Thousands of 4- and 5-year-olds are experiencing Scouts for the first time, with the opening of over 450 Squirrel Dreys across the UK
Since September 2021, volunteers across the nation have been welcoming our youngest newcomers and their families into the Squirrel section. Our Squirrel Dreys have reached new communities, as well as those who’ve been hit hardest by the pandemic.
There’s been a gradual roll-out of Squirrels using a cohort model. Each cohort is made up of ten Squirrel Dreys from different locations, from Cornwall to Dundee. Bringing different counties together in a cohort means leaders can share ideas with their peers.
Each cohort is supported by a volunteer Cohort Coach. They set up meetings, show leaders where to find information, and collect feedback. The Cohort Coach brings everyone together through regular Zoom meetings, where leaders can share their experiences of opening and running a Squirrel Drey.
Nick Coates signed up for his volunteering role as Cohort Coach in May 2021. After completing his induction, he was allocated to his first cohort, which opened their Dreys in September. Nick was keen to be a part of this pivotal event in Scout history.
‘It was an exciting time,’ Nick said, ‘It had been 35 years since the Beavers was launched and I wanted to be part of this new section. The cohort approach seemed to be the most appropriate way to move forward.’
Nick’s experience of opening new Beaver sections has really helped with the setup of new Squirrel groups. He’s enjoyed being the ‘go-to’ person between local Squirrel leaders and the national Early Years team, making sure they have everything they need to be successful.
While Nick has plenty of Scouting experience, this isn’t the case for all Cohort Coaches. Some come from an early years or primary education background, and others from a professional career in training and coaching.
Zoey Moger started her journey as a Cohort Coach last summer. She comes from a primary education background but she first became involved with Scouts through her children. She believes the cohort model has let Squirrel leaders from diverse backgrounds share their experiences, which has helped the groups reach new communities. She said:
‘The groups in the cohort are widespread. Setting up a section in a big city like Liverpool will have different challenges from setting up a group in a small village in Hampshire. The leaders can share different experiences and discuss ideas amongst themselves.’
Zoey’s also impressed that her cohort are sharing ideas on how to make the activities fun and inclusive. The leaders often talk about ways to support Squirrels with additional needs.
Over 50 Cohort Coaches have been recruited, but we need more to help us grow. If you’d like to be a part of this journey and support Squirrel Dreys across the nation, apply now to be a Cohort Coach.
