Skills, experiences, adventure, and challenges with a twist. Yes, this is what young people aged 4 to 17 can learn and develop by joining the 20th St Albans Ansar Scouts.
Scouting provides more than just over 250 activities ranging from leadership skills to more practical skills for life, from cooking, DIY, to emergency aid, to pioneering, and yes, of course, they spend a lot of time outdoors on hikes, camping, and supporting the local community, all of which help build confidence, resilience, and integrity in the young people.
Scouting in the UK is growing, and in St Albans, it’s no different. The growth in Scouting in Muslim communities is growing, and to keep up with the local demands and interest, especially for those aged 10 to 17, the 20th St Albans Ansar Scouts (the Ansars) have added two more scout troops and an Explorer Unit.
The two new troops have been created; one of the troops is for girls, one for boys, to allow young Muslim boys and girls to experience scouting that falls in line with cultural and religious values.
The Ansars has the following sections: Squirrels (ages 4 to 6), Beavers (ages 6 to 8), Cubs (ages 8 to 10), Scouts (ages 10 to 14), and Explorers (ages 14 to 17), and they have spaces in all sections.
Hanifa, a Scout, said: “I really enjoy the skills, games, and activities we do. I’ve been camping, climbed most of the way up a climbing wall, been kayaking, and am now looking forward to doing my Expedition badge, which means that my patrol and I get to plan our hike, overnight camp, and plan and cook all our meals.”
Parveen, a mum, said: “Hanifa really looks forward to coming to Scouts. She has made lots of new friends, and other Muslims her age she can connect with, and over the years of being part of the Ansars, she has become more confident. She was a bit nervous about going to camp, but when she came back, she wanted to know when they were going again as she enjoyed it so much.”
Young people get to learn skills for life. These include commitment, communication, confidence, independence, leadership, resilience, social skills, and teamwork. For Explorer Scouts, these skills can help them with applications for apprenticeships, college, employment, and university.
Group lead volunteer Monir said: “Volunteering with Scouts is a great opportunity to help young people learn and develop skills, along with having fun and trying out new activities, and putting both the Scout Values and Muslim Values into action. It’s also a great opportunity to learn and develop new skills yourself, make friends, try new activities, and take pride in seeing young people develop.”
There are also opportunities for adults to get involved as a volunteer and help run one of the sections, or help the Group in the background by fundraising, being a trustee, with administration, IT, or just helping when needed.
To sign up your child or to become a team member as a volunteer, please visit the Ansar Scouts website at www.20thstalbansscouts.org or contact the group lead volunteer Monir Ali at weare@20thstalbansscouts.org
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