Numbers that matter: results you should know about Squirrels

Numbers matter. We want to make sure we’re reaching a wide range of young people, and those who need it most. That’s young people living in areas of deprivation; young people from a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic background and young people with disabilities/additional needs. Scouts makes a difference wherever it happens – but in these communities, our impact can be much more significant. 

What do we know so far? 

• 700 Dreys opened in the first 12 months since Squirrels launched – and there are lots more in the pipeline. 
• 27% of new Dreys that have opened in the most disadvantaged communities in the UK. 
• 35% all Squirrels are girls. 
• Over a third of Dreys have 10% or more Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic representation. 
• 1,200 volunteer adults are completely new to Scouts. 

What do these numbers tell us? 

• Squirrels is a huge success: We’re on track to create 100,000 new places in the next five years. We’ve shown that this is possible by recruiting lots of new volunteers who are excited and motivated to work with 4- to 6-year-olds. 
• Reaching new communities: With 27% of Dreys opened in hard-to-reach communities, we’re making a real break-through in Scouts’ reach. These were the communities where COVID lockdowns hit hardest and where kids are most likely to lack the developmental opportunities that Scouts offers.  
• Still more to do: While 27% of Dreys opened in hard-to-reach communities, only 17% of children actually came from these communities. There are more girls in Squirrels than in other sections, we’re still a long way off 50/50. 

How we’re using this to get better 

• Offering support: There’s grants and resources to support opening Dreys in the most disadvantaged communities. Apply to our nights away and start-up grants so we can support you. 
• Prioritising areas of deprivation: We’re prioritising towards areas of deprivation, but we’re not saying ‘no’ to other areas. Even if you open in a more affluent area, you could still be reaching young people who would benefit from Scouts. We welcome Squirrel Dreys being opened wherever there’s an appetite for them.  
• Inspiring Dreys to reach out: Wherever they are located, we’re keen for Squirrel Dreys to be proactive in reaching out to other communities. We know people can often have misconceptions about Scouts. For example, ‘Scouts is for Boys’ and ‘Scouts isn’t for people like me’ can be common perceptions within many communities. Get some tips for furthering reach with our toolkit.

Finally, a big thank you 

There’s no escaping the reality that measurement takes time and effort. So, everything we know so far has only been possible because many people, including hundreds of Squirrel volunteers, have helped us to track what’s happening across the UK. We’re also very grateful to the Centre on Research in Early Childhood (CREC) and their latest report for helping us to analyse the numbers.