Module 07
Valuing Diversity
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Module 07
Valuing diversity
Aim
To promote the policies of the Scout Association
that encourage diversity and to consider how
individuals, in their roles, can help make
Scouting available to all.
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Module 07
Valuing Diversity
Session 1 – A Diverse Community
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Valuing diversity: Session 1 - A Diverse Community
Key Objectives
1 Value cultural, social and religious diversity within
communities.
2 Explore the contribution Scouting can make locally
in furthering the development of a more inclusive
society.
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Valuing diversity: Session 1 - A Diverse Community
Definition of a diverse organisation
‘A diverse organisation is one which values difference. It is one
which recognises that people with different backgrounds, skills,
attitudes and experiences bring fresh ideas and perceptions.
Diverse organisations encourage and harness these differences to
make their services relevant and approachable. A diverse
organisation draws upon the widest possible range of views and
experiences, so it can listen to and meet the changing needs of its
users, staff, volunteers, partners and supporters’.
National Centre for Volunteering
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Valuing diversity: Session 1 - A Diverse Community
To show that we value something we need to:
• Recognise its worth
• Know the importance of understanding
• Recognise the need to respect differences
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Valuing diversity: Session 1 - A Diverse Community
To value diversity in Scouting we need to:
• Respect and value the diversity of the
communities in which we operate
• Respect and value the individual differences
that each person brings to Scouting
• Maximise the potential of the young people
and adults in Scouting by developing and
encouraging the best use of their wide variety
of skills and attributes.
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Valuing diversity: Session 1 - A Diverse Community
Task
To enable us to start to look at the diverse nature
of the communities in which we live, in your
groups discuss the following:
• In what ways are the communities in which we
live diverse?
• What positive value can this diversity bring to a
community?
* You will be required to share some of your ideas in
plenary.
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Valuing diversity: Session 1 - A Diverse Community
The purpose of Scouting is to promote the
development of young people in achieving their full
physical, intellectual, social and spiritual potential as
individuals, as responsible citizens and as members of
their local, national and international communities. It is
important to recognise that Scouting differs across the
UK, and across the world.
In order to attract young people and to give them the
opportunity to develop, we should offer them the
Scouting that they want, that meets their needs.
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Module 07
Valuing Diversity
Session 2 – Individuals
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Valuing diversity : Session 2 - Individuals
Key Objectives:
1 State the Scout Association’s policy regarding Coeducation, equal opportunities, Minority Groups and
Special Needs.
2 Accept the importance of The Scout Association’s
Equal Opportunities Policy.
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Valuing diversity : Session 2 - Individuals
Equal Opportunities Policy
a The Scout Association is committed to extending Scouting, its Purpose
and Method to all young people in all parts of society.
b No young person should receive less favourable treatment on the basis of,
nor suffer disadvantage by reason of:
• class
• ethnic origin, nationality (or statelessness) or race
• gender
• marital or sexual status
• mental or physical ability
• political or religious belief.
All Members of the Movement should seek to practise that equality,
especially in promoting access to Scouting for young people in all parts of
society. The Scout Association opposes all forms of racisim.
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Valuing diversity : Session 2 - Individuals
For Young People:
• We are committed to extending Scouting, its
Purpose and Method to young people in all parts of
society.
• No young person should receive less favourable
treatment nor suffer disadvantage because of any of
the six areas stated in the Equal Opportunities
Policy.
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Valuing diversity : Session 2 - Individuals
For Adults:
• The Scout Association’s values, which underpin and inspire our
work with young people, are embodied within the Purpose of
The Scout Association and in the Scout Promise and Law.
• To carry out its work, adult Leaders and Supporters are needed
who are prepared to accept the responsibilities of their commitment.
• Members must be ‘fit and proper’ persons to undertake duties of
appointed positions and where appropriate, the responsibilities of
Membership.
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Valuing diversity : Session 2 - Individuals
Adults need to ensure:
• the safety and security of young people
• the continued development of young people
• equal opportunities for all.
The Scout Association’s Equal Opportunities policy
was agreed by the Committee of the Council in 1997.
When taking on a role in Scouting, all adults agree to
abide by this policy.
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Valuing diversity : Session 2 - Individuals
Task
In pairs and without speaking, complete Work
sheet 1.
