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What Transport to Scoutlinks is Like for Young People with Learning
and Physical Disabilities
By Elizabeth Kemp
Introduction
Scoutlinks is a group for young people with physical and learning disabilities which I
attend. It is a group which meets every Friday night for an hour and a quarter in West
Wickham. Usually about 10 young people attend our Scoutlinks Explorer sessions.
The level of disability the Scouts have is varied including Autism and Downs
Syndrome; however I would say all have a level of communication difficulties.
There are four sections of Scoutlinks:
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Fellowship (aged 25+)
Network (aged 18-25)
Explorers (aged 14-18)
Cubs and Scouts (aged 8-13)
I am going to be researching the Explorer group.
Scoutlinks is part of the Scouting Movement although it is specifically for children
and young people with disabilities. Although it is part of the Scouting Movement the
Scout Association has very little or no interaction with us.
At Scoutlinks a wide variety of activities take place from knot tying to trampolining
and Christmas camps. All activities are tailored for a variety of needs and everybody
is able to take an active part. All activities reflect the scouting aim, to build
confidence, self esteem and team work.
I chose to ‘identify what transport provision is available to leisure facilities for young
people with physical and learning disabilities’ because I am very interested in learning
disabilities and feel leisure facilities for young people with learning disabilities is
important. I also think that as many able bodied young people can get to their own
leisure activities and that young people with learning disabilities are at a disadvantage
having to rely on other people and parents for transport.
I wanted to find out what transport provision is like for young people with learning
and physical disabilities. I wanted to find out about the quality of their experience in
getting to Scoutlinks.
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Methodology
The methods I chose to use to do my research were questionnaires and observations.
I chose questionnaires as I thought they would provide me with a mixture of
quantitative and qualitative data. I also thought they would give me the young
person’s opinions of their transport. I received 6 responses. One of the reasons why I
only received 6 questionnaires was due to informed consent being difficult to obtain
for example particularly if the young people were involved with social services. Also
I thought it was important to get parental permission as well as the young person’s
consent and this was not always practical. I posted out 6 questionnaires and got a
100% response rate. This represented 60% of the client group.
I also used participant observation techniques as I thought these would provide me
with very in depth information about how individuals came to Scoutlinks. I decided
not to inform the individuals concerned that I was doing this research as I thought this
would influence their behaviour. I wanted the data to be collected in a naturalistic
setting. I chose not to write notes at the time of the observation as I wanted to be able
to watch body language and facial expressions of the people involved and get a sense
of the whole scenario. I did write notes straight after the session to validate my
observations.
Analysis of Data
Questionnaires
My data showed that the majority of respondents were aged 16-17 years old. All of
the scouts attend Scoutlinks by car with a parent or they may car share. One
respondant explicitly said they never use public transport or walk. Two of the
respondents said they like coming by car because they don’t get wet. One person said
because she relies on her friend’s mum to bring her, she can’t always come to scouts.
One person also said it’s quicker by car and a further one said it was comfortable.
All of the respondents rated their travel experience to scouts highly. It seems therefore
from the data that parents have to make a commitment early on to bring their child to
Scoutlinks. Their children depend upon this service, although they are aged between
16 and 17 years.
Observations of Child A and Child C
I would now like to discuss the findings from my observations.
Unlike most of the young people in the questionnaires these two young people both
have difficulties in getting to Scoutlinks. They both rely entirely on people other then
parents to bring them. Child A always comes by taxi and Child C comes with a
Residential Social Worker. They both have long journey times. It takes child A 40
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minutes to get to Scoutlinks and Child C 1 hour and 10 minutes each way. Both
young people depend on others through no fault of their own.
Child A uses a wheelchair and has no verbal speech. He uses British Sign Language
And Makaton (sign symbols) to communicate. Consequently only people who know
him and his communication method can understand him. Therefore coming to this
particular group is really important because it is the only chance he gets to socialise
with his peer group.
Child C lives in a residential home and relies on staff bringing her to scouts.
I observed Child A over the course of 3 sessions. In the second session he was not
able to attend because he had been swearing.
I noticed in the first and third sessions the following:
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Both times the taxi came to Scoutlinks it was late. The first time it was 35
minutes late and the second 20 minutes late.
The two reasons for this were the taxi driver getting lost and the taxi arriving
late to his house.
