News Archives
An article which appeared in the Sheffield
Star on the 12 November 2003:
Girl guide groups are under
threat because of a lack of volunteers. Jade Beecroft visits a Sheffield pack to find out
how they are managing
WITH her 15 young charges busily making bookmarks, Julie MacDonald snatches a moment to catch her breath. Her Rainbow Group, based at St William's Church, Ecclesall Road, is running at full capacity – and with nine little girls on her waiting list to join Julie could really do with an extra pair of hands.
This week is Girl Guiding UK's first National Recruitment Week and all over Sheffield groups of young girls – aged from five to 17 – are looking for new volunteers to help out at their weekly meetings. "Becoming a guider is one of the most rewarding things you can do," said Julie. "The kids are an endless source of amusement, and they certainly keep you young." Julie, 47, from Fulwood, has been involved in guiding all her life. As a young girl she was in the Brownies, and then the Girl Guides, before deciding to train to be a guider, or adult supervisor, herself.She now looks after 15 little girls aged between five and seven and organises the activities for their weekly meetings. "We do a lot of expressive play and crafts," she said. "And every week I always start by asking each girl for a bit of news from her life, be it a new toy or a lost tooth. The only problem is that we are desperately over-subscribed, and crying out for new guiders or helpers. "If I want to take the girls out on a trip or do anything out of the ordinary I have to rely on parents to help."
Research has show that over half of the UK's female population have been a member of a Brownie or guide group at some point during their childhood. But women do not need to have a guiding background to become a helper at a local branch. Nikki Chilton, 25, leader of a Girl Guide group meeting at Hunters Bar, became involved when she was a Spanish student at Sheffield University. "I began by helping out at my local Rainbow group because I thought it would look good on my CV, and then decided to train as a Guide leader," she said. "The training covers all sorts of things, from childcare and first aid to leadership skills, accounting and dealing with publicity."Not only has she successfully started up her own Guide group, but Nikki has also managed to persuade her partner Gordon Martin to get involved. "Gordon thinks it's fantastic," she said. "He often helps out at meetings and recently joined us on our sponsored walk. "I think guiding is really worthwhile. It's confidence building and gives women great opportunities to try out things like canoeing and climbing. I look after girls aged between 11 and 17, so I get to watch them develop from primary school kids to young women, which is really special." Nikki prides herself in providing a sympathetic shoulder to cry on. "I think it's important to be there for the girls if they need me. The early teen years are a difficult time, but guiding provides some structure and responsibility. "It's just as much fun for the adults at it is for the girls, and is perfect for both the young and the young at heart." The Sheffield Guiding Association is currently looking for volunteers to become guiders, or simply to help out at a local group.
County Commissioner Jo Taylor said: "There are 3,500 girls and adults involved with guiding in the city, but there are many more girls stuck on waiting lists due to the lack of adult help available." Training to be a guide leader can take between six months to two years and can be undertaken by anyone aged between 18 and 65. "If you don't fancy being a leader you can still go along to your local group and help out," said Jo. "Or if you prefer you can work behind the scenes helping a guide leader with her accounts or planning. "Men are also welcome to get involved. They can't become leaders but they can volunteer, and all new recruits are safety checked for parents' peace of mind. "You can give as much or as little to guiding as you want, but we welcome all our volunteers with open arms."To find out more about becoming involved in guiding, email the Sheffield Guide office on guide.office@sheffieldguides.org.uk or call 0114 272 5557. Alternatively you can pop along to a local group and offer to help.
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Brownie Boxes: if you experience difficulty with the new boxes, please contact Trading Services on 0161 9214 2327 with the details and they will send out a replacement.______________________________Go to Top of Page______________________________
Brownies for Brownies
Girlguiding UK has teamed up with Victoria Foods Limited to create two new products: Brownies for Brownies and Biscuits for Brownies.
Both products are ready-to-bake cake mixes that are fun and easy for the girls to use. They have been developed so that the girls can make them at home with their families or within their unit meetings. And, for every packet that is sold across the whole of the UK, 10p will be donated to Girlguiding UK by Victoria Foods Limited.
Brownies for Brownies and Biscuits for Brownies are available from a Safeway near you. For more information on stockists, please look at the Girlguiding UK website.
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