Once it is complete, discuss whether your
assumptions about each other were correct.
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Valuing diversity : Session 2 - Individuals
Task
In your groups discuss one of the following options:
Option 1
We are all prone to making assumptions about other people. When
recruiting adults, what assumptions might we tend to make about
them in the following areas: ability, finance, time availability, culture,
age, existing skills, family situation, gender, beliefs and values.
Option 2
We are all prone to making assumptions about other people. When
planning a programme, what assumptions might we tend to make
about young people in the following areas: ability, finances, parental
background and support, gender, other hobbies, culture - (e.g. food,
clothing, social norms, and religion) and at camp?
* You will be required to share your lists of assumptions in plenary.
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Valuing diversity : Session 2 - Individuals
Everyone tends to make assumptions about people and
situations. Instinctively we judge on the information available
to us.
What influences our assumptions?
• The media
• Family
• School/College
• Peers
• Scouting
• Work
• Our own experiences
• Hearsay and gossip
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Valuing diversity : Session 2 - Individuals
We should keep an open mind at all times and only base our
judgements on fact not opinion, myth or stereotypes.
It is important that we value every Member as an individual,
value what they have to offer Scouting and recognise the
benefits they bring to others who work with them.
It is essential that we remember that as adults/Leaders in
Scouting, we are an influence on the young people with whom
we work and the assumptions that they might make, as well as
the other adults with whom we work.
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Module 07
Valuing Diversity
Session 3 – Facts and Policy
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Valuing diversity : Session 3 - Facts and Policy
Key Objectives
State the Scout Association’s Policy regarding Co-education,
Equal Opportunities, Minority Groups and Special Needs.
1
2
Explain and value The Scout Association’s Co-education Policy
Explain the steps necessary for a Scout Group to be open to
both sexes.
3
4
Identify the wide range of Special Needs.
Accept that Scouting is open to all young people regardless of
their needs.
5
Locate where information, advice and support is available to
support Special Needs.
6
Value the cultural, social and religious diversity within
communities.
7
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Valuing diversity : Session 3 - Facts and Policy
A reminder - The six key areas of the Equal
Opportunities Policy are:
•
class
•
ethnic origin, nationality (or statelessness) or race
•
gender
•
marital or sexual status
•
mental or physical ability
•
political or religious belief.
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Valuing diversity : Session 3 - Facts and Policy
Task
In role specific groups, discuss possible barriers to
implementing the Equal Opportunities Policy, and
ways to overcome them.
Use handout A.
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Valuing diversity : Session 3 - Facts and Policy
Special Needs
All of us during the course of our lives experience an
impairment of some kind, either permanent or temporary,
as a result of an illness, accident or medical condition.
Special needs covers a wide spectrum and most leaders
will at some time experience working with a young
person with a special need.
Examples of special needs are:
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Valuing diversity : Session 3 - Facts and Policy
Special Needs can be divided into different categories:
• Physical Impairment:
This term describes difficulty in moving or using all or part of the body.
• Sensory Impairment
This indicates that there is a loss of sight or hearing or a loss of one of the
senses.
• Learning Disability
This suggests that a person has difficulty learning in the commonly used and
accepted way, or at the same pace as their peers. It does not mean they cannot
learn. Often different approaches to learning will help people with a learning
disability to understand a concept.
• Communication Difficulties
Our main forms of communication are by using speech, gesture and the written
word. Special Needs may be present as a result of the impairment or one or
more of these communication skills.
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Valuing diversity : Session 3 - Facts and Policy
•Mental Illness
This includes illnesses that result in disorders of mood, perception,
motivation etc. and also conditions that affect the actual brain tissue giving
rise to memory loss or disorientation.
• Hidden Disability
There are a number of conditions that affect the human body which do not
produce any outward signs of impairment. Conditions such as heart
disease, respiratory disorders and epilepsy may affect the person’s ability to
function effectively in particular situations or at certain times.
Special needs can be either visible or invisible and often conditions
may fall into more than one category, therefore none should be
considered in isolation.
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Valuing diversity : Session 3 - Facts and Policy
Scouting Promotes the integration of young people with
Special Needs by:
• recognising those with Special Needs
• accepting them
• providing for them through mainstream Scouting and Special Groups
• physically integrating them
• valuing them
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Valuing diversity : Session 3 - Facts and Policy
We should do our utmost to provide Scouting for those with
Special Needs.
