TWO DECADES OF VOLUNTEERING

Brown Owl, Claire Shirley looks back on twenty years of fun-filled challenges

excitement at completing even the simplest of tasks, particularly if there is a badge at the end of it, is just wonderful to behold! They give us leaders energy and fulfilment and they bring a smile to our faces

I do not have children of my own. To me the Brownies are an extension of my bigger family. I treat them as I would treat my own I am a big kid at heart and can relate to their needs and stresses I want them to develop and grow and there is nothing more fulfilling than to see a child who has joined us at age 7 come out of their shell and gain confidence and develop, through our activities and badge work, new qualities and life skills

Joining in

Little did I imagine when I picked up the pew sheet one Sunday back in 2003 and read that the 25th Fulham (All Saints) Brownie pack had been suspended due to a lack of leaders and was urgently in need of helpers to start it up again, that my life was to change in such a big way and mainly for the better!

My life was at a crossroads I had recently lost my father to cancer, been given early retirement on health grounds, been supporting my mother and needed something to help me focus and get my life back on track. This little ad seemed to be the answer to prayer! After a helpful discussion with our Local Division Commissioner, Jenny Whittle, I volunteered as the number two, Tawny Owl, and with Clare Burnill at the helm as Brown Owl, we restarted the Brownie Pack in April 2003

It was exactly what I needed!

Brownies are aged 7 – 10 years old It is a wonderful age They are full of energy and enthusiasm and yet still have a remarkable innocence. Their yearning for knowledge and capacity to learn new things is infectious and the look of wonderment on their faces and

I also love being Brown Owl (something I took on in September 2004 when Clare Burnill moved away) as I like to join in their activities and often can choose what we do! Nothing they like better is than to see Brown Owl join in, especially if she makes a fool of herself! On a visit to the Fire Station to learn about fire safety, when I was given the hose to try, the fireman made sure I kept missing the target much to the girls’ delight! Whilst on Zoom during lockdown, we sent Teddies down a zip wire in our homes and Brown Owl led by example with two zip wires going at the same time and both teddies travelling really fast!

One of my greatest passions is crafting, I love turning cereal boxes into something creative (just like on Blue Peter) Luckily for me it is one of the Brownies favourite activities During lockdown I encouraged them all to make monuments (either imagined or real) at home and you may recall seeing their fantastic results in an earlier issue of the magazine They also made their own room in a box and the variety of ideas that emerged was amazing.

Dressing up is another favourite activity for them. Not one I am so keen on. I have been cajoled into wearing an Owl onesy for film night, dressed up as a girl from St Trinian’s and much more. Some of the choices they made for the theme of a party have been challenging to say the least!?!

Adjusting to lockdown

The pandemic meant we had to adapt to meeting on Zoom, which we did weekly I loved it as it gave my week some structure and I worked out fun activities which were part of the programme which could be adapted and shared on line I would set them a challenge each week which they would do at home and bring back and share the following Monday like the teddies!

I like encouraging and supporting the girls to get their badges and awards. I try and structure our meetings so that every girl has the opportunity to achieve them if they wish and let them know what they need to do at home It is great to see them respond and achieve their goals.

Absolutely fabulous

Life is never dull My greatest highlight has been taking eight Brownies for a sleepover at the Royal Opera House, sleeping in the amphitheatre restaurant after the public left, going behind the scenes and experiencing a fight workshop; followed closely by taking three Brownies to the Chelsea Flower Show to help demonstrate a self watering planter and getting to meet former Brownie Joanna Lumley!

Unsurprisingly perhaps, the changes over the years have meant the amount of admin, with risk assessments, safeguarding, health and safety and endless computer work has made the task more onerous. So much so, that I did question whether I wanted to continue However, I now have a leadership team of 6 and a wonderful D of E volunteer which means that I have been able to spread the weekly leading of meetings around and I have got my love of guiding back I receive so much from our happy pack of 15 and their parents. Their support and occasional feedback make it worth all those hours of volunteering and gives me a lot of pleasure.

Join us

We’d love more Brownies, if your daughter is aged 7+ why not tell them about the Brownies and put their name down to join us?!

Claire practising her circus skills last year