9th March 2025 - Realisation About Young People
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This is written after a long weekend training some 66 or so young 
people for their Bronze, Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award 
expeditions. It is half formed but a realisation I hit. This is not a 
missive about how they need to toughen up or any of that bollocks. 

I have been involved with the Explorers, 14 to 18 year olds, for a 
good 5 years or so now. I help with district events and so I have got 
to know most Explorers generally. This has lead to seeing some of 
these people develope from being nervous 14 year olds to confident 
adults. It is an interesting journey and I came to a realisation. 

Young people need a space to be as weird without being judged. They 
need to be able to try out different personas. School is often a 
brutal place where people are judged for everything and home can be an 
extremely isolating place. Scouts offers a regular place and time with 
around 25 people who are regularly there. This can offer a secure 
place where young people can try something and see how others react. 
The impact is relatively small and so the stakes are low. It is hard 
to be 'cool' as a scout. Uniforms are weird and the whole working 
towards awards and badges is geeky. This seems to present a perfect 
environment to become their true self. 

I have known many young people who are questioning their identity. 
This can be gender, sexuality, what they are good at and how they wish 
to present theirselves. For a lot of the time, this involves the young 
person not wanting their parents to know yet. It is a fine line for 
sure and can be very hard. 

Often, there have been little signs in which the young person is  
reaching out. Pride flag colours seem to be a key method since I  
started noticing them in 2016 or so. I tend to mention that leaders 
are always willing to listen if the young person needs a kind ear. 
This has lead to discussions about trying new names, pronouns or 
what not. One explorer changed their name about 7 times but the change 
has been fantastic to see. We offered a regular space for them to not 
hide and so they could find their voice and new identity as well as 
the confidence which comes with it. 

Of course, not all Scout groups are perfect. Not all Scout groups have 
leaders who are able to empathise with these young people's struggles. 
Not all Scout groups offer a safe space. However, I know many leaders 
and groups who just want the young people in their groups to be happy 
and learn some skills. It is not hard to learn a new name. Mistakes 
happen but so long as you say sorry and try to avoid repeats, no one 
is angry. I am frequently amazed by how much people change after they 
find theirselves. It is fantastic to see.