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Girlguiding - Rainbows, Brownies & Guides
dizsiebubba
Posts: 850 Forumite
I thought it might be useful to start a thread where we can try to answer most questions - I know there are a few Brown Owls (or otherwise known Leaders) on the forum! If you have a question, please post and we will try to help - also check out the most common FAQs below. I have been updating this first post & added some of the helpful comments made on the thread so far so usually you will find most answers here.
Please note - This thread is designed as a source of information for parents, not as a place of debate on ethics, religions, sexism etc. Please do not use the thread for debate as it dilutes the useful information and makes it harder for parents to find what they really need. Thank you.
You can visit the Girlguiding uk website at www.girlguiding.org.uk and there is also a Youtube channel which gives 'official' more information.
Background
I am a Guider in Charge & as a way to make sure I supply all my parents with the right info when their daughter first starts, I look through forums to find questions people often ask. This is how I realised that a general thread might be helpful.
Most Common FAQs
Who can become a Rainbow, Brownie or Guide?
Any girl aged 5 to 7 can become a Rainbow.(Can start Rainbows at 4 in Northern Ireland)
Any girl aged 7 to 10 can become a Brownie.
Any girl aged 10 to 14 can become a Guide.
Any girl aged 14 to 25 can join the Senior Section.
Any woman over the age of 18 can be a leader or even join the trefoil guild.
Membership of Girl Guiding UK is voluntary and is open to any girl or woman, regardless of faith, race, culture, nationality or any other circumstance.
How can I get my daughter a place?
The first thing I would do is talk to other parents in the area. Different units do different things so this is the best way to find out which one is most likely to suit your child.
You can also try looking in the local parish news, local paper, on notice boards outside your church/village/community halls and have a look on the web to see if a local unit has a website.
Failing that, you can go through 'official channels' but this will take a while longer so please be patient if you fill out an enquiry online at: http://www.girlguiding.org.uk/parents__carers/register_your_daughter.aspx
Do you HAVE to promise to ‘love god’ or to ‘serve the queen’?
A good leader will recognise individual beliefs. One poster on this thread says that when she was a leader, she always took care to ensure the 'my God' bit was explored appropriately for the child before they took their promise. If the child's family have not chosen any specific religion to follow, then the discussion is about spirituality and morality.
Although many units meet in Church halls, this is often for historic reasons and also because churches often charge little or no rent, thereby allowing units to keep prices low. There are a very small number of units that are sponsored by churches or by the Salvation Army, but these are few and far between.
The latest information given to leaders from London & South East Girl Guiding (Oct '11) said "We make our Promise when we are ready and only HAVE to make our Promise if we are completing our Baden Powell Challenge, Queen's Guide Award or Leadership Qualification."
What do we do?
Our weekly meetings are designed to be fun, based around the programme laid out by Girlguiding. We play games, enjoy crafts, have themed evenings and lots of fun outdoors.
How often do you go on outings/trips/camps?
Leaders are all volunteers and often work full time. This means some units can’t do trips/camps and some do lots.
You need to take a licence holder on camp or on sleepovers so it depends if there is an adult who holds the relevant license available to your unit.
What difference is there between Girlguiding and Scouting?
The main difference is that Baden-Powell started Scouts for boys, and when girls wanted to join, he founded Guiding (originally run by his sister). Scouting and Guiding have always run as two separate organisations, but Scouting have allowed female members in recent years. Guiding has remained female only - we allow men to be unit helpers, but they cannot become full members. It is covered by the Sex Discrimination Act, so there is no law-breaking going on!
Both organisations have similar promises, but the Scouts still say 'Do my duty to God', whereas the Guiding promise incorporates the words 'To love my god'.
They follow a slightly different 'programme' but the end result will hopefully be very similar - an independent, confident young person who is a good citizen. Both organisations encourage canoeing, caving, camping as well as getting involved in public service activities like litter picking.
My daughter is just about to start, what should I buy?
I would hold fire until she has been going for a few weeks. Not everybody enjoys it and therefore not all stick at it. Alternatively she might love it but the unit might supply the books etc. so I would just wait and see. Usually the Leader in Charge will tell you everything you need to buy and places you can get it from within the first few weeks.
