A WELCOME RETURN TO FACE-TO-FACE GIRLGUIDING ON THE ISLAND

Members of Girlguiding IW are now out and about again. So, whether it’s Rainbows, Brownies, Guides or Rangers you might spot the girls undertaking jobs in the community, looking after the environment or just having fun. As Covid-19 restrictions gradually lift, Girlguiding is celebrating the return to face-to-face Guiding and the exciting prospect of having adventures indoors and outdoors together again. For many girls it will be just over a year since they last met face to face and now there is a welcome return after months of lockdown and meeting together online. Guiding will continue to provide an invaluable role during this unprecedented time, supporting girls’ mental health and wellbeing as we recover from the pandemic. This support will help to build confidence and show the girls how to have fun as well as develop skills for their future-which has never been more needed.

For their first meeting outdoors Newport Guides undertook, around Newport, a survey of street furniture. Areas visited included Newport High Street and Church Litten Park.

After meeting for the first time in months some of the girls commented: Katy, aged 13 ” I love being back as I found zoom quite hard. I’m not fazed by being face to face.” Annabel, aged 11 “Very, very happy I can see all my friends again.” Tessa, YL aged 15 “Being back face to face for Girlguiding has been amazing. All the girls and leaders are happy to see each other again and it’s so fabulous to see the girls having a good time and laughing properly all together. With us being back has helped me to be able to help the girls again with any problems they may have, it’s great to see the girls as we’ve not seen them in quite a long time. We can’t wait for many more fabulous memories in the months to come now we are back face to face”.

Meanwhile, 1st Carisbrooke Guides visited Seaclose Park where they enjoyed an evening of activities, games and a campfire.

Two out of every three members has stayed with Girlguiding during an extremely challenging time, an achievement made possible by the support of its amazing volunteers keeping girls connected during the pandemic by delivering virtual Guiding.

However, with the increasing need to support girls now, Girlguiding is appealing for volunteers to help girls and young women through the pandemic recovery period.

Girlguiding relies on volunteers to run local groups and is appealing now as we begin to ease out of lockdown, for more adult volunteers to join and make a difference to the lives of a new generation of girls https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/get-involved/   

Island Commissioner, Linda Stone said,” Isle of Wight members would welcome anyone who is willing to help with Girlguiding here and as with so many Island organisations we all get to know each other at our all-Island events which enhance our local community. It is wonderful that we can now see a return to face to face guiding after what has undoubtedly been a challenging year. The impact the pandemic has had on all young people will not disappear overnight, Girlguiding and other youth organisations have an important role to play in recovery and continuing to support young people by providing a constant in their World.

We encourage adults to join the Girlguiding community as volunteers; the benefits of volunteering are fantastic – from meeting new people, to gaining skills and knowing that you are making a positive contribution to the lives of girls and young women, at a crucial time.”

For information on how to join Girlguiding IW see ‘Contact’ on this website.