Squirrels Launch at 1st West Leigh

26 June 2026

Squirrels, the newest and youngest section of Scouts has officially arrived at 1st West Leigh, with three new adult volunteers and nine enthusiastic young people invested into the group this May. The launch follows a series of lively taster sessions and a successful pilot programme run throughout March in partnership with the Growth and Development Team.

What began with seven children has already grown to nine, with more young people expected to join in the summer term. The team is also celebrating the addition of a new parent helper, strengthening the support network for the section as it continues to flourish.

The new volunteers have been guided every step of the way by Chris and Lucinda from the Growth and Development Team, and Rob, the Group Lead Volunteer. Together, they’ve helped create a warm, playful, and adventurous environment where the Squirrels can explore, learn, and grow.

Since launching, the young people have thrown themselves into a huge variety of activities from bug hunts and den building to musical shaker making, juggling, and Lego space‑ship engineering. Their creativity and curiosity have already earned them the Get Creative badge, with progress made across several other badges too.

With summer on the horizon, the Squirrels are excited to get outdoors even more. Plans include building bug hotels, exploring the local community, and continuing to develop the confidence, teamwork, and imagination that Scouting is all about.

1st West Leigh is thrilled to welcome its newest section and looks forward to watching the Squirrels continue to grow, play, and discover.