Girl Guides membership - our daughter cannot join?

poet123

"As a charity, the Guide Association has an exemption under the Equality Act which allows it to require its members to make a statement of belief."

From the Telegraph article.

Welshwoofs

Op - if they exclude your daughter, simply write to all the press about it...they love stories like that. Then try picketing outside their venue on meeting nights with placards stating "Girl Guide Association = Religious Bigots"

That should make their 'leader' sit and have a wee think.

Tiddlywinks

emslovesmickey wrote: »

I wonder what the uproar would be if they excluded someone because they were muslim, jew, hindu, or any other religion? The same should be applied if they are excluding somebody who has belief in no higher power.

But it isn't is it, so that's a pointless comment.

The OP's daughter might be excluded because of a lack of belief in any higher power - not in the 'wrong' higher power - it isn't about the 'brand'!

OP - what does your daughter believe in? As others have said, that 'belief' may be enough to satisfy the local leader.

Or, speak to HQ.. for advice.

poet123

Welshwoofs wrote: »

Op - if they exclude your daughter, simply write to all the press about it...they love stories like that. Then try picketing outside their venue on meeting nights with placards stating "Girl Guide Association = Religious Bigots"

That should make their 'leader' sit and have a wee think.

The story is already in the public domain as per the Telegraph article.

valkirn

emslovesmickey wrote: »

I wonder what the uproar would be if they excluded someone because they were muslim, jew, hindu, or any other religion? The same should be applied if they are excluding somebody who has belief in no higher power.

But the guide promise is:

"I Promise that I will do my best;
To love my God,
To serve my Queen and my Country,
To help other people
And
To keep the Guide Law."

So therefore they wouldnt be excluded.

apples1

Welshwoofs wrote: »

Op - if they exclude your daughter, simply write to all the press about it...they love stories like that. Then try picketing outside their venue on meeting nights with placards stating "Girl Guide Association = Religious Bigots"

That should make their 'leader' sit and have a wee think.

The leader is almost 70 years old and kindly gives her time voluntarily to run the local guides. We live in a very rural area and I appreciate that this provides a lovely fun club for girls here to go to. I certainly don't want to make the lady feel bad. I would however like my daughter to be welcome to attend & join in.

Welshwoofs

poet123 wrote: »

The story is already in the public domain as per the Telegraph article.

That was a year ago though - yesterday's news is today's chip paper. A red top would print it...especially if you get a cute little kid looking sad outside a Girl's Guide venue she's excluded from.

apples1 wrote: »

I certainly don't want to make the lady feel bad. I would however like my daughter to be welcome to attend & join in.

Get your daughter to tell the leader that she's a Satanist - that should provide an amusing dilemma....it's a 'god' after all


(Disclaimer: I got kicked out of the Brownies in 2 weeks so may not be the best for advice on how to get into these groups)

poet123

Welshwoofs wrote: »

That was a year ago though - yesterday's news is today's chip paper. A red top would print it...especially if you get a cute little kid looking sad outside a Girl's Guide venue she's excluded from.

It wouldn't make a difference though as the ruling body are still considering the wording change. This Leader is simply carrying through the current rules.

Nicki

Welshwoofs wrote: »

Op - if they exclude your daughter, simply write to all the press about it...they love stories like that. Then try picketing outside their venue on meeting nights with placards stating "Girl Guide Association = Religious Bigots"

That should make their 'leader' sit and have a wee think.

You don't have kids do you :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

That might make the OP feel better. I say "might" but it wouldn't make me feel better in her shoes, but it would guarantee that even if they backed down, her daughter would not want to set foot in the troop, or any other troop ever again.

Seriously, you'd need balls of armour plated titanium, not just steel, as an 11 year old girl to walk head held high into a group where your mum had publicly named and shamed the leader and made an exhibition of herself in front of all the other girls who attend. My older kids are currently aged 11 and 12, so I know a lot of kids that age, and I don't know a single one (no matter how confident they are) who would want their mum to do that, and who wouldn't be mortified for the rest of their lives if their mum did!

apples1

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

OP - what does your daughter believe in? As others have said, that 'belief' may be enough to satisfy the local leader.

Or, speak to HQ.. for advice.

She doesn't believe in anything. Religion is not part of our life. She is a well brought up little girl who is truthful and polite and has the morals I believe the Guides would agree with. But we don't have a faith. I am not anti religion or anti God we just don't believe it ourselves. She didn't mean any harm when she said she didn't believe in God she was just being honest when asked a question!