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GO GUIDING

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Life changes when you Volunteer!

Celebrating the Shuttleworth Quest

Girlguiding Bedfordshire and Shuttleworth form a historic partnership.

4th September 2021 heralded the launch of a new partnership between Girlguiding Bedfordshire and Shuttleworth, Bedfordshire.

The event was attended by Dr. Joan Bailey Deputy HM Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, Mr. Eric Masih High Sheriff of Bedfordshire, Cllr Madeline Russell Mayor of Biggleswade, Rebecca Dalley Shuttleworths Executive Director, and Andrea Oughton, Girlguiding Anglia Region Deputy Chief Commissioner.

Rainbows, Brownies, and Guides from across Bedfordshire will now be able to take part in a specially devised, Shuttleworth Quest, set in the beautiful grounds of the Swiss Gardens and the historic Shuttleworth Collection.

The quest has a number of STEM activities with fun and educational elements for the girls to take part in and solve.

The girls have the opportunity to explore the grounds of this unique venue and to immerse themselves in its history.

Celebrating Dedication. Effort and Courage Congratulations to 4th Biggleswade Rainbows who presented

5 Gold Awards to members of their Rainbow unit and to Katie from 12th Luton Brownies on gaining her Brownie Gold Award the 1st for the unit

To receive a Guide Gold Award girls need to earn six Theme awards and complete a final challenge. The Theme awards include challenges such as finding out about Human Rights, going on outdoor adventures, learning about campaigning in their community and further afield or fixing a tyre.

To complete all the themes takes dedication and effort from the girls as well as having lots of fun along the way

4th Biggleswade Rainbows also had the utmost pleasure to witness Flo Morrison being presented with an Anglia Youth Award for "Courage through adversity, charitable work and being an inspiration to others" This Girlguiding Anglia award is for young members who have shown exceptional commitment to Girlguiding or made a notable difference to others through a variety of means. This Award is made when members have demonstrated at least one of the following elements:

Karen Keeling Girlguiding Bedfordshire County Commissioner said, "We were delighted to work with Shuttleworth on this project and, after many months of discussion, it is marvellous that the partnership has finally come together'. Karen added, 'It is a unique opportunity for our members to explore a historic gem located right on their doorstep".

Matthew Studdert-Kennedy, Learning Co-ordinator for Shuttleworth said, "We couldn't be more pleased to have welcomed Girlguiding Bedfordshire to Shuttleworth, and are delighted to have been able to launch this exciting new project together. We hope this will be the first step in a lasting partnership".

• Notable commitment and level of participation which has been over and above the ‘norm’ within a unit, district, division, county or in the region • A notable demonstration of initiative and adherence to the Guide Laws

• A notable difference to the lives of others through supporting a charity or worthy cause, other than Girlguiding, over a number of years or through a ‘one off’ large event

• A notable demonstration of speaking out or empowering others where they wouldn’t normally have a voice, to influence decision-makers

• A notable demonstration of how they have actively championed the rights of girls and/or young women Plus they must have at least five supporting letters detailing why they should receive the award.

It is a great testament to Flo that she has succeeded in achieving this award!

www.bedsguiding.org.uk

Volunteering is an adventure!

Valuing our Volunteers Awards Ceremony

Saturday the 16th of October and the 6th November saw the annual, Girlguiding Bedfordshire Valuing our Volunteers Awards Ceremony, being hosted at Shuttleworth.

Having been cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic this year's Awards were more special than ever with awards being presented in a number of categories, from 5 years’ service to an outstanding 50 years of service.

The ladies and men honoured have, between them, given 2110 years of volunteering, to work with girls and young women from all across Bedfordshire.

Twelve leaders from across Bedfordshire received their award for 50 years and 40 years of service, an exceptional achievement.

Celebrating over 2000 years of girlguiding Mary, who received her 50 years service award said, ‘Girlguiding has become part of my life, being a member of the Guiding movement has given me so much over the past 50 years, fun, friendship, and adventure'. Mary added, 'I am now very much looking forward to the next 50!'

There was also a special award for Anne Crome who received a Laurel Award. The Laurel Award celebrates exceptional service and is awarded to an active member of Girlguiding who has made an outstanding contribution to guiding. This is Girlguiding's second-highest honour and as such there are relatively few awards given each year.

