Nacho Luna Borras
Scouting Support Lead
Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB) Scout Group
In February we welcomed a group of young Ukrainians to Bonaly to give them a taste of the kinds of adventurous activities we get up to in Scouting.
South East Scotland and Scouts Scotland are working together with the AUGB (Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain) in Edinburgh to establish a Scout group which meets the needs of local young Ukrainian people and their families, the majority of whom arrived in Scotland following the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The group of Scout and Explorer aged young people were shown around Bonaly by Co-Warden and Activity Manager Sean Crossan, before settling down to a seriously competitive archery session led by SES Support Officer Nacho Luna Borras and Scouts Scotland Local Growth Officer, Calum Harvie. Also attending were SES Scouting Support Officer Amy Irvine, along with Martin Elliot, Mike Treanor and John Cannon.
After the conclusion of the archery session (a great way to learn how to count in Ukrainian, btw!), we warmed up in the Bonaly bothy and talked about Scouting and to discuss with the young people their hopes for the Group. There was great enthusiasm from the young people – a number had been involved in Scouting in Ukraine – and the team from Scouts Scotland and South East Scotland Region was delighted to answer the many thoughtful questions presented.
Work to establish a Scout Group with the Ukrainian community continues to progress.