What about the uniform?
Although the uniform can be bought on-line or from a Girlguiding depot/shop, second-hand uniform may be available from your unit for a fraction of the cost. Also try the charity shops, Freecycle and boot sales! But please be careful with eBay! There are lots of fake uniforms circulating around and they do not seem to last 5 minutes.
Where does my daughter display her badges?
Most units are happy for badges to be displayed on uniform if you own it. Please check with the Leaders if you have borrowed a uniform.
If she is a Brownie and wears a sash, there is a good diagram on the Surrey East Website. www.girlguidingsurreyeast.org.uk/u-brsash.html
Some girls also like to display their badges on a blanket which they take on camp.
Can my daughter work on her badges outside of normal brownie time?
Yes, she can earn badges at their own pace, not just in our meetings. Please help your daughter to read the badge books and work towards her badges. You can also see the badge syllabus online.
Where can i find the badge syllabus?
To find out the syllabus of the skills badges produced by GGUK it depends in the section she is in:
Rainbows tend to work on badges which are part of a larger task known as roundabouts but this is usually done as a unit so I cannot find a link to an online syllabus.
Brownies have their syllabus in either the badge book or try this link: http://www.girlguiding.org.uk/brownies/badges/index.html
Guides work on Badges & GFIs (Go For Its) and the link is: http://www.girlguiding.org.uk/guides/gfibadge/index.html
Senior Section tend to work towards awards and more info is on this link : http://www.girlguiding.org.uk/seniorsection/whatcanido/awardsandqualifications/index.html
There are various other challenge badges by all different levels but they are not published and usually worked on together as a unit.
Can parents sign a badge book?
Parents are not supposed to sign a badge book, if it is something that cannot be signed by a teacher or coach, please ask your unit leader before your daughter has completed all of the clauses.
Is there a joining fee?
When you first join, some units will charge a joining fee. This varies from unit to unit as they will all supply different items for the fee. Don't be afraid to ask what it includes or what it covers, most leaders would prefer you ask than speculate.
What are Subs, how much are they and when are they due?
Each member of Girlguiding, whether they are Rainbows, Brownies or Guides pays a small membership fee known as 'subs'. Because each group will have different running expenses, the actual amounts are often different. Your unit leader will be able to tell you the amount and when it is due but it is usually between £1-£3 a week for a 1hr+ session. This is usually the cheapest and best value for money activity for young people.
What are subs used for?
Hall hire, purchasing badges, books, stationary; such as pens, pencils, felt tip pens craft materials, cooking materials and even sometimes subsidising outings & camps etc. Some units also use this money to pay the annual census, although others may charge this separately. As a registered charity all units accounts must be checked annually and reported to the District Commissioner. You can always ask to view a copy of the unit accounts, just make sure you give the leader plenty of notice as we are volunteers, we don’t always carry them and they are not always up to date until the end of the year!
What is the annual census?
An annual subscription is payable by every member of the association, taken each year on 22nd February. The total amount levied will vary from year to year and in each area. The money collected is used for insurance, training and CRB checks for adult volunteers and various projects for girls within GGUK. If you need to budget, your unit leader will be able to give you a rough idea based on the last few years, but generally £25 per child is more than enough in most areas.
Can we Gift Aid our payments?
As pointed out by a forum member, anyone who is a UK tax payer can fill out a very simple Gift Aid declaration. It is on the back of the "Starting Guides/Brownies/Rainbows" forms. Then the unit is allowed to treat your subs as "donations" and claim back an extra (roughly) 20% from the government.
If 20 girls pay £20 a term each and each parent had agreed to the unit claiming Gift Aid, the unit would be able to claim £240 a year which means that subs can be kept as low as possible.
Aarggh - I'm not sure I can afford all of this...
Girlguiding is an inclusive organisation. If you really cannot afford it, speak to the unit leader who will be happy to assist. Money can be found from unit/district/county etc or from small grants like the Girlguiding Friendship Fund or the Centenary Fund to go towards the cost of subs, census, uniform or trips for those who really need the help.
