A MUSLIM Scout group has been started in High Wycombe, the first new group to be started in the area in 30 years.

The 28th High Wycombe Muslim Scout group saw 19 youngsters invested into the Cub pack on Friday night, with more youngsters on the waiting lists.

It is the 25th Muslim group to be opened in the UK, although a third of scouts worldwide are Muslims.

Abid Wahid, the group scout leader, said the idea was to bring more Muslims in the area into the scouting community.

He said: “There are not many Asian children in groups here. I think it is thought of as a white, middle class Christian organisation.

“But there are a lot of values in scouting which are also held in Islam, like being trustworthy, having self respect, working together to help others and having an active faith in God.

“It is something for everybody. Both my children are going to it, and they really enjoy it.”

Mr Wahid said it would also give a lot of children a chance to take part in outdoor activities for the first time in a safe environment.

He added: “They get to take part in lots of outdoor activities and do things like learning how to light camp fires, climbing and trekking, and learn all sorts of skills outside schools.

“It teaches them a lot of things they do not get in the school curriculum. They work towards badges, so this week we are doing the first aid badge.

“At the moment there is not much of an opportunity for children to get out and about, and a lot of the things they do keep them indoors like playing on computer games and that sort of thing.”

The practices of the group are the same as any other troop, although the promise has been adapted to fit the Muslim view of Allah as the one true God.

New leaders are also being sought by the group, which hopes to start up a scout section as soon as there are enough members.

Mr Wahid said: “The district commissioner has been really enthusiastic about the whole thing, and we have had a lot of help from the national association in Gilwell Park to get started.

“Assistant leaders have to go through 19 modules of training in things like child protection, so it is a lot of hard work.”

The group meets each Friday at the scout hut next to Highworth School, Highworth Close. For more information on the group visit the Wycombe Islamic Society website on www.wise-web.org.