Plymouth Beaver scouts have become the latest to be presented to badges in recognition of their understanding about healthy relationships.
The new Healthy Relationships badge has been developed by the NSPCC’s Together for Childhood project in the city alongside the 31st Plymouth (Ernesettle) Scout Group. Badges were first handed out to the youngest members of the scout group – the Squirrels – earlier this year and now the Plymouth Beavers have completed the badge.
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They have been presented with their badges along with teddy bears which had been donated by Build-A-Bear.
To achieve the badges the children – aged between six and eight – had to complete a number of activities which have been devised to encourage healthy relationships.
These included the children creating something which shows what friendship means to them; encouraging kindness and completing an activity which shows kindness; and an activity which makes children consider their feelings and who they should talk to if they have any worries or concerns.
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At the presentation event the children were joined by their parents and carers who took part in an activity to make friendship bracelets along with a game of Simon Says based around displaying emotions.
The children were also treated to a visit from Pantosaurus, the NSPCC’s larger than life dinosaur who helps to keep children safe from abuse.
Jacky Wood, Together for Childhood Community lead, said:
“The Beavers have shown a real enthusiasm for the Healthy Relationships badge. The programme of activities help children to learn in an age appropriate way the importance of kindness, friendship, consent and relationships.
“We have had fantastic support from the Beavers’ leaders in delivering the Healthy Relationships badge and it was great to see parents and carers getting involved at the session this week.
“The children showed a real understanding of what they have learned about Healthy Relationships and they have been able to learn about this serious subject in a fun way.”
The Healthy Relationships badges presented in Plymouth are the first to be awarded in the country. There are hopes that they could be rolled out to other Scout groups across the city and eventually around the country.