Who are the adults looking after my daughter?
The Leaders or Guiders will all be over 18 years old, have regular first aid training, have had enhanced CRB checks and have completed or are working towards to Adult Leadership Qualification. Some units will have some or all of the following:
No, we are all unpaid volunteers who enjoy giving our time. You can help it to stay enjoyable for us by paying subs on time and returning forms when we need them!
Who can be a Leader?
Anybody who is over 18, can pass an enhanced CRB check and wants to have fun can be a leader. Even if you are a man you can become a Unit Helper! Volunteering for GGUK is very rewarding and gives great opportunities for adults and girls. In addition to the training mentioned above, many guiders also attend trainings either within their own division or county. Most units or divisions will pay for the CRB check, trainings and uniform so no volunteer should be out of pocket when they give up their time. To find out where you local units are and get involved, try sending of your details on http://www.girlguiding.org.uk/get_involved/volunteer.aspx which will be passed to the commissioner in your local area. You could also try posting on www.guiders.co.uk in case you get a direct response from somebody in your area.
Also, for anybody who is a shift worker who would like to volunteer, but has changing shifts, it is still possible to help in a unit. Just keep your guider in touch with the days you will be there and the days that you are working. A regular commitment doesn't have to mean every week.
Is there a shortage on places & why are there waiting lists?
Yes there is a shortage on places in Girlguiding UK. This is because we just do not have enough adult volunteers and therefore we cannot increase the numbers of girls for their own safety. Some areas have larger lists than others for a variety of reasons and it is always best to contact the leaders of the relevant units in advance to put down your daughter’s name on a waiting list.
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Please note - This thread is designed as a source of information for parents, not as a place of debate on ethics, religions, sexism etc. Please do not use the thread for debate as it dilutes the useful information and makes it harder for parents to find what they really need. Thank you.
You can visit the Girlguiding uk website at www.girlguiding.org.uk and there is also a Youtube channel which gives 'official' more information.
Background
I am a Guider in Charge & as a way to make sure I supply all my parents with the right info when their daughter first starts, I look through forums to find questions people often ask. This is how I realised that a general thread might be helpful.
Most Common FAQs
Who can become a Rainbow, Brownie or Guide?
Any girl aged 5 to 7 can become a Rainbow.(Can start Rainbows at 4 in Northern Ireland)
Any girl aged 7 to 10 can become a Brownie.
Any girl aged 10 to 14 can become a Guide.
Any girl aged 14 to 25 can join the Senior Section.
Any woman over the age of 18 can be a leader or even join the trefoil guild.
Membership of Girl Guiding UK is voluntary and is open to any girl or woman, regardless of faith, race, culture, nationality or any other circumstance.
How can I get my daughter a place?
The first thing I would do is talk to other parents in the area. Different units do different things so this is the best way to find out which one is most likely to suit your child.
You can also try looking in the local parish news, local paper, on notice boards outside your church/village/community halls and have a look on the web to see if a local unit has a website.
Failing that, you can go through 'official channels' but this will take a while longer so please be patient if you fill out an enquiry online at: http://www.girlguiding.org.uk/parents__carers/register_your_daughter.aspx
Do you HAVE to promise to ‘love god’ or to ‘serve the queen’?
A good leader will recognise individual beliefs. One poster on this thread says that when she was a leader, she always took care to ensure the 'my God' bit was explored appropriately for the child before they took their promise. If the child's family have not chosen any specific religion to follow, then the discussion is about spirituality and morality.
Although many units meet in Church halls, this is often for historic reasons and also because churches often charge little or no rent, thereby allowing units to keep prices low. There are a very small number of units that are sponsored by churches or by the Salvation Army, but these are few and far between.
The latest information given to leaders from London & South East Girl Guiding (Oct '11) said "We make our Promise when we are ready and only HAVE to make our Promise if we are completing our Baden Powell Challenge, Queen's Guide Award or Leadership Qualification."
What do we do?
