Brownies... Questions re cost etc.

northernrocknufc

scottishchick27 wrote: »

This link didn't work for me but I googled Rainbow and the area I live in and found our local website. It didn't have much information but when I emailed them within a couple of days I got a reply about when and where meetings were held.

I'll just type this link in then you can just copy and paste it.

https://secure.girlguiding.org.uk/join/joiner.asp

Hope you find a unit soon

northernrocknufc

Bunny200 wrote: »

I used the online form, thats what led me off on wild goose chases, I seem to live on a division boundary so got information about a different division. In the end one of the mums who's daughter goes to the group put DD name down for me! Got there in the end but would be great if there was list of all the groups and their locations, times, contacts etc on the website, I guess there a vaild reason for this otherwise it would have already been done....

Yeah i think that too. All units are differnet days and times. Its no good finding out your daughter has a place in her local unit if it starts at 4pm and you dont finish work till 5pm.

Listing the days & times would be great.

morg_monster

Hi sorry there is a policy that individual meeting times and places can't be publically available (eg on the web, recruitment posters etc) due to child protection issues. I know some people think this is "bonkers britain" but really it is generally a good policy. However having said that it SHOULD have been much easier for you to get the specific info. For example our division has a website with a map of the area showign where units are, but no details on the exact address or days/times. There's an email address for the division commissioner and I know she is very on the ball about getting back to parents who enquire, it is a shame not all areas are like that.
Another reason they don't advertise both time and place (they can advertise either but not both!), is that where packs are full to bursting it is unfair to have new girls turning up who can't be accomodated at that time and have to be asked to go home :-(

PS - if anyone wants to be sure of getting their daughter into rainbows/brownies/guides - offer to help out at meetings!! (not every week, they often do a parents' rota - dads are welcome too!)

ceebeeby

I found this thread whilst searching for some advice on something to do with Guiding (for some reason the message board for leaders on the Guiding website is closed!). I'm a Brownie Leader and a Guide Guider.

As before - firstly ask your Leader for second hand bits and bobs, there's always some kicking around; if there's none, a very quiet / discreet word in the Leaders ear and we can usually magic some up (we have a fantastic Friends of Guiding group that provide funding for just these circumstances).

I have one Guide who has been right through Brownies and is now into Guides who has never paid a penny because her parent genuinely can't afford it - however, whenever there's a need for a helper, the parent is always the first in the line, and supports every non-paying event we do ... that's the true meaning of Guiding - not how much you can pay, it's how much each person contributes of themselves!

I noted the message about waiting lists for B & G ... we're hugely full, but always manage to squeeze "just one more" girl in. I can't bear the thought of an enthusiastic person being turned away!!!!

Another plea I suppose is that all the Leaders and Helpers are unpaid volunteers (and quite often parents themselves), so whilst sometimes it might be seen as a chore to 'help out' or participate in a rota, it's hugely welcomed by the Leaders. We don't run a rota at the moment, but only because we've got some great helpers who are able to come every week. However, any parent who volunteered to assist would be enormously welcomed!

I hope she loves every minute of it!!

Miss_Liquorice

I know the question has been answered a dozen times already, but I just wanted to say hello to all the other Guiders - I didn't realise there were so many MSE Guiders, though I guess it fits in with the whole guiding ethos!

Where my unit is, the subs is £1 a week, and brownie pack holiday cost £22 last year for friday-sunday. We pay hall rent and census - about £25 in total is taken from the parents for these. Other than the uniform and books, there's no other costs (my mum, the Brown Owl, is an even better MSE than me and can somehow make the books balance on that to take them all to the panto at christmas and for a bbq and ice cream in the summer!)