Bake baklava

• Take a look at our guidance on food preparation. 
• You could run our kitchen hygiene activities before this session.
• Always have a hand washing station, washing hands regularly throughout this activity, and taking extra hygiene precautions when handling food. If you're using gloves to prepare food, treat them like your hands. Wash any gloves before using them and in between if necessary.
• Spray and wipe down all working surfaces and tables with anti-bacterial spray before and after use, and wash any equipment you’re using in hot soapy water.
• Take extra hygiene precautions when handling raw meat, such as regular hand washing.
• Keep raw and ready-to-eat foods separate, having separate equipment for raw and cooked meat, and washing up equipment as soon as it's been used. 
• Make sure food is properly cooked before you serve it. Always cut through poultry and meat to make sure it's fully cooked, especially when barbecuing food. Make sure it's cooked slowly and thoroughly, and not just done on the outside.
• Always follow cooking instructions and never use food past its use-by date. 
• Keep food out of the fridge for the shortest time possible.

• At the start of this activity, remind everyone of kitchen or indoor cooking safety rules and how to act safely. Always tie hair back, tuck in neckers and loose clothing, and wear closed toe shoes. Take a look at our kitchen safety tips.
• You may want to run a demonstration on how to use the equipment safely, such as for cooking or chopping ingredients. You could use our kitchen safety activities before this session.
• Make sure any cooking equipment or heat sources, such as ovens and hobs, always have adult supervision, including during free time and arrival times. If anyone struggles with sensing danger, you should consider providing extra adult supervision. This could be especially helpful at unstructured times, such as breaks or waiting to cook.
• Remind everyone to keep their fingers away from any knives. You may want to use blunt, child-friendly knives, or you could also have ingredients pre-chopped.
• If you’re using a gas stove, tabletop hob plates or a mini oven, make sure it’s on a stable heatproof surface and in a clear and open area, with plenty of ventilation. Gas appliances and sources can increase risk of carbon monoxide exposure. Take a look at our guidance on different cooking methods and carbon monoxide.
• You may want to put child-safe locks on cupboard doors to prevent access by young people, especially for cupboards containing matches, cleaning products or chemicals.

• People can work in small groups or as a whole group to bake or cook. Each group should have adult supervision.
• You may want to be in groups, but everyone to use the same cooking source, rather than having each group have their own.
• You may wish for groups to make or prepare the ingredients in a wider, more spacious area, then invite each group into the kitchen to cook one at a time. 
• Remember the groups not using the kitchen or cooking will still need to be supervised, always following the Yellow Card. 
• Make sure you have all the ingredients ready. You may want to pre-chop or pre-measure some activities.

Scouts is open to everyone. We don’t identify exclusively with one faith, and we welcome people of all faiths and of none.

We know it’s important for people to learn about each other, including understanding different faiths and beliefs. Scouts always respects people’s beliefs, faiths and cultures, and everyone should be open to learn.

As an inclusive and values based movement, we support our members to engage and learn about different faiths and beliefs in an exciting and meaningful way, even if they don’t have a faith themselves.  

Celebrating and understanding differences, including differences in faiths and beliefs, is an important part of our Scout values, which are:

• Integrity: We act with integrity; we are honest, trustworthy and loyal.
• Respect: We have self-respect and respect for others.
• Care: We support others and take care of the world in which we live.
• Belief: We explore our faiths, beliefs and attitudes.
• Co-operation: We make a positive difference; we co-operate with others and make friends.

Our value of Belief and its exploration helps Scouts to learn from other faiths and beliefs. This encourages them to develop or build their personal beliefs and understand their shared values, whether faith-based on not. 

We know that learning about faiths, beliefs and different attitudes can help to break down barriers, helps us all to recognise what we have in common, and teaches us to value and respect other people. It also helps us to build up respect, acceptance and knowledge for each other, leading to a more co-operative and inclusive society. 

In our diverse society, people can sometimes feel cautious talking about  this sensitive subject. However, it's important that Scouts offers young people safe, exciting and open spaces to explore faiths and beliefs. They should be able to engage in personal reflection, as they question and develop their opinions and understanding of the world around them.

