Can I become a volunteer for the Guides/Scouts if I have dyspraxia?

[TheBreakfastHatersClub]

I'm interested in volunteering with the Guides or Scouts as I'm good with kids and I need extra experience of working with children for a possible career change. I'm worried that my dyspraxia and the associated poor coordination and fine motor skills will mean that I'm not of much use.

I'm terrible at sports and not good with crafts but happy to try so long as it doesn't involve sewing which I really struggle with. I can cook and bake though and generally help out.

I don't want to be more of a hindrance than a help so any opinions from anyone who is or has been involved with either Scouts or Guides would be helpful. TIA.

Of course you can! Try to find a group where you’d be working alongside others & you’ll have a bit of support if needed. It’s important that children have role models of all different kinds - a teacher at my kids school is dyslexic & it helps the kids to appreciate each others’ differences too.

If they didn't let you I'd be bloody pissed off as I've got a dyspraxic child who does Rainbows and Beavers!

Guiding is crying out for volunteers!

Of course. I don't have a diagnosis of dyspraxia but am also terrible at sports and crafts, have rubbish co-ordiation, but am a Guide leader. What age group are you interested in helping with? With Guides they often need less help with crafts and sports, we set the activity up and they get on with it. Our unit also doesn't do a lot of crafts as none of the leaders are good at it. I have also helped with Rainbows (aged 5-7) before where I find that their artistic/ craft/ sporting ability/ co-ordination is not so much better than mine that they notice how rubbish I am! Please volunteer. You would be really welcome at my unit and hopefully one wherever you are.

Thank you all so much. This is very reassuring. I also have autism but it's the dyspraxia that concerns me most in this situation. I might see if I can volunteer with the younger children then.

I don't know about guides but I am a primary school teacher with dyspraxia and have never really found that it has been hard to teach sport or crafts (I am quite good at the drawing type side of art). The children's fine motor skills are not developed yet so as an adult with dyspraxia you probably be fine to model or help them. I know everyone is different, it affects me more in in keeping organised, and that I am more likely to trip over, spill something or take a million tries to park!

We'd be happy to have you 😀.
They've just launched a new programme and I can't think of many that you'd struggle with (maybe cheerleading - but I'd be useless at that too so we either won't do that one or get an external person in). We tend to do stuff with the children that we're good at or enjoy.
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I'm a Brownie leader and I'm rubbish at craft, and I don't really enjoy it. Another Guider leads when we do craft and I help out, although the girls generally do better without my help 😃

OP, here's the link to volunteer. You will be welcome with open arms. I'm a Brownie leader with dyspraxia and love it.
www.girlguiding.org.uk/get-involved/become-a-volunteer/

I hope so!

Your dyspraxia is a neurodiversity and probably means you are better than most of us at something else. Work out your talent and change it to the positive. Good luck with getting the experience you need!

I used to be a guide leader and have dyspraxia and dyslexia, one of my fellow leaders had ASD. It was never an issue. In fact, there were a few guides with specific learning difficulties/ASD and I think it really helped them to have allies who understood.

Go for it OP! They provide a lot of support to leaders, and you'll be working as part of a team. If you want you can talk it through with your district commissioner and they can place you in a suitable unit.

Just wanted to add to the positive voices. I know lots of guide and scout leaders. Their assorted conditions: arthritis, fused vertebra, autism, learning difficulties, chrones and discalcula. In fact 1 of them has been singled out because she is so good at understanding kids difficulties and finding a different approach to activities. Pm me if you’d like a direct link to them.

Our group would welcome you with open arms. The leaders work in teams, balancing everyone's strengths and weakness. Please don't let the dysbraxia put you off.

Yes.