Rainbows

A visit from The Lord Mayor of Bradford

Mike Wild Brownies, Guides, Rainbows

To celebrate Parliament Week, Burley-in-Wharfedale Rainbows, Brownies & Guides were very lucky to enjoy a visit from the Lord Mayor of Bradford.  The Lord Mayor brought his mascot, a small teddy bear named Brad.  He came on three separate nights so he could see all our 200 guiding members.

The Lord Mayor talked to everyone about his role & what it entailed, then young members were able to ask him lots of their own questions.  There were many questions as the girls were fascinated by his robes, hat & chain!   The girls heard that he was Lord Mayor for a year & about his charity, which is the Bradford Cinderella Club.

https://www.bradford.gov.uk/your-council/the-lord-mayor/lord-mayors-appeal/

We are very grateful to the Lord Mayor giving up his time to meet us, we really enjoyed his visit.

Parliament UK is an annual series of events in the United Kingdom that aim to inspire interest in parliament, politics and democracy and encourage young people engage with the UK’s democratic system and institutions.   This year it runs from 6th to12th November

Girlguiding Wharfedale holds Thinking Day celebration in Ilkley

Mike Wild Brownies, Guides, Rainbows, Rangers

Around 190 Brownies and Rainbows along with about 45 leaders and helpers from Girlguiding Wharfedale (Addingham, Ilkley, Burley and Menston) celebrated Thinking Day in the King’s Hall, Ilkley recently. World Thinking Day is an annual event held by the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts across 150 countries. This event seeks to spread empowerment, friendship, and sisterhood among girls and to raise awareness on issues affecting girls and women from all walks of life. Each year, World Thinking Day has a different theme.

The theme for the day in Ilkley was taken from the 2023 World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) World Thinking Day activity pack with the theme “Our World, Our Peaceful Future”.Ann Peacock, PR advisor for Girlguiding Wharfedale said: “There were 15 activity stations for the girls to visit and create a craft or do a quiz. The theme was loosely based on nature to link with the environment and peace.

“All girls made pompoms in their meetings from crepe paper. Cheerleaders from Inspirations Dance based in Baildon and Otley choreographed amazing movements for the girls to take part in cheerleading prior to renewing the Promise which is always a big part of Thinking Day.

“Amongst other things, girls made ‘bug houses’ in old mugs, Lego trefoils and Herman worm and bead man. A lady from Ukraine demonstrated traditional flower painting and showed the girls how to make traditional wool dolls.

“Quote of the day came from Division Commissioner Sue Vint who said: ‘I think it was a brilliant afternoon. The girls and leaders alike were very enthusiastic and engrossed in all the activities. Lots of girls I asked said they were having a fun time. I felt there was a great guiding spirit’.”

Summer update – what’s new and happening

Mike Wild Beavers, Brownies, Cubs, Explorers, Guides, Rainbows, Rangers, Scouts

As COVID restrictions have eased, many of the Burley-in-Wharfedale Scout and Guide groups have already returned to face to face activities. Throughout the last few months all leaders have been planning safe and enjoyable programmes, operating within the parameters of national guidelines. The young people involved have been loving the opportunities to take part in activities, seeing other members of their groups, and having fun.

Guiding units are continuing to meet face to face: some inside, some outside. Where possible, units are also using other venues around the village to prevent clashes with units who want to use rooms at the HQ at the same time.  Groups have used Wynches Activity Centre, Sun Lane Nature Reserve, Burley Park & the Recreation ground.

The Guiding units have been engaged in a variety of activities such as litter picking in Burley, geo-caching and run a village treasure hunt. Meanwhile the Rangers have resumed Duke of Edinburgh’s Award activities with expeditions for Bronze & Silver level.
Looking ahead, assuming restrictions are not tightened, 1st Guides are going on summer camp to Waddow at the end of July for 5 days, with over half the guides planning on attending.

