confidence.

He said: "At first, when they came in, they were very, very timid. They didn't really want to get involved in things.

"At the start, we had probably eight or nine parents sat at the back, and they would go and sit with their parents at the back. Week by week, the parents slowly drifted off and their confidence has grown."

Members of the group come from different schools across the city and are aged between four and 16.

Warwick said he enjoyed going to scouts and had made new friends, adding: "It shows that if we are given the right opportunities and support, we can achieve anything."

Macsen said he had tried other groups but found them "just a little bit too busy".

He said: "This one's really inclusive and really welcoming to everyone."

Meanwhile, Zack encouraged anyone who might be nervous to join. Using sign language, he told the BBC: "Don't be scared, because everyone here is nice."

The group describes itself as an inclusive and accessible scout group that aims to allow young people with additional needs the chance to become involved in scouting and show "what incredible things they are really capable of".

Called the Pioneers, the group runs activities based on the abilities of the young people rather than a specific age range.

Members can meet friends, try new things and gain badges, just as other scouts around the world do.

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