Encourages Girlguiding Badges: Laughing, Sharing, and Exploring Actively Promoted for Girls
In a significant move, Girlguiding, the UK's leading charity for girls and young women, has unveiled a stunning 72 new badges for its members aged 4 to 18. This extensive update, one of the biggest in the organization's 115-year history, aims to inspire and empower girls across the country, fostering skills, wellness, and creativity.
The new badges encompass a wide array of themes, catering to diverse modern interests and personal development areas. For Rainbows (4-7), there's the "Bee Rescuer" badge for helping the environment, "My Thoughts" for expressing feelings, and the "Laughter" badge. Brownies (7-10) can earn a reinvented "Celebrations" badge (formerly Hostess) for hosting parties, as well as the "Kindness" badge. Guides (10-14) can embark on the "Thrift" badge by customizing, repurposing, and recycling objects, while the "Journaling" badge encourages wellness, and the "Entomology" badge focuses on insects. Rangers (14-18) can showcase their passion for pop culture with the new "Fandom" badge.
The development of these badges was a collaborative effort, with partnerships forged with esteemed organizations such as The Royal Horticultural Society, The Children's Book Project, Bletchley Park, and the Wellbeing of Women charity. Girlguiding's youth panel, Amplify, made up of 30 girls aged 12 to 18, played a crucial role in the design process. Over 20,000 people participated, including more than 15,000 girls, submitting more than 4,000 badge design ideas.
More than 11,000 girls from 753 Girlguiding units across the UK helped test and refine the badge activities, ensuring their relevance, engagement, and meaning. The program offers multiple pathways for earning badges, including unit activities, skills builders, and interest badges, to encourage participation at home or in the guiding community.
Angellica Bell, a passionate advocate for girls' voices and equality, has joined as an ambassador for Girlguiding. Bell, who believes in the importance of activities outside of school for girls, expressed her excitement at joining the organization. Amanda Azeez, acting chief executive of Girlguiding, believes the new badges mark a monumental moment for the organization, as they were designed by girls for girls.
The "my health" badge for Rangers was developed with the help of the Wellbeing of Women charity, while the "celebrations" badge for Brownies can be earned by hosting a party and providing food, activities, and decorations. The "thrift" badge can be earned by Guides by customizing, repurposing, and recycling objects. The youngest, Rainbows, can win the "bee rescuer" badge for helping the environment or for finding and sharing their "guiding sparkle" and why they love Girlguiding.
These new badges blend skills-building, wellness, environmental action, and creative activities, encouraging girls to learn new skills, have fun, and grow in confidence. Girlguiding's commitment to inclusivity, engagement, and tailoring the program to members' interests and needs shines through in these exciting new developments.
- The new "Laughter" badge is available for Rainbows aged 4 to 7, encouraging them to express humor and have fun.
- The reinvented "Celebrations" badge for Brownies encompasses party planning, including food, activities, and decorations.
- Guides aged 10 to 14 can earn the "Thrift" badge by customizing, repurposing, and recycling objects, promoting sustainability and creativity.
- The "Journaling" badge, designed for Guides, focuses on mental wellness and self-expression, encouraging personal growth.
- For Rangers aged 14 to 18, the "Fandom" badge allows them to showcase their passion for pop culture and fandom communities.
- The "Entomology" badge caters to Rangers' fascination with insects, educating them about these creatures and their role in the ecosystem.
- The "my health" badge for Rangers was developed in collaboration with the Wellbeing of Women charity, promoting health awareness, self-care, and wellness practices.