In other news, Guide leader Cara Woods gained her Queens Guide Award in Feb 2020. The Queen’s Guide award is the highest award you can work towards in guiding. Although originally awarded to Guides, it is now only attainable by members of the Senior Section (including Rangers, Young Leaders and Leaders) aged between 16- 25. It is a challenging programme comparable to the Queen’s Scout and higher than Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Since the awards creation 60 years ago 20,000 young women have gained the award. Unfortunately due to Covid she has not been presented with it, so there will be a presentation in the grounds of our HQ for a small number of invited guests. Congratulations & well done Cara!

Guiding activities

The Scouting groups have been similarly active. Most recently the Beavers been to Wynches Activity Centre in Burley for some outdoor fun, and the Scouts have been out at Reva Scouts Water Activity Centre near Bingley. Meanwhile the Explorers have got an overnight camp planned (in hammocks!) at Sconce. They are also planning on undertaking Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award activities in October.

Rainbow Picnic

Mike Wild Rainbows, Uncategorized

1st & 3rd Rainbows enjoyed a socially distanced picnic in the sun last week in the grounds of Burley Scout & Guide HQ. The girls made pirate hats & enjoyed the picnics they brought from home.

This is the first face to face guiding meeting in Burley since lockdown in March. It was lovely to see the girls getting together after so many months at home.

  • Rainbows picnic

Burley Guiding joins #PlasticPromise

Mike Wild Brownies, Guides, Rainbows

As part of ‘Future Girl Acts’ week which ran from from September 30 to October 6 Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers from Burley-in-Wharfedale took part in activities in their meetings to learn about plastic pollution and to encourage others to be more aware of the negative impact of single-use plastic.

The girls have made a #PlasticPromise to reduce single-use plastic. It is the UK’s biggest ever girl-led campaign to tackle plastic pollution. They were encouraged to think about ways in which they can reduce their usage of single-use plastic and encourage others to do the same.

As well as making a #PlasticPromise, the girls took part in a plastic-themed activity during their weekly Girlguiding meeting. They used their creativity to show why protecting the planet matters, taking plastic waste and turning it into sculptures of animals they want to protect from plastic pollution.

Over a number of weeks, the girls collected over 500 pieces of recyclable plastic in order to make the sculptures. The girls created, dolphins, sea turtles, octopuses and jellyfish. The girls also took the time to create a speech-bubble for their sculpture which contained a message about the species they focused on.

The Brownies also had a visit from Charlotte Hawkins, owner of the ‘Waste Not Shop’ in Burley-in-Wharfedale. She spoke to the girls about alternatives to using plastic and brought them all a bamboo straw.

The #PlasticPromise campaign and week of action builds on the launch of Girlguiding’s Future Girl manifesto. 76,000 girls and young women shaped Future Girl by sharing the issues that matter most to them. Taking action to protect the planet is one of their top five issues, with plastic pollution named as one of the biggest threats to their future.

Read the full article here

https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/ilkleynews/17960668.burley-guiding-join-plasticpromise-uks-biggest-ever-girl-led-campaign-tackle-plastic-pollution/

Booths Bag Pack Brings in the Cash

Mike Wild Beavers, Brownies, Cubs, Rainbows

Last weekend Burley Scout & Guide Group packed shopping bags at Booth’s supermarket in Ilkley to raise funds for their new headquarters in Peel Place, Burley.   Rainbows, Beavers, Brownies, Cubs, Guides, Scouts & Leaders had great fun packing & want  to say a massive thank you to Booths supermarket for allowing us to pack bags & raise money for their new HQ.   A very big thank you to all Booths generous customers for their donations.   The youngsters and leaders are thrilled that over £960 was raised.

Sue Vint, guide leader said – “It was superb to see all the sections working hard to raise money for our new building, true teamwork.  The youngsters had great fun packing & chatting to all the customers & they felt very proud to be able to help do their bit.   We are very grateful to Booth’s for allowing us to pack bags in their store!    Thank you to all their lovely customers for helping us raise an amazing £960”.