Girlguiding reveals new programme and new-look badges

Rainbows, brownies and guides will be enjoying new-look activities and badges when they return to their packs after the summer break.

Girlguiding has announced the biggest overhaul in the organisation's history, revamping its iconic badges and activities to create a programme which it says it hopes will appeal to 'every girl'.

It is designed to cover everything that girls and young women do in Girlguiding from the age of five right through to 18.

Details of more than 800 new badges and activities have been unveiled, designed, says Girlguiding, to equip over 400,000 girls and young women with the skills and experiences they will need to thrive, succeed, make change and be happy in the modern world.

Girls can choose to work towards interest badges such as Entrepreneur, Inventing, Navigator, Animation, Grow your own, Self-care, and Human rights.

Interest badges will enable members to tailor their Girlguiding experience to explore something that interests them, expanding their knowledge and trying new things as they carry out three challenges independently before being awarded their badge.

Fresh activities for the traditional weekly meetings will include things like exploring nature, first aid, money management, survival skills, DIY and 3D craft and design.

There will also be new skill builder badges in which girls take part in small group activities to develop their skills over six different stages.

Each stage builds on the previous as girls progress through Girlguiding, from rainbows, brownies, guides and on to rangers, giving them the chance to take on challenges and develop their skills in things like camping, leadership and first aid.

Over 50,000 girls were involved in shaping the new programme through testing and consultation in the last 18 months.

Jess Bond, lead volunteer for programme, said: “This is a hugely exciting time for Girlguiding – it’s revolutionary.

We’ve really listened to what girls have told us they’d like to see and incorporated their suggestions, creating new badges and activities and updating others so they’re relevant now and in the future. We’ve always moved with the times and we hope to welcome even more members to Girlguiding in London and south east England with this diverse range of activities as there really is something for every girl.

"Our ambition is to give girls the opportunity to discover and develop their interests, skills and confidence, take on new challenges and have fun and adventure with their friends. We want girls to feel equipped to take on the world.”

More than £3m has been put into delivering the project, says Girlguiding, including support from organisations such as Google, EasyJet, Rolls Royce and Legal and General.

Expert insight from organisations including the Council for British Archaeology, St John Ambulance, The Royal Horticultural Society and WWF has also helped shape the content of the activities it says.

The new programme is being phased in over the next 12 months and will be fully up and running in every area by September 2019.

For more information on new programme of badges and activities click here.

To find out more about Girlguiding in the London and South East England region visit www.girlguidinglaser.org.uk.