What sets Girlguiding apart from school or youth clubs? I believe that the difference is the promise that every member of Girlguiding is invited to make, from the youngest Rainbow to the seasoned adult.
“I promise to do my best to be true to myself and develop my beliefs, to serve the King and my community, to help other people and to keep the (Brownie) Guide Law”.
(It is simpler for the Rainbows, but the ethos is the same.)
A fantastic example was earlier this summer when Nancy and Isabella, two Brownies from Chaldon, wanted to do something to help them gain their Gold Award (the highest achievement in this section). They chose to raise money to help children in need, through a local charity.
Stripey Stork collects and distributes good quality, pre-loved, essential items such as baby equipment, clothes, toys, and furniture. More and more children find themselves living in poverty and lacking essential day-to-day items such as school shoes, clothing, toys, and even beds and bedding.
Nancy and Isabella got their school involved by taking part in ‘Stripes for Stripey’ where you could bring in £1 to wear something stripey, raising £150. They then organised a cake sale where they invited families of Chaldon Brownies and Rainbows to make cakes and buy lots more!! This brought the total to an amazing £350.
Stripey Stork invited the Brownies to their warehouse to see the wonderful work that they do. The money that Isabella and Nancy raised will make a real difference. £10 could buy a new mattress for a Moses basket and a new changing mat, £20 could buy a month’s supply of nappies and wipes for one child and £50 will buy school essentials including a school bag, uniform, shoes and teen care pack.
Stripey Stork are supporting 200+ families each week and, in the past year, they have helped 17,592 vulnerable children in Surrey. You can find out more about Stripey Stork here.
Signing off until next month, all of us at Girlguiding will continue to keep our promise to be true to ourselves and to help other people. If you’d like to be a part of our community, visit the Girlguiding website or email me, Dragonfly, at godstonedivision@gmail.com. Thanks!
