Category: Uncategorised

BBC Children in Need and Girlguiding have come together to celebrate Pudsey’s 40th year.  Girlguiding are challenging their Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Rangers and volunteers to take their age, the age of their Unit, or the collective age of their family, and turn it into a fundraiser.  

The Act Your Age campaign is designed to be flexible so that girls can take part whether they are meeting online, in person, or even if they are not currently meeting at this time.  A Unit can be set a challenge as part of a Unit meeting, or they can be supported to take on a fundraising challenge at home.  A six year old Rainbow could bake six cakes, or a Unit that’s 13 years old could run a virtual half-marathon.  It could be the distance you cover, the duration of a particular challenge, or the number of things you do – whatever it is, you’ll be helping to make a difference to young lives across the UK.  And of course, there is a great badge which you can buy for £1.50 from Girlguiding’s online shop which represents both organisations and their mission and commitment to helping children and young people in the UK.

The fundraising period runs from 19th October to 13th November – Children in Need’s big night.  All the money raised through fundraising should be paid to Children in Need via their JustGiving page, and half of this will be returned to Girlguiding.  They will use 25% to support national Guiding projects, with the other 25% going back into local Guiding in the form of grant aid for units in areas of deprivation or that are experiencing hardship.  Girlguiding have secured external funding to support these grants and more information on how to apply will be released by Girlguiding before the end of the year.  

Coronavirus has put many charities, including Girlguiding, in a challenging financial position.  By fundraising through this campaign you will be supporting Girlguiding at a national level, as well as helping to support Units – meaning more will be able to stay open and more girls will be able to continue enjoying the amazing opportunities Guiding has to offer. 

However you feel able to give your support, whether by taking on a challenge or buying a Pudsey badge, you will be helping to make a difference to young people across the UK.   Further details can be found on the Girlguiding Website – click here.  

Elmwood division covers the villages and towns of Garforth, Kippax, Allerton Bywater, Swillington, Methley, Rothwell, Oulton, Woodlesford and Lofthouse.  We are a division that covers a large area and we have 31 units of varying sizes covering all four sections led by 143 volunteers.

Since lockdown leaders who have been able to have been communicating and meeting online with the girls wherever possible.  Some units have held Zoom meetings every week and taken part in a huge variety or fun activities and games, including mug cakes, virtual zoo visits, crafts, baking challenges, drumming workshops, quizzes, scavenger hunts, escape rooms, skill builders and unit meeting activities (UMAs).

Other units have communicated by email and given weekly challenges or delivered activity packs for the girls to complete and one unit held a Virtual Village Show for their Brownies with lots of categories to choose from and prizes to be won. Categories included a bunch of flowers, wobbliest vegetable, sandwich, miniature garden, something made with a  power tool and lots more, it all looked like great fun.

There have been virtual camps for Rainbows, Brownies and Guides with den building and lots of fun challenges to take part in. Some of our members took part in the Girlguiding Adventures at Home and Wellies and Wristbands online was a popular event too. Lockdown has inspired and provided the time for some girls to complete interest badge and consequently some Theme awards have been gained, which in turn has meant that we have awarded one Silver and six Bronze awards.

In September one Guide unit returned to outdoor face-to-face Girlguiding, alternating weekly bubbles of 15 and Zoom. The Guides outdoors have been busy lighting fires, cooking and playing games. The weather has been kind so far but they do have firepit to keep warm.

Volunteers in the division have been busy too as we have held several division meetings via Zoom and held two virtual first response refreshers for leaders who needed to update their first response training. On two occasions we have offered our young leaders a space to meet together on Zoom and several of our young leaders have joined in and taken the opportunity to share activities and get to know each other and one young leader has now completed her Young Leader qualification.

Gillian Ainsley

Elmwood Division Commissioner