Page 34 - Phonebox Magazine December 2009

North Bedfordshire is a very rural Division covering a huge area from Turvey, Clapham, and Renhold to the northern county boundary; over 50 square miles! We have Rainbow, Brownie, Guides and Senior Section units meeting in village halls and school rooms for all girls in this area, from joining Rainbows at 5 years old to adults. Due to our rural location, often facilities are limited or nonexistent. This can be challenging when trying to engage with others. Guiding takes on this challenge offering girls, young women and adults a great way to build up a social network and experience lots of opportunities that may otherwise be out of reach.
Guiding isn't just about tying knots! It was on September 4 1909, that a bunch of teenage girls sneaked into a Scout rally in London, disguised in boys' uniforms. When Scout founder Lord Baden-Powell rumbled them in the middle of the event, the girls heckled him, demanding a group of their own.
This year Girlguiding UK marks the centenary of the movement.
Not surprisingly, the movement has changed from the days when the first Girl Guide handbook was themed around "How Girls Can Help To Build Up The Empire". In the 1930s girls worked towards badges such as Thrift and House Orderly. Guides now work for badges such as World Issues, where they learn about fair trade and clean water, or Communicator, where girls must prove they can use a mobile phone and organise a live web event. All our sections have a keen interest in conservation, recycling and encourage girls to be self-reliant and self assured, enabling them to reach their full potential in a safe environment and a girl only space, above all to be happy and have FUN!. But while the movement may have modernised at the edges, Lord Baden- Powell's principles remain very much at its heart.
Today there are ten million girls and women in 144 countries involved worldwide. Half the female population of the country will have at some point been involved with Guiding. Our success is because we put girls in the lead in everything - making decisions, shaping what we do and speaking out on issues that are important to them. It's why Guiding is so much fun and why we are so much in demand. The figures seem to bear this out, with half a million members in the UK.
Our Centenary celebrations have already started, in Bedfordshire. Our Launch Party
went off with a bang and 4 coaches of Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Senior Section and Adult members travelled to Luton to join in the fun. We have many opportunities in the fun filled year ahead. One opportunity is that North Beds Division has been very fortunate as we are to hold a fantastic weekend next summer at Kimbolton School, and we are very grateful to the School for all its help and support. Some of our other plans include; camps, pack- holidays, fun-days, outings and as you would expect lots of badges to work on.
If you would like to get involved, please contact us via email: northbeds@hotmail.co.uk, call us on 07788961810 or visit the Girlguiding UK website.
PAWS FOR COFFEE
On Saturday December 12th the Milton Keynes branch of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People will be holding a Coffee Morning (Paws for Coffee) in the foyer of the United Reform Church in Newport Pagnell High Street. in aid of the Charity. It will start at 10.00am and finish at 12.30pm. Entrance fee is 50p but this will include a free raffle ticket. There will be refreshments, tombola, hearing dog goods and crafts.
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34 Phonebox Magazine