#Postcodelockdownlove

Hi its me again!
 Recently, our street had a street bingo afternoon! We all brought chairs, refreshments and a prize each. Our guitar teacher lives on our street and donated his sound system so another neighbour could hand out the bingo sheets and call the numbers out. Even with social distancing, it was a good get together as many neighbours came out to play!
I thought this might give some of you inspiration to get together with your neighbours and share some happiness with the people on your street if they are feeling isolated or down! We are thinking of a street quiz next!

Stay safe everyone! 💓

By Emily (one of the many)!

The Unusual Cat named Pinky,

Hi, Lottie again. Today I will be writing about my cat, this is a very simple topic but it is one that i can write about without thinking about the current circumstances. Currently, I am writing this form my bed with the cat in question sitting calmly next to me in his favourite spot so I am counting this contribution as co-authoring to this post.

As you may have seen from the title Pinky is unusual, I love him anyway, but here are some reasons why I classify him as weird compared to other cats.

Firstly, he is called Pinky, not exactly a very accurate name for a male cat but who conforms to gender norms anyway. The reason for his name comes from his Pink nose funnily enough,  he was raised to 12 weeks on a farm with a massive litter and this stand out feature became his name. Fun fact his nose goes a paler pink when he is very relaxed (so cute) .

Secondly, he is a very affectionate cat, he loves cuddles and belly rubs the most. Lots of people think cats are not affectionate but you just have to read the cats body language and work a little harder to gain their love. As Pinky is very affectionate he is enjoying the bad weather so he can spend all day sleeping at the end of my bed or in his "Pinky cave" underneath my sisters chair with his own blanket to lie on. Luckily these places both are near a radiator so at least he follows one characteristic of a regular cat. 

Thirdly, he is not very good at staying clean because he loves dirt. Recently, because it has been quite hot, the ground has dried out and he likes to have dust baths. because hes is a mix of white and tabby the muck shows up prominently. When we first got him him dad thought he had some muck on his chin and  we found out it was a ginger marking  after scrubbing at it for a while.

Finally, he doesn't meow very often and when he does it  sounds more like a squeak. i think his voice box didn't develop properly so it is usually his brother Tabby that makes up for the noise by meowing loudly for no reason and every reason.

Also, I find stroking Pinky very therapeutic and it helps me calm and ground myself when my anxiety is bad, usually on a Sunday night we have some midnight cuddles. Many cat owners would agree that cats when they are relaxed have a calming presence and their purrs give us satisfaction to know that they are enjoying each moment .

Thank you for reading from me and Pinky  :-)

More isolation art and design

Hello again and welcome back to another post, this time on the basics of art and design, in the hope that it will inspire some creativity and lead to everybody giving it a go, either as a way to have fun (maybe get a family member involved) or to relax and take time to yourself whilst in isolation.

A common misconception of art is that a piece has to be complicated, time consuming and detailed to be 'good', but in reality, simple and easy designs are often much more effective and eye-catching (and wont cause unimaginable boredom to the artist).

So firstly, here's an introduction to the concept of colour theory - which colours go together well? which ones clash? which colours contrast?



Colours that are situated on opposite sides of the colour wheel are complimentary and go together well (for example: blue and orange, red and green, yellow and purple).
Also colours that sit directly next to each other go well together (harmonious colours) - such as green and blue, orange and yellow etc.
Also it is important to note that any colour can be made by using the three primary colours (red, blue and yellow) so do not worry if you do not have a tube of the exact colour paint you want to use - you can mix them yourself (youtube videos are handy for this if you are unsure).

Now here are some easy designing techniques to do at home:

(PS most of these examples are from pinterest)

1) Patterns 
I find that sitting down and just painting random patterns by trying different colour combinations, and using different materials and different objects (sponges, corks, scrapers - literally anything) is really relaxing as there is no pressure to produce a final piece - its just a bit of fun.

2) Silhouettes 
Silhouettes are a great way to avoid putting much detail into a piece, as well as it looking neat and still making a design look amazing.



