Anne Johns, left, and Jacqui O Connor are calling for more volunteers Over the past year Girlguiding leaders have been working hard to keep girls and young women motivated and thriving through virtual guiding – but local groups urgently need more volunteers. A six-week volunteer recruitment campaign culminating in National Volunteers’ Week has started the ball rolling, but there is still a long way to go. There are currently 244 girls on waiting lists for Rainbows, 226 for Brownies, 39 for Guides and 11 for Rangers across Watford and the surrounding areas. Anne Johns, who has been with 15th Watford Brownies for more than 20 years, said: There is always a need for volunteers - a Guide unit in Watford is closing due to lack of leaders and we need extra volunteers for Rainbows, Brownies and Guides. I wanted my daughters to have the same fun I had as a Brownie, so I joined the unit to stop it from closing.
Darcy, age 9, from the 24th St Albans Brownies saying her Brownie promise
- Credit: Girlguiding Hertfordshire
A unit of St Albans Brownies has gone global by connecting with a fellow guiding troop in America.
Pippa Pearson, leader of the 24th St Albans group, explained that the Brownies were challenged to connect with another unit as part of their Thinking Day badge: I searched for other places around the world called St Albans, and sent messages to Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA.
After getting the attention of a Girl Scout leader in St Albans, West Virginia, a special meeting was set up so girls on both sides of the Atlantic could learn about each other s town and city.