EDUCATION
Youth Groups in Action The range of youth organisations available to the children of Sussex is vast and covers a multitude of interests so we asked Robert Veitch to offer some thoughts on a few of them
Youth Clubs There’s often far more going on at a youth club than those passing by might realise and these agents for social change sometimes miss out on the credit they deserve
a climbing wall, team-building games, crafts or cooking, there are many things to learn and enjoy, things that counter that teenage refrain repeated through the decades, ‘There’s nothing to do around here.’ Outreach work for youths in challenging situations or from challenging backgrounds can also take
place. The youth club can be an agent for social change, empowering young people to make positive decisions and make a difference in their lives and the lives of others. The charities UK Youth and Sussex Clubs for Young People help facilitate youth clubs across the county. l www.sussexcyp.org.uk www.ukyouth.org
In 1960 a government report outlined a need for activities outside of school to be provided by local authorities. This led to the creation of youth centres and youth workers across the country to be available to all who need them. Youth clubs offer a vast range of activities and aim to empower young people to be the best they can be through fun activities – any child attending is almost certain to find something to learn and to enjoy that they can take with them into adulthood. Whether it’s a fishing trip, time on
Cubs
to learn algebra while staring out of a stuffy classroom window. 21st century Cubs can take activity badges in Backwoods Cooking, Astronomer, Digital Citizen and Environmental Conservation among other skills and challenges. One issue affecting many Cub packs is a lack of adult involvement. Cubs isn’t just for children, Cubs can create a beneficial learning environment for the adults as well; be it planning, childcare, first aid, leadership, legislation and of course, a few knots. And I can still do a reef knot with my eyes closed, so there! l www.scouts.org.uk/cubs
Being a 21st century cub is primarily about having fun while learning a few essential life skills for children aged 8 – 10½ Cub Scouts is the most popular section of Scouting with over 8,100 packs nationwide. It used to be the entry level into Scouting, but these days Beavers, for children aged 6-8 is the first port of call. A Cub Scout leader is known as Akela, a name taken from Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book and in line with the theme helpers follow in line with names like Bagheera, Baloo and Rikki. Cubs are bonded in sixes with a Sixer as leader and a Seconder to help. They are usually two of the older boys. The Sixer has responsibility and shows leadership,
30 SUSSEX LIVING | September 2021
helping those under his command to learn the way. Long before peer-to-peer learning was a phrase the Cubs were on the case. Sure, learning knots still takes place, but so do camps, cooking, badges, wide games, fires and a whole host of practical skills that former Cubs might find more useful further down the line, than their attempts