3) Lastly, line drawings
If you don't own any paint or other materials, line drawing is great - all that is needed is a biro or ink pen (or even a pencil). There are lots of examples online that can be used as inspiration, and also tracing some images is always an option.

So whilst we're all in isolation, maybe sit down and design something that represents you or inspires you. Additionally, cards or little paintings could be really nice to send to family and friends at this current time.

Happy designing!

Emily 

Your Handy Guide to Charnwood Camps Throughout the Years

Whether or not you’ve been on one yourself, as someone in Girlguiding, you’ve likely heard about the infamous Charnwood International Scout and Guide Camps. In this post, I’m going to take you through some quick history of all these camps that have happened so far – along with some personal experiences of my own!



In this blog post, you’ll also find some pictures of animals I like, as well as some relevant badges. You know, for the vibes.

Humble Beginnings

In the late seventies, Leicestershire County wanted to think of a way they could celebrate the international links that the Scouting and Guiding groups had long held. Thus, the Charnwood camps were born.

The very first Charnwood camp took place in 1980, 40 whole years ago. It was held at Bardon Hill, Leicestershire, and had eight subcamps that were named after the planets. 21 countries were represented at this camp with an estimated 500 international visitors.

Fun Fact: On the first day, everyone experienced a lovely downpour of rain. Much like a certain other Charnwood I know. 

1985, 1991 and 1996

1985 – Knights and maidens took over Stanford Hall at the Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire border. The theme was, you guessed it, medieval.

1991 – Stanford Hall was once again used to host Charnwood 91. This time, the subcamps were named after continents. Between the 9 subcamps, there were 3,000 campers from 20 countries.

Fun Fact: Princess Bassma Bint-Talal, head of the Guide Movement at that time in Jordan, visited some Jordanian Guides whilst on the camp.

1996 – Charnwood 1996 was held at Belvoir Castle. The theme was Movieland which was chosen by the guides and scouts at the time. A total of 15 countries were able to be represented. This was the first Charnwood camp that one of our leaders, Gemma, experienced! I am told that she was on the Blockbuster subcamp and slept in the Icelandic tents the Birstall Guides and Rangers are all too familiar with. 

2001, 2006 and 2011

2001 – Charnwood returned once again to Stanford Hall with a very global theme. Nicknamed ‘Round the World’ it featured subcamps such as ‘Aeroplane to Australia’, ‘Train to Timbuktu’, ‘Sleighride to Sweden’, and many more. This camp also brought in the introduction of a camp mascot, Charley Wood. 16 countries and 2,500 guides and scouts were there.

Fun Fact: A parent described the site as “…like the world you wish your children could grow up in.” Which to me, says it all.

2006 – For '06, Whatton House was used as the site. The theme was “Through the Ages” which included the Tudors, the Stone Age, and many more! A grand total of 3,000 guides and scouts pitched their tents for that week.

2011 – Whatton House was once again used for the 7^th Charnwood camp. I didn’t go to it myself but I did visit this camp when I was a brownie, at the humble age of 9. I remember the theme being “Habitats” which was awesome. This camp managed to sustain 4,000 campers overall, a massive increase from Charnwood 2006. To say the least, it was becoming more popular. 

2016 and 2019

2016 – Here we go. This was the first-ever Charnwood I properly went to as a Guide. The subcamps were divided into decades – ranging from the Fabulous Fifties to the Non-Stop Noughties. My fellow Guides and I were part of the Smashing Seventies! It was an unbelievably fun week; I’ve got memories I will always have. We made new friends, went kayaking, and shared the camp with roughly 5,000 other campers! With 22 countries represented and 460 international campers to boot.

Technicalities: The site for this Charnwood was apparently 25% bigger than in 2011. 

  Here, we have the 'Smashing 70s' badge:

And here, we have the full Charnwood 2016 badge:

2019 – We were bound to get here eventually. Of course, Charnwood 2019 was hosted at Cattows Farm and was my second Charnwood, but this time I went to it as Ranger. We had no leader in our little camp space and so we were quite independent throughout the time that we were there. The theme of the whole camp was energy, the subcamps included Mechanical, Light, Sound, Earth, Fire, and Water. We were part of the rather fitting water subcamp.

