The 22nd day in February is a very special date for Girlguiding, marking the birthday of the founder Lord Baden Powell and coincidentally, that of his wife, Olave, who became the first World Chief Guide.

This year, Girlguiding South Down Division will be holding an event to mark this date at Downlands School. Girls will gain a World Thinking Day Badge, raise funds for the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (known as WAGGGS) and share a tea together. There will be Rangers talking about international opportunities they have successfully applied to take on: four are off to take part in the Coco’s project in South Africa and two are off to Kenya; this is designed to inspire younger members to apply for such opportunities when they are a bit older.

Between them, the two local districts which make up South Down Division, Beacon (Hassocks and Ditchling) and Wolstonbury (Hurstpierpoint) have three Rainbow units, six Brownie units, four Guide units and one Ranger group, enabling many girls between the ages of five and eighteen to participate locally in a wide range of opportunities and activities through Guiding.

Immensely pound of its heritage, Girlguiding constantly updates itself for the current age so, while there are traditional items in programmes (map reading, cooking, hikes), there is much to inspire and interest
the 21st century girl too (for example: mindfulness, vlogging, safety online, body awareness and accepting who you are, human rights, being a conscious consumer, geocaching and upcycling).

In April 2019, Girlguiding launched a new programme across all age groups. Awards can be gained within six themes including ‘Know Myself’ and ‘Take Action’. South Down Division keep it local with visits to supermarkets such as Budgens, to learn about the foods we eat, plastics and recycling as well as visits to other services like salons such as Profiles and to local hairdressers. Girls also take advantage of the wonderful nearby woods for wide games, orienteering and cooking over fires. They also raise money for their termly chosen charities and support all the local village days such as Light Up Hassocks as well as supporting the Remembrance Parades. There are also opportunities to take part in prestigious national events with South Down girls being part of the Carpet Guard for the Chelsea Pensioners at a recent Royal Albert Hall’s Remembrance Service and being on the Girlguiding float in November’s Lord Mayor’s Show. Great excitement when both events were televised!

Girlguiding now has an array of ambassadors who travel to talk to young girls about what they can achieve. One example is Sally Kettle who rowed the Atlantic and who wows her audience with her story and continues
to inspire all who hear her with her positive, can-do attitude.

An example of how Girlguiding is adapting can be seen through what is now the second line of the Guide Promise: ‘I promise that I will do my best: To be true to myself and develop my beliefs...’. Guides may attend church services and parades but, as South Down Division Commissioner Pennie Thomson points out, the Promise stresses Girlguiding’s inclusivity: “People with other beliefs or no religious belief may make the new Promise.”

The Division is hoping for another successful Thinking Day event this month and welcomes new volunteers
so, if you are interested in helping, have a look at: www.girlguiding.org.uk
Featured in Feb 2020 of Hassocks Life