City Gets Its First Muslim Scouts

LEEDS’S first muslim scout troop has been set up at the city’s Grand Mosque.

Scout leaders in the city celebrated the event by holding one of the largest investiture ceremonies ever held by a scout group in the city.

Leeds Grand Mosque, in Hyde Park, invested 15 Scouts at once into the troop in Leeds.

It is will be the first group in the city to have direct links with a mosque and possibly the first in the country, but youngsters of all religious faiths are being invited to join.

The group will be based in a games rooms within the mosque and will work closely with the Amal youth group.

Troop leader Lasaad Laouini, a former scout in Tunisia, said: “There has been demand for some time now where organised activities can be held and new skills can be learned. A new scout troop seemed like the best solution.

“The world scouting family welcomes scouts of all faiths.

Enthusiasm

“It has taken six months to prepare and we have worked closely with the Muslim Scouts Fellowship.

“The neckerchiefs our scouts will wear have been hand made in Tunisia.

“The enthusiasm of the young people for the fun and challenge of Scouting is very evident.”

Richard Frank, scout leader from the neighbouring Scout Group in Burley (43rd Pheonix St Mary’s) who has partnered with the Grand Mosque in fostering the troop added: “This weekend we’re off on a hike on Otley Chevin where the new Troop will have a go at lightweight cooking outdoors for the first time.”