Girlguiding has undergone the biggest overhaul in its 100 year history, with the revamp of its iconic badges and activities to create a new programme.
Members can now choose to work towards interest badges such as Entrepreneur, Inventing, Navigator, Animation, Craftivism, Self-care, Human Rights and other activities including First Aid, Survival Skills, DIY and Mixology.
More than 800 new badges and activities are designed to equip over 400,000 girls and young women with the skills and experiences they will need in the modern world, according to the charity.
The revamp and modernisation of the programme of activities and badges covers all that girls and young women do in Girlguiding from the ages of five to 18.
Girls and young women have led this transformation over the last 18 months with more than 50,000 involved in testing new activities and badges and having their say on everything from colours and content to shapes and names.
Jess Bond, Lead Volunteer for Programme, said: “This is a hugely exciting time for Girlguiding – it’s revolutionary. We’ve really listened to what girls have told us they’d like to see and incorporated their suggestions, creating new badges and activities and updating others so they’re relevant now and in the future. We’ve always moved with the times and we hope to welcome even more members to Girlguiding in Scotland with this diverse range of activities as there really is something for every girl.
"Our ambition is to give girls the opportunity to discover and develop their interests, skills and confidence, take on new challenges and have fun and adventure with their friends. We want girls to feel equipped to take on the world.”
The new programme of activities is divided into interest badges, skills builders, group activities and awards, all developed around six themes: Skills for my Future, Have Adventures, Be Well, Know Myself, Express Myself and Take Action.
More than £3 million has been put into delivering the project, including support from partners such as Google, EasyJet, Rolls Royce and Legal and General. Expert insight from organisations including the Council for British Archaeology, St John Ambulance, The Royal Horticultural Society and WWF has also helped shape the content of the activities.
Katrina Lambert, 17, a young leader with her local Rainbow unit in Edinburgh, said: “Having started as a Brownie myself, I’ve had some amazing experiences during my time in Girlguiding, from travelling to Holland at 14 to take part in an International Jamboree, to speaking out as a Girlguiding British Youth Council Delegate which led to me getting involved in advocacy and eventually being able to travel to the United Nations...I’m so excited to be a part of the new programme. Girls and volunteers from all over the UK have been a part of shaping and testing the new badges and activities and I know my Rainbows can’t wait to get stuck in and try something new.”
The new programme is being phased in over the next 12 months and will be fully rolled out by September 2019.
Kara, 16, a young leader and member of the Ranger section for girls age 14-18 from West Dunbartonshire, said: “The new programme is so exciting – girls from all over the UK have been involved in shaping the new badges and activities and I can’t wait to get try them out, especially the activities around confidence and entrepreneurship, that are going to help me plan my future career and give me the skills to take the lead.”
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