Scouts’ inspiring challenge in memory of Ben
All learning that it’s OK to talk about their feelings
LOUGHBOROUGH Scouts have created a special challenge in memory of one of their much-loved leaders, university student Ben Brown, who tragically took his own life during lockdown.
Ben was a leader of the Quantum Potatoes Explorer unit of The 2nd Loughborough Scouts, who have launched the “Great Froggo Challenge”, which has been taken up with relish by the rest of the 70-strong group; Cubs, Beavers Scouts and all.
Ben 22, was an architectural engineering student at Loughborough University, and died in the early hours of Monday, April 27.
He took his life after writing a letter to his mum, Helen Harteryexplaining that he struggled mentally ‘when he wasn’t on the go’.
Helen said how Ben, who also had attended Welbeck College to do his A-Levels, had been living with university housemates during lockdown and communicating with his family.
“The lockdown had a massive impact on him,” Helen said.
“Ben had not spoken to anyone about how he was feeling. He found it all too overwhelming.”
Fellow Explorer Scout and Beaver leader Claudia Sayer told the Echo how important Ben had been to the members of the unit and how they came to launch the challenge, which includes a thoughtful section on mindfulness and being able to talk about feelings with others.
It is also helping to raise money for the Papyrus charity for prevention of young suicide.
Ben found frogs and all manner of amphibians cute, hence the name of the challenge, which is made up of three sections and designed for all ages
Claudia said the first of it was learning all about frogs, such as its life cycle and also craft based, such as making hand-warmers, frog shaped robots.
She said that the middle section of the challenge was more concerted on mindfulness, and mental health: “Our Scouts,
Cubs and Beavers are all learning how to talk about their feelings. It’s OK to talk about feelings with people and who they might go to if they had problems. Because Ben was really great to talk to about your feelings.
“He was somebody who lit up the room. He always took the time to talk to people. Our Explorers are so fond of the memories of just sitting in the kitchen before the sessions started, talking to him about all sorts of things such as academic life, advice about relationships.
“There was a whole manner of things they could talk about with him and he always had advice for them and if he didn’t have advice he’d front up with them and say: ‘Look I don’t know the answer to that, but let’s work out a solution together’ - that kind of thing.
“And when we got together soon after his passing, that was something that really stuck in their minds that he was somebody they could go to for advice.”
Claudia added that the third side of the challenge is the fun side of the whole thing including activities that Ben either previously did with the Explorers that they enjoyed, or was going to do in the future and: “We wanted to share that element of Ben with other Scout groups around the country, and we’ve actually got interest from groups in South Africa doing the challenge as well.”
Claudia said that Explorer Ben Reynolds, aged 14, designed the badge for the challenge taking his own and everyone else’s memories of Ben to create a badge that Claudia says friends and family have said “That is so Ben.”
Claudia also said the website was completely coded by 15-year-old Explorer Jonathan Leeming: “He did a phenomenal job.”
All the rest of the Explorers took part in creating the activities and there is also a home pack to send to families if needed.
The challenge has been praised by Tim Kidd, the UK Chief Commissioner for The Scouts, who has also sent a special message to the group saying: “I’ve been really impressed with the work that you’re doing. It’s fantastic.”
• If any groups would like to join the challenge then please go to the website http://froggochallenge.co.uk/ Or E--mail help@froggo challenge.co.uk