Girls in Leicestershire are proving Scouting is not just for boys by joining up in record numbers.
The number of girls aged from six to 18 in the county's Beavers, Cubs and Scouts groups soared from 679, in January 2007, to 1,041, in January 2011, a rise of 54 per cent.
During the same four-year period, the number of boys rose from 4,705 to 5,435, up by 15.5 per cent.
Kay Newland, assistant county commissioner for Cub Scouts in Leicestershire, has been involved in Scouting for 40 years and is leader of 9th Leicester Cubs, in Stoneygate.
She said: "I have four girls in my pack at the moment and they just muck in.
"There is not a boy/girl division, they are just Cubs and that's how it should be.
"Girls do want to do exciting things and we offer them a wide range of activities they don't get elsewhere.
"I think years ago it used to be leaning towards the boys but girls love it. They can do sports, outdoor activities, IT – anything providing we have got the right instruction.
"The movement went through a bit of a downer but we are on the up now and Leicestershire Scouting has blossomed in the last year.
"Our membership as a whole is well up," she added.
The Leicestershire figures, which were revealed as The Scout Association published its membership census for 2010-11, show the ratio of girls to boys in membership is one in five, compared to a national ratio of one in six.
Scout groups across the country allowed girls to join in 1976.
The 68th Leicester Scouts, in Knighton, has 40 members, around half of which are female. Its Cubs division sees a steady stream of girls moving up from Beavers to Scouts.
Nine-year-old Brenna Angseesing, of Knighton, said: "I joined at Easter last year after my brother told me to come along to try it.
"We do lots of sports and games and crafts and everyone is so friendly here."
Katy McGowan, nine, also of Knighton, said: "A lot of girls from my school go so it is good to see them here and have fun together. We learn lots of skills. I have just been learning all about road safety."
Maeve Wood, 10, of Evington, said: "I have been coming to Scouts for four years and I love it. You make lots of new friends."
The 112th Leicester group, in Wigston Magna, has never had any girls in its divisions.
Scout leader Richard Green said: "We haven't discouraged girls from joining. We are always saying to the boys bring your sisters along but they don't come for some reason.
"We would welcome girls who wanted to join," he added.
 |  |
Soap opera Rob Brydon Nuclear waste Human rights Sir Alex Ferguson Ukraine
Walang komento:
Mag-post ng isang Komento