Child A cannot tell the driver what he is thinking or tell him off for being late.
He had limited social time to be with his peers.
Child A was distressed on both occasions when he arrived to the session.
Staff made an effort to make him included and welcome.
Child A was distressed and agitated because all his peers had to leave him
while he waited for his taxi which was late. On the second time he was not as
agitated.
Child A has difficulty communicating with others and therefore relies on
others knowing his communication methods and knowing what the problem
could be.
Due to his disability Child A is vulnerable; however taking a taxi alone is very
independent but he can not be independent when faced with difficult situations
and relies on others to help him.
When child A is welcomed and included by the group he is happy coming to
Scoutlinks.
I would now like to present my findings on Child C.
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Child C and her support workers show considerable commitment in coming
with an hour and a 10 minutes journey time each way.
Child C is not given the same leisure opportunities as others who are not in
care because she is dependant on staff bringing her. There may not be enough
staff at her placement due to sickness, holidays and emergencies. Staff shifts
finish at 9.00pm; however an extra member of staff stays and brings Chid C
to Scoutlinks in their own time. It seems therefore it is down to luck and
goodwill of others as to whether she is able to make it or not.
If a crisis occurs such as another child is ill and taken to hospital then plans
have to be abandoned.
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If staff are needed to take other children home for the weekend which
sometimes happens then this has a knock on effect of Child C coming to
Scoutlinks.
I noticed that when she is at Scoutlinks she makes a positive contribution to
the groups activities.
Conclusions
Although this has been a small scale research project we can still learn from it and
some of the conclusions may be applicable to other groups. I can conclude the
following from my research:
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All scouts rely on somebody else to bring them.
Most rely on parents. Five out of six who filled out the questionnaire relied on
parents to bring them to Scoutlinks by car. This was a reliable and enjoyable
way to travel to Scoutlinks.
A small number did not come with parents. It was more difficult for them to
attend regularly.
My observations showed the obstacles that surround transport issues, for those
that are not travelling with parents.
This research has made me realise that its not a straightforward operation
getting to Scoutlinks and that parents have to be prepared to make a big
commitment for their children who may not be that young.
My observations also revealed that there are children with disabilities who
would like to come to Scoutlinks, but because they can not get help with
transport , they can not attend.
I think that it is unfair that these young people have to rely on one person to bring
them to Scoutlinks. I also think it is unfair in Child A’s situation that for
something so important to him, his taxi is always late.
My research shows that there is a need for better transport provision and services
for young people with learning and physical disabilities when attending
Scoutlinks.
Appendix 1 and 2 follow.
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Appendix 1
Questionnaire
What Transport to Scoutlinks is Like for Young People with Learning and
Physical Disabilities
My name is Lizzie Kemp. I am carrying out this research project with the Open
University in Milton Keynes as part of the Young Researchers Programme to identify
how good the transport is to Scoutlinks for young people with learning and physical
disabilities.
All answers given in this questionnaire will be treated confidentially and will be
destroyed after I have completed my project.
I would be grateful if you could complete the questions below. Thank you for your
help.
1) How old are you?
12-13 □
14-15 □
16-17□
18+□
2) How do you get to Scoutlinks?
Very often
Often
Sometimes
Occasionally
Never
By bus
By car
By taxi
Walk
3) Who brings you to Scoutlinks?
………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………
4) Are there any good and bad things about your transport?
………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………
5) What is your experience of getting to Scoutlinks like?
………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………
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6) How long does it take from your house to get to Scoutlinks?
Less than 20 minutes □ 20 minutes □ 40 minutes □ 1 hour □ 1 hour+ □
7) Does anybody communicate with you on your way to Scoutlinks?
………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………
8) Overall how do you rate your experience?
Excellent
Good
Ok
Bad
Very Bad
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Appendix 2
Observation on Child A
Time: 8.30pm (meeting starts at 7.45pm and finishes at 9.00pm)
Place: Phoenix Youth Centre, West Wickahm
Background
Child A uses a wheelchair and has no verbal speech. He uses British Sign Language
And Makaton (sign symbols) to communicate consequently only people who know
him and his communication method can understand him. It can also take a long time
to work out what Child A is trying to say. He attends this scouts group which operates
between 7.45 and 9.00pm. His journey time is 40 minutes. He has friends and has
been to camp with them. It is his only social activity apart from school away from his
family. This is his only time to socialise with friends as they go to different schools
and he is unable to use the phone, text etc.
