Tower and Town, February 2020

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Brownies And Guides

Jessica Caudle, ‘Bluebird’, Leader of the 1st Marlborough Guides and Brownies, tells us about Brownies and Guides.

Brownies and Guides is a girl-led youth group, where girls can learn new life skills, make a difference in their communities and learn about the world around them: they go on camps, day trips and sleepovers. We have regular weekly meetings on Tuesdays (Guides) and Wednesdays (Brownies) where the girls get together with their friends, get creative, learn new skills, participate in outdoor adventures and explore diversity. A girl may learn to put up her first tent, learn about body confidence, do a musical performance, conquer fears on an abseil tower or even attend her first festival. (There is lots more on the Girlguiding website).

For me my proudest moment is seeing the girls shine. We have girls from a variety of schools, they learn to socialise, and when the shyest girl stands up and sings in our talent show, or protests for climate change and their voice is heard, that’s when I am proudest. In collaboration with girls, Girlguiding has recently developed a new programme, designed with a large range of badges and opportunities for girls to be the best they can be. A highlight as a leader was recently awarding three girls the top Gold Award and recognising them for their efforts with their choice of a slime-making Halloween party!

Our recent activities at Guides have included participating in badgework under the ‘take action’ theme, raising money for charities such as Dementia UK and Cancer Research. Soon we will be learning to cook ethically, and how to look after ourselves using natural remedies. This sounds like serious stuff, but is all intertwined with friendship and other activities such as swimming, bowling, climbing, water balloon fights, baking and first aid.

The biggest challenge for us, just like the Scouts or the Youth Centre, is getting enough adult volunteers. We have over 40 children on our Brownies waiting list (who will then feed into Guides), who are missing out on these opportunities due to a lack of volunteers. Volunteering can bring benefits to the community and to individuals. https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/get-involved.

Jessica Caudle has been ‘Bluebird’, leader of the 1st Marlborough Guides and Brownies, for 23 years and was recently recognised for the length of her volunteering in a service at Westminster Abbey. She writes “This was a proud moment: as a volunteer I have learned many other skills too, including believing in myself, embracing opportunities and being aware of global issues that affect young girls and women.”

Jessica Caudle