Over 300 children and young people are on the waiting list for Barnet Scout groups reports Roshni Ray

A smiling man in a Scouts uniform — Chief Scout Dwayne Fields (Credit – The Scouts)

A new Scout group is opening in Totteridge this autumn as hundreds of local children and young people seek to join.

With over 300 children on waiting lists hoping for a space to become available, Barnet Scouts are opening a new group in Totteridge to help meet some of the demand.

Children and young people aged from 4-14 will be taking part in activities and adventures, and learn to be part of a team. The Scouts say their aim is to build skills for life.

The new group, the 3rd Totteridge, is opening spaces for Squirrels (4-5 years), Beavers (6-8 years), Cubs (8-10 years) and Scouts (10-14 years) to meet demand from local boys and girls.

Across Barnet there are almost 2,000 Scouts and another 308 children on waiting lists hoping for a space to become available. Barnet Scouts offers over two hundred activities from abseiling and coding to drama and water-zorbing.

In a recent poll, 94% of Scouts said they had developed useful skills, 95% said they’ve tried activities they haven’t tried before and 85% said they are happier since joining.

The new 3rd Totteridge Scouts will organise a free open event for families on Saturday 6th September from 12.00pm to 16.00pm at 3rd Totteridge Scout Hut, Badgers Croft, Totteridge Village, Barnet N20 8AH. Families will have the opportunity to meet the team, enjoy snacks, take part in activities, and find out their plans.

Dwayne Fields, TV presenter and chief scout said: “I’m incredibly pleased that the 3rd Totteridge Scout Group are opening this autumn. This means there will be more young people in the local community making friends, building their confidence, and gaining skills that will prepare them for life and work.

“When I was young, as quite a shy kid, I remember walking into my local Scout meeting place and getting such a warm welcome. I found people who believed in me, and that helped me believe in myself. This set me on a path to adventure – taking me to Antarctica, the Galapagos Islands and even the North Pole.

“Now I’m so pleased that more young people in Barnet will now get the same chance I did – to discover their talents and find their place in the world.”

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