Making time for personal reflection and developing our beliefs means exploring the places, people, communities, celebrations or stories which hold meaning for us, and it may not necessarily mean exploring a faith. 

For example, someone’s shared values may be their Scout Values and that person may choose to reflect on them at important times, such as when they make their Promise. Others may choose to reflect at certain times of the year, such as a faith-based festival, birthdays, meaningful events or at New Year. Some people may still celebrate events, such as Christmas, but use it as a time to celebrate family, friends and loved ones, as well as for charity and giving.

Discover more about Faiths and Beliefs in Scouts.

What’s Ramadan?

• Ramadan remembers the month the Qur'an (the Muslim holy book) was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.
• The actual night that the Qur'an was revealed is a night known as Laylatul Qadr ('The Night of Power').
• During the month of Ramadan, Muslims won't eat or drink during the hours of daylight. This is called fasting.
• Young people aren’t expected to fast until they reach puberty, usually around the age of 14.

How’s Ramadan celebrated?

• Most Muslims fast between dawn and sunset.
• Fasting allows Muslims to devote themselves to their faith. It’s thought to teach self-discipline and reminds them of the suffering of the poor.
• Children, young people, pregnant women, elderly people and those who are ill or travelling don't have to fast.
• During Ramadan, it’s common to have one meal (known as the suhoor), just before dawn and another (known as the iftar), directly after sunset.
• Almost all Muslims try to give up bad habits during Ramadan. It’s a time for prayer and good deeds. They’ll try to spend time with family and friends, and help people in need.
• Many Muslims will attempt to read the whole of the Qur'an at least once during Ramadan. They will also attend special services in Mosques during which the Qur'an is read.

What’s Eid al-Fitr?

• The end of Ramadan is marked by a big celebration called 'Eid al-Fitr' (the Festival of the Breaking of the Fast).
• Muslims are celebrating the end of fasting and also thanking Allah for the strength he gave them throughout the fast.
• Mosques hold special services and a special meal is eaten during daytime (the first daytime meal for a month).
• During Eid al-Fitr, Muslims dress in their finest clothes, give gifts, and spend time with their friends and family. They’ll also give money to charity at Eid.
• Eid marks the end of a month of fasting from dawn to sunset, as well as spiritual reflection and prayer. The day starts with prayers and a big meal is usually the main event, but there’s lots of other ways people celebrate too.

What’s Eid al-Adha and why's it celebrated?

• Eid al-Adha ('Festival of Sacrifice') is one of the most important festivals in the Muslim calendar.
• The festival remembers the prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son when God ordered him to.
• Eid al-Adha celebrates the time when Ibrahim had a dream which he believed was a message from Allah asking him to sacrifice his son Isma'il as an act of obedience to God.
• The devil tempted Ibrahim by saying he should disobey Allah and spare his son. As Ibrahim was about to kill his son, Allah stopped him and gave him a lamb to sacrifice instead.

When’s Eid al-Adha?

• Muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha on the last day of the Hajj. The Hajj is pilgrimage to Makkah in Saudi Arabia.
• It occurs every year and is the Fifth Pillar of Islam (and therefore very important).
• All Muslims who are fit and able to travel should make the visit to Makkah at least once in their lives.
• In 2023, Eid al-Adha will begin on the evening of Wednesday 28 June and end on the evening of Sunday 2 July.

What happens during the Hajj?

• During the Hajj, the pilgrims perform acts of worship and renew their faith and sense of purpose in the world.
• They stand before the Ka'bah, a shrine built by Ibrahim, and praise Allah together.
• The Ka'bah is the most important monument in Islam.
• Pilgrims walk around the Ka'bah seven times and many of them try to touch the Black Stone located at the corner.

How do people celebrate Eid-al-Adha?

• Eid-al-Adha usually starts with Muslims going to the Mosque for prayers.
• They dress in their best clothes and thank Allah for all the blessings they have received.
• It's a time when they visit family and friends. 
• Muslims will also give money to charity, so that poorer people can celebrate too.