Our weekly meetings are designed to be fun, based around the programme laid out by Girlguiding. We play games, enjoy crafts, have themed evenings and lots of fun outdoors.
How often do you go on outings/trips/camps?
Leaders are all volunteers and often work full time. This means some units can’t do trips/camps and some do lots.
You need to take a licence holder on camp or on sleepovers so it depends if there is an adult who holds the relevant license available to your unit.
What difference is there between Girlguiding and Scouting?
The main difference is that Baden-Powell started Scouts for boys, and when girls wanted to join, he founded Guiding (originally run by his sister). Scouting and Guiding have always run as two separate organisations, but Scouting have allowed female members in recent years. Guiding has remained female only - we allow men to be unit helpers, but they cannot become full members. It is covered by the Sex Discrimination Act, so there is no law-breaking going on!
Both organisations have similar promises, but the Scouts still say 'Do my duty to God', whereas the Guiding promise incorporates the words 'To love my god'.
They follow a slightly different 'programme' but the end result will hopefully be very similar - an independent, confident young person who is a good citizen. Both organisations encourage canoeing, caving, camping as well as getting involved in public service activities like litter picking.
My daughter is just about to start, what should I buy?
I would hold fire until she has been going for a few weeks. Not everybody enjoys it and therefore not all stick at it. Alternatively she might love it but the unit might supply the books etc. so I would just wait and see. Usually the Leader in Charge will tell you everything you need to buy and places you can get it from within the first few weeks.
What about the uniform?
Although the uniform can be bought on-line or from a Girlguiding depot/shop, second-hand uniform may be available from your unit for a fraction of the cost. Also try the charity shops, Freecycle and boot sales! But please be careful with eBay! There are lots of fake uniforms circulating around and they do not seem to last 5 minutes.
Girls can chose which items from a range of tops and bottoms they would like to wear. Guides and Senior Section wear their own bottoms and it is usually best to check with the Leader if there are any specific rules on this.myalphabetgirls wrote: »do check your local buy, sell, swap site on facebook. Ours locally has rainbows/brownie items regularly.
kingfisherblue wrote: »If you get a top that is a bit bigger, it can last the for a full two years (if you don't tumble dry - a sure way to shrink)
Where does my daughter display her badges?
Most units are happy for badges to be displayed on uniform if you own it. Please check with the Leaders if you have borrowed a uniform.
If she is a Brownie and wears a sash, there is a good diagram on the Surrey East Website. www.girlguidingsurreyeast.org.uk/u-brsash.html
Some girls also like to display their badges on a blanket which they take on camp.
Can my daughter work on her badges outside of normal brownie time?
Yes, she can earn badges at their own pace, not just in our meetings. Please help your daughter to read the badge books and work towards her badges. You can also see the badge syllabus online.
Where can i find the badge syllabus?
To find out the syllabus of the skills badges produced by GGUK it depends in the section she is in:
Rainbows tend to work on badges which are part of a larger task known as roundabouts but this is usually done as a unit so I cannot find a link to an online syllabus.
Brownies have their syllabus in either the badge book or try this link: http://www.girlguiding.org.uk/brownies/badges/index.html
Guides work on Badges & GFIs (Go For Its) and the link is: http://www.girlguiding.org.uk/guides/gfibadge/index.html
Senior Section tend to work towards awards and more info is on this link : http://www.girlguiding.org.uk/seniorsection/whatcanido/awardsandqualifications/index.html
There are various other challenge badges by all different levels but they are not published and usually worked on together as a unit.
Can parents sign a badge book?
Parents are not supposed to sign a badge book, if it is something that cannot be signed by a teacher or coach, please ask your unit leader before your daughter has completed all of the clauses.
Is there a joining fee?
When you first join, some units will charge a joining fee. This varies from unit to unit as they will all supply different items for the fee. Don't be afraid to ask what it includes or what it covers, most leaders would prefer you ask than speculate.
What are Subs, how much are they and when are they due?
