| Girlguiding UK | |||
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| Headquarters | London | ||
| Country | United Kingdom | ||
| Founded | 1910 | ||
| Founder | Robert Baden-Powell; Agnes Baden-Powell | ||
| Membership | 540,000 | ||
| Chief Guide | Gill Slocombe[1] | ||
| President | Sophie, Countess of Wessex | ||
| Patron | Queen Elizabeth II | ||
| Affiliation | World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts | ||
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| Website http://www.girlguiding.org.uk/ |
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Girlguiding UK is the national Guiding organisation of the United Kingdom. Guiding began in the UK in 1910 after Robert Baden-Powell asked his sister Agnes to start a group especially for girls that would be run along similar lines to Scouting for Boys. The Guide Association was a founder member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) in 1928. Today the Association has more than 600,000 members and continues to be the largest girl only youth organisation in the UK.
The Girl Guides in the UK are officially "The Guide Association" and go under the operating name of "Girlguiding UK". Although Scout groups in the UK must now accept girls as of January 2007, this has not affected the numbers of girls joining Girlguiding UK. At present about one in four of all eight-year-old girls in the UK are Brownies.[2]
Girlguiding UK is a charitable organisation and adult leaders are not paid for their time. For this reason, and for its work aiming for the personal and social development of young people, Girlguiding UK is a member of The National Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS).[3]
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Following the creation of Robert Baden-Powell's Boy Scout movement and their first rally, at the Crystal Palace, it became apparent that many girls wanted to join the movement. In response Baden-Powell formed the Girl Guides in 1910, and asked his sister Agnes to look after the new organisation. A few years later his new wife Olave became involved and, in 1918, was appointed Chief Guide.[4]
The name Guides was chosen from Baden-Powell's military background, "Guides" had operated in the north-west frontier in India, their main task was to go on hazardous expeditions. These men had particularly influenced Baden-Powell as they continued training minds and body even when off duty. As a result Baden Powell decided Girl Guides would be a suitable name for the pioneering young women's movement he wished to establish.[4]
In 1914 Rosebuds were established for girls aged 8–11, this name was later changed to Brownies. Two years later in 1916 the first Senior Guide groups were formed, in 1920 these groups became Rangers. 1943 saw the establishment of the Trefoil Guild for members over 21 (now 18) who wished to remain a part of the movement but couldn't remain active with a unit. The section for the youngest members of the association, Rainbows, was introduced in 1987 for girls aged 5–7 (4-7 in Ulster).[4]
In 1936 the then Girl Guides Association was one of the founding members of The National Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS), which was created with the aim of promoting and supporting youth development work across England. Girlguiding UK has remained a member of NCVYS ever since.[3]
Girls are organised into sections by age. These are Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and the Senior Section.
Rainbow Guides or Rainbows are aged from 5 to 7 year old, except in Northern Ireland where girls can join from age 4. Activities are organised around work the four areas of the Rainbow Jigsaw - Look, Learn, Laugh and Love. In the UK the girls often wear a protective tabbard in one of the colours of the Rainbow, however red mix and match clothing is now more common. There is a baseball cap, cycle shorts, hoodie, jogging bottoms, polo shirt, or tabbards to choose from.
Each girl makes a promise on joining a Rainbow Guide Unit and must be able to understand and want to make this promise. This Promise is a simpler version of the one all members make. The Rainbow Promise is: "I Promise that I will do my best, to love my God and to be kind and helpful."
The Rainbow Jigsaw is used in the unit via the Rainbow Roundabout. The Rainbows themselves choose an activity from one of each of the four Jigsaw areas. These activities are then carried out alongside the normal activities. When all four have been completed the Rainbow is awarded a badge showing the symbols of each of the Jigsaw areas. It is intended that each Rainbow completes 2 Roundabouts in their life as a Rainbow. Roundabouts have a theme, ones produced so far are Roundabout Festivals, Roundabout the World, Roundabout Rainbows, Roundabout Get Healthy and Roundabout Global Adventure. Rainbows can also receive other badges for activities that they attend (possibly with other units), and other activities they complete within their unit, maybe after a themed half term. During 2008, a special challenge book Olivia's Favourites was produced to commemorate the 21st Birthday of the section and a badge was produced.
At the end of the Rainbow programme, as the girls get ready to move on to the Brownie section, girls undertake the personal Pot of Gold Challenge.
Brownie Guides or Brownies are from 7 to 10 year old. Brownies work from the Brownie Adventure which is divided into three areas: You, Community and World.[5] Brownies can also work towards activity badges covering a variety of subjects. Brownies units are called Packs. Packs are divided into Sixes, small groups of girls who work together. Sixes are traditionally named after fairies; however many Packs have adopted naming the Sixes after woodland animals. Each six has a leader called a 'sixer' and a seconder. The adult leader is sometimes called Brown Owl. Other leaders are often named after different owls. These two elements are taken from the Brownie Story, in which two children visit the Brown Owl in the wood to learn how they can help doing the housework. It is becoming more common for Leaders to be named after different animals.
