A SCOUT and Guide group that operates in Crosshouse Hospital is celebrating its 10-year anniversary.

The group runs every Tuesday and provides young people on the ward with the chance to take part in activities that are fun and inclusive for everyone.

Rowena Davis, a mum of one of the very first young people involved in the group, has said it was “transformative” for her son Rhys.

Rowena’s son Rhys was in Crosshouse Hospital in 2010 when the group began. Rhys, who has autism, had no speech, limited verbal understanding and had been very unwell, causing a huge amount of stress for the family.

Rowena said: “I remember when the group began Rhys was too unwell to make it out of his bed. The volunteers came to sit with him and brought some activities. I don’t know how well he was able to participate at the time but the distraction was a success. It was the first time he had shown an interest in anything for a long time.

The family were living in Largs at the time and relied on volunteers from the group to take them on the 40-minute drive there and back. Both Rhys and his brother Robin were invited to be part of Scout camps and activities taking place across Ayrshire.

“We are just so grateful to the wonderful people who gave their time and effort for Rhys to help raise his quality of life and to bring opportunities to both him and his brother and indeed me.”

The group at Crosshouse is run by volunteers from Scouts and Guides and hundreds of young people have experienced the fun and friendship at the sessions.

Brian Goldie, a lead volunteer for Scouts in Ayrshire said: “It’s been amazing to see this group reach its tenth anniversary. There have been benefits for both the young people in this group and also the young people volunteering from the Scouts.”