Girlguiding Units across the Isle of Wight have not only been enjoying their regular meetings but having adventures both indoors and out as well as supporting their communities.
On a more serious note November saw several Units attend their local Remembrance Day services and parades. Over 1,000 members of the public, including Rangers, Brownies and Guides attended the wreath laying at the war memorial at Newport.
A short time after many IW Units supported the national fundraising for the BBCs Children in Need. With a ‘Strictly Come Dancing theme dancing, in some unusual outfits, took place and excellent totals of money were raised.
Meanwhile Carisbrooke Brownies enjoyed a silent disco and 11th Newport Guides, following a theme from another TV programme took part in a Bake Off.
11th Newport Guides and 1st. Carisbrooke Guides joined forces to support the Donkey Sanctuary following damage at the sanctuary caused by a bad storm. The leader of 11th Newport, Emma, said, “After hearing about the damage at the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary caused by storm Arwen, 11th Newport Guides decided to raise some money for them. A parent of one of the Guides, Claire Owers, suggested the Smartie Tube Challenge. She kindly donated the tubes to the unit and designed the flyers. The Guides had two weeks to fill their tubes with any change. 1st Carisbrooke (Princess Beatrice’s Own) Guides also joined in with the challenge. We collected £36.26 in total out of just change. I took the donation to the sanctuary and they were very grateful.”
More new members made their Promise at 11th Newport Rainbows and one Rainbow was excited to join Brownies. Two of the main events of this half term were an all Island members visit to the Commodore Cinema, Ryde and East Cowes Brownies celebrating 100 Years. (see this website for more details.)
Several units visited IW Steam Railway for their Santa Specials. As well as a trip on the train there were visits to Santa where everyone received a gift.
Shanklin Brownies planted hundreds of crocus bulbs at Big Mead, Shanklin following their planting of trees there in the Spring and Carisbrooke Brownies also had a wonderful muddy time planting trees. (more to follow on this in 2022)
