Reaching young people from lower-income areas

Where's the Drey located?

The Drey is located in a small market town, inland from the coast by 10 miles. It's a rural community, with mainly independent, local shops. Residents are required to travel by car for everything: the closest hospital is 33 miles away, the nearest college 18 miles away, and the dentist is up to 20 minutes away. There's also a limited bus schedule.

Because of these reasons, the community often feels overlooked for financial aid. Their Group Scout Leader says: ‘Funding goes to the coast or other larger towns.’

What are the challenges and opportunities?

The local Scouts community is very active. The Squirrel Drey successfully opened in September 2021, and both children and parents are very engaged. To have a meaningful impact on the community, the Group Scout Leader says the group needs to be very organised, and very conscious about what can be done.

As the group is located in IMD 2, there are some families that struggle financially. The Group Scout Leader suggested that to develop a positive relationship with families, they must respect their boundaries and remain open to honest discussions. Some families may not appreciate opening up about their financial situation, so the Leaders adopt a flexible approach and provide opportunities to tackle various scenarios.

The group has carefully budgeted for uniforms and posted them to the children’s home addresses, so that no child felt that their families couldn't afford to buy a uniform.

They also inform the families well in advance (three months) when there are camps or an overnight stay, so each family can budget and make sure they can make such a financial commitment.

Waiving fees is usually done on a 1:1 basis, and only after a conversation with the parents. The group has also opened a ‘uniform bank’. This is an opportunity for families to donate their uniforms, shoes, wellies, and coats. The uniform bank is looked after by the Scouts, and uniforms are available for free. The Group Scout Leader says she's happy the Scouts are looking after the uniform store, as it's a way for them to learn about inclusivity and develop a sense of responsibility.

Working in partnership with parents and developing strong, positive relationships with families and children in the community has helped the local Scout group to grow and thrive over the years. It's especially important at a time when children's mental health can be at risk and some families may be struggling financially due to the cost of living. 

Key steps:

• Talk about your group's challenges and priorities with other volunteers in your group.
• Be prepared to have open and honest conversations.
• Work in partnership with parents and carers. For example, you can invite them to lead on activities.