Unfortunately, due to unsafe conditions caused by rain and mud, the camp closed 4 days in. We as a mud-soaked group abandoned the camp on Thursday after only arriving on Saturday. Even though it ended early, we still have fond memories of the camp. The Core (the humongous main tent) was always lively. Whether it was games, a DJ rave, musical performances, there was always something to watch or take part in. 

This is the incomplete official badge of Charnwood 2019:

It was still one heck of a camp, major thanks to those who helped run it!

Well, there you have some facts about all the Charnwood International Scout and Guide Camps so far. I can imagine that the next Charnwood camps will bring many happy memories to future Scouts and Guides! I hope to go to as many as possible. 

Thanks for reading my post! Be sure to check out the others from our amazing girls. 

Until next time!

- Grace 😊

Guiding memories: exploring Guiding history through personal experiences

Hello again! Inspired by my last post, I thought I’d explore guiding history within my family and my unit. I spoke to my mother, grandmother and leader of our Ranger unit Gemma about their experiences as guides.

An example of 50's Guide uniform

 My Grandma was a guide in 1956, her uniform was a ‘Royal blue skirt and navy skirt. It was unheard
of to wear trousers or sweatshirts. We had a neckerchief and woggle to hold it in place.’ She attended a unit in Bradford, she said that her leader was ‘awful, really strict and no sense of humour!’. Her favourite Guiding memory was her first Guide camp in the Yorkshire Dales; ‘We went on a bus from Bradford for a week. It was the first time I had ever been away from home and I remember being woken up by noisy crows. Coming from a town I had never experienced birds building nests or lambs in fields. It was quite a shock!  Also, each morning we had to visit the farm dairy and get fresh milk from the cows!’ 

Guiding Magazine 1988

My Mother was also a girl guide, she was a guide in the early 80’s. Her unit met in the hall of her primary school, which was close enough for her to walk.  Her uniform was ‘Blue! Bright blue blouse. Very yellow necker and leather woggle. I think a navy skirt and some sort of odd belt. There was a hat
but I don’t remember having one’. As part of her unit activities ‘I remember doing a first aid badge and having a sling on for the whole meeting and I decided I would try going to the toilet which was rather problematic!’ Her favourite guiding memory was ‘Always making sure I had a 5p and a 2p coin so that I could make a call from a phone box if we needed to. I also loved how many things you can get in a matchbox competition we had. Finding lots of tiny things and cramming them all in was fascinating’.

A page from guiding magazine showing the new uniform 

 I also interviewed one of our Ranger Unit leaders, Gemma. She was a guide from 1995-99 and attended the 2nd Birstall Guides at our Guide hut in Birstall. She was in the white roses patrol and eventually became the patrol leader. In her unit she worked on ‘trefoil awards (yellow, green, red then blue) and then ultimately the Baden-Powell award’.  Her uniform ‘was the ‘new’ Jeff Banks design and we had a blue and white Necker. I usually wore culottes as they were a mix of shorts and skirt so easy to move in’. Her favourite guiding memory was ‘going to Switzerland on a district trip. I had my Baden-Powell award presented whilst at Our Chalet!!’

In these difficult times it’s important to come together and sharing memories of Guiding is a great way to come together. Thank you all for reading and don’t forget to share your favourite guiding memory in the comments below!

The news and social media

Now more than ever we rely on the news to keep up-to-date with the latest Coronavirus pandemic updates. Unfortunately, during this bizarre period there seems to be increasing fictitious reports circulating around social media which makes separating fact from fiction difficult at times. ‘Fake news’ has been a very loaded phrase in recent years brought to light by increasing use of social media.

Nowadays, unreliable/unchecked facts and reports can pretty much go viral instantaneously and with around 39 million social media users in 2017 in the UK and 67% of online adults on Facebook in 2016 it is unsurprising. Ofcom (the UK Communications regulator) reports half of adults now use social media for News.

