Scouts pay boy £42,000 over autism discrimination
The Scout Association says it has begun investigating Ben Gleeson’s case
A cub scout group has paid an 11-year-old boy £42,000 in compensation after being accused of discriminating him because of his autism.
Ben Gleeson joined the 10th Harpenden Scout Group in Hertfordshire in 2015 but was later told that he wasn’t allowed to go to camps or participate in athletics without supervision.
In March 2016, Gleeson became distressed at a camp and attempted to run away from the rest of the group after he was told to change into a pair of shoes he couldn’t find. At a later point, he said he did not want to join an egg-and-spoon race because of a phobia of spoons.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The pack leaders said Gleeson would not be able to travel with the rest of the group on a bus and that he had to have one-to-one supervision at events — for the health and safety of the pack.
Gleeson’s parents claimed these actions were similar to a ban. The dispute was settled out of court last year.
Beverly Gleeson, Ben’s mother, told the BBC: “Pretty much every event had to be supervised on a one-to-one basis, which I felt wasn't inclusive.
“He'd made one mistake and then that was it, they wanted to make the rules and regulations. It was supposed to be a dialogue.”
The scout group disputed several of the family’s claims, but the wider association said they had apologised and begun an investigation.
In a statement, the Scout Association said: “We are very sorry that Ben and his family were not supported as they should have been by their cub scout pack, and we have made a personal apology to them.”
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Netanyahu's Rafah attack vow snarls truce deal
Speed Read Hours before the truce deal was to be finalized, Netanyahu said Israel will invade Rafah regardless
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - May 1, 2024
Cartoons Wednesday's cartoons - beware of governor, biting debates, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Democrats defang GOP speaker ouster threat
Speed Read Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said she will force a vote to remove House Speaker Mike Johnson
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Home Office worker accused of spiking mistress’s drink with abortion drug
Speed Read Darren Burke had failed to convince his girlfriend to terminate pregnancy
By The Week Staff Published
-
In hock to Moscow: exploring Germany’s woeful energy policy
Speed Read Don’t expect Berlin to wean itself off Russian gas any time soon
By The Week Staff Published
-
Were Covid restrictions dropped too soon?
Speed Read ‘Living with Covid’ is already proving problematic – just look at the travel chaos this week
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Inclusive Britain: a new strategy for tackling racism in the UK
Speed Read Government has revealed action plan setting out 74 steps that ministers will take
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sandy Hook families vs. Remington: a small victory over the gunmakers
Speed Read Last week the families settled a lawsuit for $73m against the manufacturer
By The Week Staff Published
-
Farmers vs. walkers: the battle over ‘Britain’s green and pleasant land’
Speed Read Updated Countryside Code tells farmers: ‘be nice, say hello, share the space’
By The Week Staff Published
-
Motherhood: why are we putting it off?
Speed Read Stats show around 50% of women in England and Wales now don’t have children by 30
By The Week Staff Published
-
Tonga’s tsunami: the aid effort turns political
Speed Read Efforts to help Tonga’s 105,000 residents have been beset by problems
By The Week Staff Published