County Commissioner Karen Keeling said, 'We are delighted that so many girls and young women are joining Girlguiding Bedfordshire. It is a testament to our Leaders and Volunteers that Guiding is seen as a fantastic organisation to be a part of'.

From 18 to 80 you’re never too old to volunteer as a Girlguiding Bedfordshire Leader

Girlguiding Bedfordshire help raise vital funds for ZSL Whipsnade Zoo

Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers from across Bedfordshire have so far raised £2,400 for ZSL Whipsnade Zoo after launching a wild new challenge in support of the conservation charity.

Celebrating our Generocity they are stripy. He is wearing an explorer’s hat and binoculars to help him look & find out about things'. Isla added, ' It looks very nice now it is a real badge, the colours make my tiger look as though he is having fun at the Zoo'.

On completion of the challenge, the badge is awarded to all the girls who take part. A percentage of the badge proceeds are being donated directly to the ZSL to help them look after their animals, many of which are Endangered or Extinct-in-the-wild.

Then on 18th and 19th of September, some 1200 Girlguiding Bedfordshire members were able to visit ZSL Whipsnade Zoo for a special day out to celebrate their fundraising efforts.

Karen Keeling Girlguiding Bedfordshire County Commissioner said, ‘We were delighted to work with Whipsnade Zoo on this project.

It is a unique opportunity for our members to explore the ZSL from the comfort of their own homes'. Karen added, 'To then visit the ZSL with so many of our members and see the animals 'in person' was amazing and a wonderful day out was had by all!'

To launch this new partnership, Girlguiding Bedfordshire ran a competition which was open to all its members to create a new and very special badge; the competition was won by then 6-year-old Rainbow, Isla Jordan, who attends Wilden Rainbows. Isla's said, 'I watched a programme and read a story about tigers, I like tigers because

Joined by a selection of young members, ZSL was presented a cheque by the Dunstable Mayor Cllr Gloria Martin, Karen Keeling and Isla who designed the badge for this challenge.

www.bedsguiding.org.uk

Thanks to the dedication and support of our amazing volunteers, we are active in every part of Bedfordshire, giving girls and young women a space where they can be themselves, have fun, build brilliant friendships, gain valuable life skills and make a positive difference to their lives and their communities.

We build girls’ confidence and raise their aspirations. We give them the chance to discover their full potential and encourage them to be a powerful force for good. We give them a space to have fun. Whether you’re new to Girlguiding or have been involved before, we offer a huge range of rewarding and fun volunteering

Issue No.18 November 2021

Can YOU join us as a Volunteer?

We are for all girls • We give girls their own space • We give girls a voice We change as the lives of girls change

Why not start today and Get Involved in Bedfordshire Guiding!

Celebrating Olivia’s Fundraising Journey The Big Trunk Trail

For eleven weeks this summer, Luton hosted a perfect parade to raise funds for Keech Hospice Care as The Big Trunk Trail rolled into town. Dazzling elephant sculptures formed the biggest and most unique outdoor public art event Luton has ever seen, and Girlguiding Bedfordshire was delighted to take part!

This fantastic event was brought to the town by Keech Hospice Care to celebrate its 30th anniversary and say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported the charity’s work over the years.

The Girlguiding Bedfordshire Baby Elephant is called Olivia, after the Rainbow mascot named as a tribute to Lady Olave Baden-Powell, and was designed by artist Lauren Allcroft, a volunteer Rainbow Leader in Luton.

Girls from across Bedfordshire were asked to design a badge of the future. They had to think about what Rainbow, Brownie or Guide badge they would like added to the programme then design, draw and colour it in.

These designs were then hand-painted onto Olivia by Lauren and became a wonderful collage of all the fun and adventure that comes from being a part of Girlguiding Bedfordshire.

Get In Touch...

Olivia took pride of place at The Mall in Luton where she was visited by hundreds of people.

We need volunteers and would LOVE to hear from you. It’s so easy to get in touch - You can contact us in so many different ways:

0800 169 5901 www.bedsguiding.org.uk @BedsGuides

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Girlguiding Bedfordshire