West Yorkshire Scouts learn new skills to earn new University of Bradford badges
Scouts in West Yorkshire can now earn up to four new University of Bradford badges by undertaking a series of activities, sponsored by each of the university’s four facilities, which include the Faculty of Management, Law and Social Sciences (FoMLSS), the Faculty of Health Studies, the Faculty of Engineering and Informatics and the Faculty of Life Sciences.
More than 50 scouts attended the university in December to complete their FoMLSS badge, for which they had to undertake activities entitled ‘Entrepreneur of the Future’, creating business plans for a chosen charity; ‘You be the Judge’, to explore a case study exploring the legal implications of ‘Banksy – is it artwork or graffiti?’ and ‘The Changemaker’ with activities designed for scouts to get to know themselves and each other to understand their place in the world.
On January 21, 69 scouts took part in an activity day with the Faculty of Health Studies, during which time they got to understand more about supporting the life of a human being, using a life journey game created by the faculty’s academics to understand the breadth of health practitioners who support the human lifecycle and the impact external environments has on health outcomes.
Alastair Goldman, director of local activity partnerships, said: “I want to thank all the staff and students for their tremendous support in pulling these events together. Supporting the West Yorkshire Scouts in this way is key to our strategy to be not only the University of Bradford but also the University for Bradford.
“Supporting the region’s young people to develop their skills and aspirations by providing these experiences is so important – we really look forward to deepening our partnership with West Yorkshire Scouts, and working with them to help young people achieve the success that they deserve and desire.”
Some 76 cubs also took part in a cultural diversity activity day, which included board games, lantern making and singing and dancing.
In October last year, over 120 cubs and scouts attended the university to tour labs and do science experiments as part of the scout movement’s science badge.
Elaine Dean, business engagement manager, said: “The university is delighted to support West Yorkshire Scouts to emerge from lockdown, with an enhanced portfolio of capability to deliver existing badge work and create the new University of Bradford badge programme. West Yorkshire Scouts is a great fit with the university’s vision and values.”
Phil Pearson, Deputy County Commissioner of West Yorkshire Scouts, said: “West Yorkshire Scouts have been greatly supported by the opportunities which the Bradford University academic teams have provided for our young people. The partnership has allowed our youth members to experience the University's excellent provision and, through their engagement with the students, get an insight into university life.”
“The badge days, which The University have provided, have also given our leadership teams access to facilities and experiences which they would have been unable to offer themselves. We look forward to further developing more opportunities through our developing partnership.”
More activity days are planned for February, March and April.