Training Session - 'Supporting Young People'

This evening I attended my first training course. A two hour session entitled 'Supporting Young People'. It is apparently the most intense of all of the training courses because of the seriousness of the issues covered.

We started off with a quiz on puberty which I found hilarious. Literally going into NHS definitions of it and what it means. I think this was mostly to make leaders aware to the fact that kids go through puberty - however what leader doesn't already know this is beyond me. Meant that kids could be moody, have low energy, be worried about changes. With regards to the first two, I don't really see how that is too relevant. Regardless of stage of life, you are tolerant to kids in your care, no?

ANYWAY. Whole section on the perils of the digital era, sexting, and personal problems. HUGE emphasis put on the fact that leaders are in a position of trust and especially young female leaders are likely to be confided in by children about their wellbeing issues. Many kids apparently tell their scout leader more than they tell their parents.

HIGHLIGHTS

Apparently World Scout Jamboree and District Camp is rife for sex. Like before any Jamboree, the Senior leader will sit the Seniors down and tell them that there will be contraceptives in the first aid tent if they so require them.

When should a leader give contraception to any person in their care? Only when they are certain that they will have sex regardless of what you say or regardless of if you give them any.

Apparently 3/4 of children feel embarrassed to talk to their friends about mental health. This was met with the reaction of one of the other people on the course saying "That's crazy." I started pissing myself laughing at this point to the extent where the instructor asked if there was anything wrong with me. I felt a bit like a smarmy social justice warrior when I explained that it's using language like 'crazy, mental, and mad' which discourage people from being open about mental health issues and simply fuels the fire you are trying to stop.

Going on from this, there was a lot of talk about supporting a child however this was pretty vague - which kinda rendered the 2 hour training pointless. It's obvious that you need to support a child if their parents have recently split or if their sibling has died of a disease, however exactly what is appropriate support was not outlined.

One example that boiled my blood was: you must support a child if you think they are suffering from depression. I know that most people would tell the child to cheer up - but this is one of the worse things you can do if someone is suffering from depression as it makes light of it. Also, who are Scout leaders to notice depression? They only see the kid for 90 mins a week and as outlined earlier, teenagers and moody so you can expect them to be a bit glum. Moreover, chances are if they were suffering from undiagnosed depression, they would no longer be attending Cubs/Scouts/Seniors as one of the first symptoms of depression is giving up things that you once enjoyed.

Finally, if a Scout is going through some issues and want to confide in one of their leaders, the leader is NOT allowed a one on one conversation with the child so must have another leader in hearing distance. Safeguarding stuff.

At the end, they did refer us to a list of useful resources that I will link to this website.

Conclusion: A scout leader must be supportive. Before the course, I thought I'd know that from common sense. After the course, I have no idea what that means and what I can and cannot do.