Each member of Girlguiding, whether they are Rainbows, Brownies or Guides pays a small membership fee known as 'subs'. Because each group will have different running expenses, the actual amounts are often different. Your unit leader will be able to tell you the amount and when it is due but it is usually between £1-£3 a week for a 1hr+ session. This is usually the cheapest and best value for money activity for young people.
What are subs used for?
Hall hire, purchasing badges, books, stationary; such as pens, pencils, felt tip pens craft materials, cooking materials and even sometimes subsidising outings & camps etc. Some units also use this money to pay the annual census, although others may charge this separately. As a registered charity all units accounts must be checked annually and reported to the District Commissioner. You can always ask to view a copy of the unit accounts, just make sure you give the leader plenty of notice as we are volunteers, we don’t always carry them and they are not always up to date until the end of the year!
What is the annual census?
An annual subscription is payable by every member of the association, taken each year on 22nd February. The total amount levied will vary from year to year and in each area. The money collected is used for insurance, training and CRB checks for adult volunteers and various projects for girls within GGUK. If you need to budget, your unit leader will be able to give you a rough idea based on the last few years, but generally £25 per child is more than enough in most areas.
Can we Gift Aid our payments?
As pointed out by a forum member, anyone who is a UK tax payer can fill out a very simple Gift Aid declaration. It is on the back of the "Starting Guides/Brownies/Rainbows" forms. Then the unit is allowed to treat your subs as "donations" and claim back an extra (roughly) 20% from the government.
If 20 girls pay £20 a term each and each parent had agreed to the unit claiming Gift Aid, the unit would be able to claim £240 a year which means that subs can be kept as low as possible.
Aarggh - I'm not sure I can afford all of this...
Girlguiding is an inclusive organisation. If you really cannot afford it, speak to the unit leader who will be happy to assist. Money can be found from unit/district/county etc or from small grants like the Girlguiding Friendship Fund or the Centenary Fund to go towards the cost of subs, census, uniform or trips for those who really need the help.
Who are the adults looking after my daughter?
The Leaders or Guiders will all be over 18 years old, have regular first aid training, have had enhanced CRB checks and have completed or are working towards to Adult Leadership Qualification. Some units will have some or all of the following:
- A Unit Helper, a regular adult at our meetings
- Occasional helpers, usually parents of girls in the pack
- Younger helpers, usually former Brownies; Guides (aged 11+), Young Leaders (14+) and those working towards a Duke of Edinburgh award
No, we are all unpaid volunteers who enjoy giving our time. You can help it to stay enjoyable for us by paying subs on time and returning forms when we need them!
Who can be a Leader?
Anybody who is over 18, can pass an enhanced CRB check and wants to have fun can be a leader. Even if you are a man you can become a Unit Helper! Volunteering for GGUK is very rewarding and gives great opportunities for adults and girls. In addition to the training mentioned above, many guiders also attend trainings either within their own division or county. Most units or divisions will pay for the CRB check, trainings and uniform so no volunteer should be out of pocket when they give up their time. To find out where you local units are and get involved, try sending of your details on http://www.girlguiding.org.uk/get_involved/volunteer.aspx which will be passed to the commissioner in your local area. You could also try posting on www.guiders.co.uk in case you get a direct response from somebody in your area.
Also, for anybody who is a shift worker who would like to volunteer, but has changing shifts, it is still possible to help in a unit. Just keep your guider in touch with the days you will be there and the days that you are working. A regular commitment doesn't have to mean every week.
Is there a shortage on places & why are there waiting lists?
Yes there is a shortage on places in Girlguiding UK. This is because we just do not have enough adult volunteers and therefore we cannot increase the numbers of girls for their own safety. Some areas have larger lists than others for a variety of reasons and it is always best to contact the leaders of the relevant units in advance to put down your daughter’s name on a waiting list.
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:jBaby Boy born December 2012 
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Comments
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I'm a Brown Owl and also a Rainbow leader (my Rainbow name is Anila). The above post is helpful, and I would also be happy to help with queries if I can.
Volunteering for GGUK is very rewarding and gaves great opportunities for adults and girls. In addition to the training mentioned above, many guiders also attend trainings either within their own division or county. I am attending a training weekend next March (which I pay for myself). If it was an evening training, I would usually take the cost from the unit subs, but this wouldn't be fair for a weekend.