Brownies have mix and match clothing based around the colours of yellow and brown. Items include baseball caps, gilets, cycle shorts, hoodies, leggins, long sleeved tops, short sleeved tops, skorts, trousers and a sash. Brownie packs may also wear neckers.
Guides are 10 to 14 year olds. Guides work from the 5 Zones: Healthy Lifestyles, Global Awareness, Skills and Relationships, Celebrating diversity and Discovery. Guides can choose to work on Challenge Badges, Go For Its, Interest badges and the Baden-Powell Challenge which is the highest award that a Guide can gain. They take part in indoor and outdoor activities that challenge them to do their best. Guides choose and plan most of their own activities, which can include themed evenings and trips.
Guide unit meet regularly, usually once a week during school terms. There are often other opportunities for Guides to take part in special activities and events throughout the year. Many Guide units go away on holiday, to camp or on overnight sleepovers.
Guides work in small groups between 4 and 8 called a patrol. Patrol names vary between different units but include flowers, like rose and poppy, animals, like panda and parrot and famous landmarks, like pyramids. Each patrol is run by a patrol leader who is assisted by her patrol seconder. The Patrol Leader is elected by her patrol. The Patrol Leader is given extra assistance with the Leadership skills.
For girls between 14 and 26 years old, there are a variety of schemes and groups to choose from.
This group choose to wear a hoodie, jacket, polo shirt, rugby shirt, or smart shirt. There is also a baseball cap.
The Guide uniform has evolved over the years, from its first design by Baden-Powell and his sister: long dresses, neckerchiefs (like the Scouts) and wide hats- a uniform designed with good taste, class and usefulness in mind. The current uniform is more modern, with a blue-and-white striped top. There are no compulsory trousers, but Guides wear what is appropriate for the activities. Optional caps, gilets and other accessories can be bought from Guide uniform stockists as well as online.
All members of the guide association make a promise upon joining, the current promises for each section are:[6]
Rainbows:
Brownies:
Guides, Senior Section and Leaders:
In addition members of the Senior Section promise
A Brownie Guide thinks of others before herself, and does a good turn every day.[7]
For effective administration of Girlguiding UK, the UK is split into smaller areas. At the top level there are ten Countries and Regions.
The Countries are:
The Regions are:
Countries and Regions are then split into Counties. These in turn comprise of Divisions. Divisions are split into Districts. In some areas with few members, County, Division or District level may be omitted because effective communication occurs without it. Each area is led by a Commissioner.
Girlguiding UK is also active outside the United Kingdom. In nine British overseas territories, there are branch associations with slightly different Guiding programmes adapted to the local conditions. Most of the branch associations use different uniforms or lighter textiles.
Branch Associations are active in
Guiding in the UK has had a long association with the British Royal Family, in 1920 Princess Mary, daughter of George V became President of the Association, 1937 saw Princess Elizabeth, who would go on to be Queen Elizabeth II become a Guide, and Princess Margaret become a Brownie. Princess Elizabeth joined the 1st Buckingham Palace Unit, whose first meeting was held on 9 June. She became the Second of Kingfisher Patrol, and was enrolled by her Aunt Princess Mary, Association President, on December 13. At the start of World War II the company was closed, and the Queen and Princess Margaret were attached to a Balmoral Company. In 1942 the Buckingham Palace company reopened at Windsor, the Queen became Patrol Leader of Swallow Patrol. In 1943 the Queen became a Sea Ranger undertaking usual activities including gaining her boating permit and taking out the Queen Mother in a dinghy. She became Chief Ranger of the British Empire in 1946. When she married Lieutenant Mountbatten two of her bridesmaids were former members of the Buckingham Palace company. In 1952 when she ascended the throne she became the association patron.[9]
When Princess Mary died Princess Margaret became the new President in 1965. In turn on the death of Princess Margaret, HRH Sophie the Countess of Wessex, wife to Prince Edward became President in 2003.[4] The highest award in Guiding, the Queen's Guide award was created in 1946, this is now presented by the Association President.
Girlguiding UK started to celebrate its centenary in September 2009.[10] The historic maze at Crystal Palace was re-opened on 5 September, remembering the 1909 Crystal Palace Scout Rally.
The Centenary Camp was held from 31 July 2010 - 7 August 2010 at Harewood House.
The tall ship Lord Nelson made a 100 day voyage around the coast of the UK to celebrate the centenary. The Lord Nelson set sail from Glasgow on 7 June 2010.[11] She has called at Oban, Aberdeen, Newcastle, Boston, London, Chatham, Portsmouth, Falmouth, Milford Haven and Whitehaven.[12] At each port she took on new crew, many of whom had never sailed before.
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