Badges and Blethers: Squirrels Celebrate Rights Challenge Success
In this edition of Badges and Blethers, we share how the 3rd East Kilbride Scout Group Squirrel Drey took on the inspiring Rights Challenge Badge. A badge unique to Scotland, the Rights Challenge empowers young people to learn about their own human rights and the rights of others, all while building the confidence to speak up when those rights aren’t respected. From den-building to deep discussions, these youngest Scouts have shown just how big an impact even our smallest voices can make.
From Squirrels through to Explorers, the Rights Challenge Badge allows our young people to have a voice within their group and community, all whilst promoting awareness of children’s rights for our adult volunteers too.
For our younger sections, activities such as den-building, shield creations and group conversations are all part of the journey the young people will take to, not only learn about their rights, but also to defend them and discuss that sense of change needed within the community.
This is exactly what the Squirrel Drey at 3rd East Kilbride challenged themselves to achieve.
Over the course of three nights (and some extra homework for some), 7 young people were able to complete all the tasks necessary to achieve this unique badge, where 6 of the young people were then presented their badge by Scout Scotland’s Lead Volunteer for Programme, Callum Holt, at the group’s AGM.
Jill King, Squirrel Team Leader at 3rd East Kilbride Scout Group, said:
“Our young people really embraced this badge and took everything in their stride. From comments on armies and parking next to schools, to library books getting vandalised, we had a range of topics and opened ended discussions with our Squirrels. Our young people are very aware that everything we ask them to do on a weekly basis is to keep them safe, so for them to be able to discuss this further and become more aware of their own rights for safe environments, it was very empowering for both the young people and adults involved, and we could not be prouder of them all”
Callum Holt, Lead Volunteer for Programme, said:
“It was incredible to visit 3rd East Kilbride and hear about the successes from all of their sections! From top awards to some young people experiencing their first nights under canvas and plans underway for another international trip, it has been a busy year!
The part that equally excited me alongside all of that, was hearing about 7 of their squirrels completing their Rights Challenge Badge. I am always blown away by the conversations you can have with 4 year olds around their rights, what matters to them and how they can help uphold the rights of others.
I’m exceptionally proud of Scouts Scotland as a movement for continuing to be the only uniformed youth organisation that actively embeds children and humans rights into its programme, and I am so proud of our 7 newest human rights defenders, who in the blink of an eye will be the next generation of volunteers supporting even more young people to continue to try and make the world a better place”
🔗If you are interested in hearing more about the Rights Challenge Badge, you can find out more here.
