Lockdown Guiding

During the lockdown, everything changed. However, thanks to technology many organisations were able to continue - including GirlGuiding. We were able to continue providing a sense of structure and normality for the girls in our Rainbows/Brownies/Guides throughout the tumultuous period through 'Zoom'. As we all had to learn to adapt to online working and studying, as volunteers, we, as leaders, also had to adapt to the new online format of guiding.

We faced the challenge of delivering a programme to fulfil certain requirements for challenges and badges as well as attempting to ensure the girls still had fun and were able to talk in this new format of meeting. Needless to say - it was difficult! Trying to balance the girls' want for chat time on a platform where it is very difficult to speak over one another was a real challenge, but one we were able to rise to. At the end of every meeting we also sing 'taps' to say goodnight and finish off - trying to do this in sync and in tune was....difficult....no, impossible and hilarious. We never got through a 'taps' without all breaking down into giggles. We were also able to cater for the varied programme our girls love about our unit - it took a lot of planning and the occasionally stressed-out email or two working out how things were going to go but it was all worth it to see the girls having fun every week and keep in touch with everyone.

Throughout the course of the lockdown, we were able to complete several badges and 'Unit Meeting Activities' to enable one of our eldest guides to complete her Gold Award, which is a MASSIVE achievement - we are all so proud! She is our first guide to get this award since the programme recently changed to this new system. We also commemorated VE Day with dressing-up and telling stories of our ancestors' experiences of war. We also did cooking, craft, scavenger hunts and so much more.

Lockdown changed how our lives ran but youth organisations such as Guiding were able to provide a sense of security and fun in the confusing world surrounding our girls. It was an honour to continue providing this service for them and shows that Guiding is ready to enter this brave new world of technology - we are no longer stuck in time.