It must be acknowledged that on occasion, it may not be
possible, appropriate, or in the best interests of the young
person to join a particular Scout Group.
The District Commissioner is responsible for the provision of
access to Scouting for a person with Special Needs, therefore
if such a decision is made, it must be referred to the District
Commissioner.
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Valuing diversity : Session 3 - Facts and Policy
For those working with or considering working with young people with
special needs, there is a network of support and resources available:
• ADC or Advisor (Special Needs) or District Commissioner
• ACC (Special Needs)
• The Scout Information Centre
• Fact-sheets and Scout Association resources
• www.scoutbase.org.uk
• Specialised websites for specific disorders or disabilities
(for example www.cafamily.org.uk)
• Specialised resources for specific disorders or disabilities
(for example, Contact A Family Directory)
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Valuing diversity : Session 3 - Facts and Policy
Co-education Policy
Task
In groups using the resources available, create a prompt card
that explains the following:
• The key points of the Co-education Policy
• The steps that need to be taken to open a Group to both
boys and girls.
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Valuing diversity : Session 3 - Facts and Policy
Co-education Policy
Task
Using Hand out B, discuss how Scouting meets the needs
of young people who live within your communities.
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Module 07
Valuing Diversity
Session 4 – Practical Application
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Valuing diversity : Session 4 - Practical application
Key Objectives:
1 Identify how co-education can be built into the
Programme
2 Demonstrate a commitment to the implementation
of The Scout Association’s Equal Opportunities
Policy
3 Explain how Scouting can meet the needs of
diverse communities
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Valuing diversity : Session 4 - Practical application
The Equal Opportunities Policy underlines the Scout
Association’s commitment to valuing diversity. This is
done by extending Scouting to young people in all parts
of society.
Many difficulties can arise when putting the policy into
practice, avoiding fear and misunderstanding by gaining
as much information as possible will help overcome
these difficulties. There are many resources available to
enable you to gain the information required.
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Valuing diversity : Session 4 - Practical application
There are many resources available such as:
In Scouting
• District and County Support
• The Scout Information Centre
• www.scoutbase.org.uk
Out side Scouting
• Websites
•Other organisations.
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Valuing diversity : Session 4 - Practical application
It is important to:
•
Discuss an individual’s needs with them and.or their parents
• An individual joins not only a section but also a Group, District and County.
Discuss this with all the Leaders in the Group/District as appropriate.
• Take care when planning your programme. It is often good to have
experimental activities including those that help young people to find out more
about diversity, for example inviting guests, visits, awareness raising activities
etc. Be aware that you may need to adapt your methods of delivery in order
to show respect to other cultures
e.g. Visiting a Muslim Mosque. A mixed Scout Group would need to enter in
separate groups of males and females.
• Make sure that you have suitable and adequate facilities for every member
of your group. Remember this is not just at your meeting place but also on
camp, and whilst doing outdoor activities, etc.
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Valuing diversity : Session 4 - Practical application
• In the recruitment of and induction of adults, plan an inclusive
and supportive programme
• Remember to balance the needs of ALL Members
• Think creatively and ‘out of the box.’ Just because it has always
been done like that doesn’t mean that you cannot try a different
way - be flexible
• Remember that valuing diversity is not just about what Scouting
has to offer individuals. It is also about how Scouting can benefit
from their participation
• Always use common sense!
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Valuing diversity : Session 4 - Practical application
Task
In groups discuss the case study given on the
handout.
Be prepared to give a short summary of your
discussion
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Module 07
Valuing Diversity
Session 5 – Action Plans
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Valuing diversity : Session 5 - Action Plans
Key Objectives
• Demonstrate a commitment to the implementation
of The Scout Association’s Equal Opportunities
Policy
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Valuing diversity : Session 5 - Action Plans
Task
Participants should complete worksheet 2, Increasing
Diversity, either on your own or working in pairs.
We now need to consider how we can encourage diversity
within our own Scouting.
Task
Using work sheet 2, produce a plan to increase the diversity
of Scouting in your area.
Once completed this task can be used as part of the
validation of this module
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