Children of South Asian backgrounds taught essential life skills at Scouts sessions in Kirklees

In an effort to provide children of South Asian backgrounds with essential life skills such as teamwork, leadership, communication, and initiative, Sanjida Anwar and her husband Bilal Anwar set up New Horizons Scouts in Kirklees in 2018.

The Scout sessions include twenty volunteers who undergo extensive training to safeguard and provide training to the children. Four years ago, the sessions saw 34 children participate, but now the number has skyrocketed to more than 100 children participating every week, traveling from various places like Huddersfield, Dewsbury, Batley, and Bradford.

An optometrist by profession, Ms Anwar said, “The aim for us is to make children by the age of fourteen more comfortable with taking on their DofE Bronze in high school, giving them more chance of earning their silver and gold awards which is brilliant for their CVs and university applications. It is about looking at the future and giving them the best skill set possible for them to succeed.”

The children who participate in the Scout’s group earn badges and since many of the children belong to the Muslim community, Ms Anwar and her team have been carrying out sessions during the weekend to give children who usually go to the mosques during the evenings on weekdays, a chance to take part.

In an effort to provide children of South Asian backgrounds with essential life skills such as teamwork, leadership, communication, and initiative, Sanjida Anwar and her husband Bilal Anwar set up New Horizons Scouts in Kirklees in 2018.

The Scout sessions include twenty volunteers who undergo extensive training to safeguard and provide training to the children. Four years ago, the sessions saw 34 children participate, but now the number has skyrocketed to more than 100 children participating every week, traveling from various places like Huddersfield, Dewsbury, Batley, and Bradford.

An optometrist by profession, Ms Anwar said, “The aim for us is to make children by the age of fourteen more comfortable with taking on their DofE Bronze in high school, giving them more chance of earning their silver and gold awards which is brilliant for their CVs and university applications. It is about looking at the future and giving them the best skill set possible for them to succeed.”

The children who participate in the Scout’s group earn badges and since many of the children belong to the Muslim community, Ms Anwar and her team have been carrying out sessions during the weekend to give children who usually go to the mosques during the evenings on weekdays, a chance to take part.