Just one comment - many people think it is only an hour a week :rotfl:. Believe me, it isn't. When you take into account the programme planning, research, purchasing of resources, preparation for crafts, contacting potential visitors to the unit, planning trips, meetings, doing the accounts, reading Guiding magazine/website to keep up to date, ordering and collecting badges, uniform, etc, contacting parents, chasing up subs, keeping accurate records, attending trainings.....
OK, so we don't do all of them every week, and in a good unit team the jobs are shared, but it is still a commitment of more than an hour a week. But we do it because we enjoy it. The occasional 'Thank you' is always welcome
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what a lovely thread Thank You. My DD starts Brownies this coming Monday. Ive purchased the badge books and Adventure book, is there anything else she is likely to need? How often approx are the trips? is a Sash a good idea to sew the badges onto?
I loved being a Brownie myself.Mad Mum to 3 wonderful children, 2 foster kittens and 2 big fat cats that never made it to a new home!
Aiming to loose 56 pounds this year. Total to date 44.5 pounds 12.5 to go. Slimming World Rocks!0 -
My DD has been going to brownies since January. I find the sash useful, Ive being sewing her badges on it. Shes always thrilled to bits with a new badge. She enjoys going and its a great way to mix with kids from different schools.0
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Great idea for a thread. I was a Rainbow, Brownie and Guide when i was younger, and loved every second
This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com0 -
My DD wanted a sash for her badges, but her pack sew them on their gilet.:(
She leave Brownies at Christmas, going on to Guides.Accept your past without regret, handle your present with confidence and face your future without fear0 -
I'm a former Brownie and encouraged my DD to join when she was 7. She too loved it too.
Big thanks to Brown Owls everywhere you give up a lot of their free time to enable such activities to take place. ~Laugh and the world laughs with you, weep and you weep alone.~:)
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Threebabes wrote: »My DD has been going to brownies since January. I find the sash useful, Ive being sewing her badges on it. Shes always thrilled to bits with a new badge. She enjoys going and its a great way to mix with kids from different schools.
Why is the Brownie not sewing the badges on? We were on Brownie's honour to do our own sewing LOL;)0 -
narabanekeater wrote: »what a lovely thread Thank You. My DD starts Brownies this coming Monday. Ive purchased the badge books and Adventure book, is there anything else she is likely to need? How often approx are the trips? is a Sash a good idea to sew the badges onto?
I loved being a Brownie myself.
I would hold fire until she has been to Brownies a few weeks. She may not enjoy it and therefore not stick at it, or the unit might supply the books etc so I would just wait and see. Usually the Brown Owl will tell you everything you need to buy and places you can get it from within the first few weeks.
Leaders are all volunteers and often work full time. This means some units cant do trips and some do lots....I tend to be out with Brownies or Guides at least once a month, but i know a Brownie unit who only have a christmas outing.
I would always say a sash or blanket... if you sew badges onto uniform at 7 and then they outgrow it, you dont want to unpick them all and re-sew them!:jBaby Boy born December 2012
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I'm with dizsiebubba - a sash is a far better place for badges, as the girls cannot outgrow them. You can now buy an extra wide sash, which might be worth considering for those parents who have very keen daughters. Last year I had a Brownie who had filled two sashes with badges, and I've another girl who has two sashes this year. The badges are bigger than they used to be though.
For those who don't like sewing, sashes have the advantage of you being able to use wonderweb to iron the badges on - the badges would come off uniform unless stitched, but you rarely need to wash the sash.
Parents can also get a catalogue of gifts for Rainbows, Brownies and Guides - great for Christmas, but order early to allow time for delivery. the Brownie annual is sold at a reduced price through trading - it is more expensive in the shops (either £6.99 or £7.99, I think, but only £4.50 through Trading).0 -
I'm a guide guider and a snowy owl (adult leader at brownies but not the one in charge due to health).
I love helping the girls to go through their programme. It really brings out confidence, leader skills and helps them to work in groups.0
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