Support for young members – making guiding fun for everyone 

Additional Support Needs

Some of our young members may have additional support needs (ASN). Additional support needs are when someone needs extra support. This support can be both long and short term.  

Young members may find out they have an additional support need by going to a healthcare specialist for a diagnosis. While waiting for a diagnosis some young people may choose to self-identify as having an additional support need.  

Choosing to get a diagnosis is a personal choice for the young person and their family. Even if someone doesn’t have an official diagnosis, they should still be able to access support in Girlguiding. 

In 2024 the Scottish Government looked at state schools across Scotland and found that more than 2 out of 5 pupils had an additional support need. (Scottish Children’s Services Coalition, 2024).   

We don’t know exactly how many adults in Scotland have additional support needs, but we do know that more adults are asking healthcare specialists for support and diagnosis.  

Providing Support

When planning activities, you can ask yourself some helpful questions to make sure you are including everyone: 

• Are there young members who need extra support? 
• Will they be able to take part in the activity? 
• Will they be able to learn and do their best? 
• Will they be supported? 

There are lots of ways we can support young members to help them take part in and enjoy guiding. Support can be ‘universal’ or ‘targeted.’ 

• Universal support is support that helps everyone.  
• Targeted support is support that helps someone with their specific needs. 

Universal support 

Universal support is about making sure everyone feels safe and supported. Sometimes we don’t know what everyone’s needs are, so universal support helps us plan activities for people with a wide range of needs.  

For example, some people who are neurodivergent find support in structure and knowing what is going to happen during an event or meeting. To make sure neurodivergent people are supported, universally friendly places should be predictable and organised. To help with this, units can share the structure of meetings with their young members and prepare them for unexpected changes to normal activities. 

Girlguiding should be a welcoming place where every young person can take part. So it is good practice to think about universal support when planning unit meetings and events.  

Some other examples of universal supports include: 

• Using cards to show what is happening ‘now,’ ‘next’ and ‘then’ during unit meetings. This is called a visual timetable.
• When planning a trip, showing the unit pictures of where they are going and what activities they will be taking part in.  
• Including sensory resources like fidget toys, alternative seating and movement breaks as part of activity planning.    
• Making sure young people have support with writing and reading. For instance, getting members to pair together for a writing activity, and using large print, easy read activity sheets. 
• Preparing young members to move up into the next section by allowing them to visit their new unit or take part in joint activities with the new unit. For instance, a Brownie who is going to move on to Guides may visit a Guide unit, or the Brownie and Guide units can take part in an activity together. It’s important to plan and prepare young members for transitions so they feel ready for the change. 
• When talking to your unit, make sure you are communicating in a way that’s inclusive. You can do this by giving information in small chunks, rather than all at once, and structuring information logically, for example: ‘First we will go into the room and then we will all sit down on the chairs’. Find more about inclusive communication here. 
• Offering young members different ways to complete an activity. 

Targeted support 

Some members may benefit from targeted support. Targeted support is support that is made to help a young member’s specific needs.  

Usually these supports would be written in an adjustment plan, a wellbeing plan, and/or a communication passport.

• An adjustment plan is a tool to help identify a young person’s needs and record adjustments to activities or tasks they need to take.  
• A wellbeing plan is a tool to help young members and volunteers have open, supportive conversations about mental health and wellbeing. 
• A communication passport is a tool to help with understanding a member’s communication style and needs. 

Targeted support could be put in place at any point of a member’s guiding journey and can be temporary or longer lasting. 

Adjustment plans should be written with the member and should be reviewed at least once a year. They should follow risk assessments, if required. New adjustment plans should be written for events and residentials. 

For support, advice and guidance on any of the above, unit leaders can reach out to their county adviser or the Girlguiding Scotland’s lead volunteer for equity, diversity and inclusion on ashleym@girlguiding-scot.org.uk.