Child A is mischievous and enjoys making up signs for people to ‘guess’ what he is
saying.
Evenings at scouts run like this:
7.45 Scouts come in and chat to their friends, helpers about normal things e.g. school,
family, social life and music.
7.50-55 Scouts have flag break and told what is happening this evening, if there is any
special news i.e. Birthdays.
8.00 Game i.e. parachute games where scouts have to work as a team
8.10 Activity
8.35 Drink and biscuit and chat. Child A signed how bad it was being late because of
his taxi.
8.50 Few songs and flag break.
Due to his communication difficulties it takes longer to communicate than it takes 2
people to speak to each other. Child A also can not use body language and facial
expressions to help him communicate except happy and sad. When Child A does sign
something, scouts repeat the sign back to him to check they have got it right. He and
his friend’s need longer to communicate but arriving late because of his taxi gives him
even less time. Some of the signs he uses are not the same as Makaton signs or British
Sign Language.
Observation
On Friday 15th September Child A arrived 50 minutes late for scouts, due to his taxi.
This was not Child A’s fault. Leaders were sent a text by his mum to say he had just
left at 8.05pm. He missed 35 minutes of the meeting and arrived at 8.40pm
As he was late this distressed Child A because he was not able to socialise with his
peers before the meeting begun. He also arrived half way through a game. Scout
leaders settled Child A and he calmed down.
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However tonight his taxi was half an hour late and Child A had to sit with scout
leaders as his friends were collected by parents at 9pm. Child A signed that he wanted
to go home. Child A became agitated as all his friends had left and he is unable to tell
the time.
Eventually Child A’s taxi arrived; however due to his disabilities he cannot
communicate with the driver and cannot easily inform others i.e. his mum of
problems or issues upsetting him.
Due to his disability he is unable to attend mainstream scouts, as the activities are
unsuitable e.g. cycling, hikes etc. this means he has to travel a distance to come a
Scoutlinks group.
Time: 7.45pm
Place: Phoenix Youth Centre, West Wickham.
Observation
On Friday 22nd Child A was not sent to Scoutlinks because he was using bad
language.
Time: 8.10pm
Place: Phoenix Youth Centre, West Wickham.
Observation
On Friday 29th September Child A was 20 minutes late for Scoutlinks. However the
leader had told the other scouts Child A was likely to be late but that when he arrived
they were to greet him in sign i.e. ‘Hi! How are you?’ and they would then launch
into a signing activity. Child A was agitated he arrived late at the meeting (and
halfway through the evenings activity) as he had only 50 minutes to socialise with his
peers however he was happy everybody was signing and he enjoyed the evening. He
was also 15 minutes late leaving. He did sign that his taxi was late although he did not
seem agitated.
Time: 8.30pm
Place: Phoenix Youth Centre, West Wickham.
On Friday 6th October Child A was 45 minutes late for Scoutlinks arriving at 8.30pm
despite leaving his house at 7.15pm.
He was late because the taxi driver got lost and did not know the area.
However Child A’s parents and scout leaders are now looking at different modes of
transport to get Child A to Scoutlinks on time because of his lateness. There are other
children with disabilities who live in Child A’s area and would like to come to
Scoutlinks but cannot due to transport problems.
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Observation on Child C
Time: 7.45pm
Place: the Phoenix Youth Centre, West Wickham
Background
Child C lives in a residential home and relies on staff bringing her to scouts. Her
journey time is approximately 1 hour 10 minutes each way.
Observation
On Friday 22nd September Child C arrived at Scoutlinks with her support worker.
However Child C cannot always come to scouts because:
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There may not be enough staff on shift at her placement due to sickness, holidays
and emergencies. Staff shifts finish at 9.00pm; however an extra member of staff
stays and brings Child C to Scoutlinks in their own time. This means an extra staff
member has to stay on at her placement til 11.00pm
If a crisis occurs such as another child is ill and taken to hospital then plans have
to be abandoned.
Staff needed to take other children home
This means Child C is reliant on one method of transport but cannot always have the
leisure time others have due to her circumstances.