Tips for recognising fake information:

• Before you share-Check the source and consider the reliability of the source i.e.if the account/website is bogus or if it is from a verified account and any biases. Consider whether the information is fact,speculation or opinion. 
• Sources of information such as public heath bodies like WHO (the world health organisation) and the NHS are the most reliable and reputable sources for health news and information.

Social media is very much a doubled edged sword. Whilst it is good to keep updated on the latest rules and advice on Coronavirus and stay in the touch with friends and family it is also vital to switch off. Constantly checking the news or social media can be harmful to your mental well-being and make you feel anxious. Managing your news and social media ‘consumption’ may help you to feel more relaxed.

Some approaches could include:

• Sitting a routine/time to look at the News and social media each day. E.g. once in the morning and once in the evening.

• Turn off or reduce notifications (consider is it really necessary to be alerted every time someone you follow posts, these individual notifications can be really distracting- once you seen a post you look at other post, time flies and before you know it you have been on Instagram 30 minutes.) 

• Apps like Forest, Moment, Flipd or Plantie which can help to limit app usage by setting periods of focus where you app usage is restricted.

You may find this link this link useful,https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/school-report-43391188b

the article and interactive game designed by the BBC are aimed at 11-18 year olds to help to recognise disinformation across the media.

Thanks for reading-Annabelle

Healthy Eating Habits In Quarantine

Hi, I’m Lauren, a member of 1^st Birstall Rangers! I’d like to discuss and suggest some ways in which to keep healthy during quarantine, especially in ways such as keeping and maintaining healthy eating habits. At the moment, the media discusses the issues of binge eating from boredom in order to actually do something.  There are lots of suggestions about establishing a routine and that should include our eating habits to include set routines and times, along with correctly proportioned meals.  This should help to avoid binge eating.

It’s important to ensure that you’re maintaining a healthy diet, especially to aid your immune system which is essential during these times.   Moreover, a healthy diet goes hand-in-hand with a good bit of exercise.

The advice from the Government is to only leave the house for exercise, limited essential shopping and work, if you cannot work from home.  If you limit the amount of times you shop to just once a week that will help with meal planning and avoid deviation from your best intentions!

So, what should you be eating during quarantine? Simply ensure that you’re eating well-balanced meals, such as varied vegetables and protein. Since we have more time on our hands, we have more time to engage in cooking our meals rather than buying ready meals laden with sugar, salt and fat. You can use this time to prepare and freeze meals such as spaghetti bolognaise, or practice making a new recipe. Websites and cooking shows are a great place to find ideas!

Don’t forget, we eat with our eyes! To uplift your mood it’s a great idea to have a plate full of colour!

I’ve sourced some recipes to try out during quarantine-

Pepper and bean chilli- This recipe serves four people and is simple to make. It requires very few ingredients and is also suitable for vegetarians!

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/bean-pepper-chilli

Smoky bacon and tomato spaghetti- It takes 20 minutes to cook and uses a small number of simple ingredients

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/super-smoky-bacon-tomato-spaghetti

Easy Oven frittata- This contains a good mix of fresh and store cupboard  items which could be served with a salad.

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/easy-oven-frittata

Porridge with blueberry compote- This contains a few ingredients, all of which will provide a great slow energy release.

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/porridge-blueberry-compote

Chocolate and berry mousse pots- This dessert uses lots of fruit as well as chocolate. The ingredients are relatively simple and the recipe is also easy to make.

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/chocolate-berry-mousse-pots

Thank you for reading blog, stay safe and healthy!

Lauren :)

Why literature has only become more relevant during these trying times.

Hi, I'm Kayley and as you're about to see, I'm a bit of a literature enthusiast! Enjoy a small yet comprehensive look at the importance of a good book nowadays.

In times like these, it is hard to really feel like ourselves. Confined within the walls of our homes, there are only so many home improvements, only so many new recipes to try before we feel a semblance of our normal lives. But when all the walls have been repainted and you’ve run out of flour, what else is there to do but read? Literature is a fantastic way to rediscover what it means to be you, find who you want to be or simply immerse yourself in the shoes of a daring fictional protagonist. Here is just a small list of some thought-provoking works to help you celebrate the world beyond the end of your driveway. 

A book to read when you feel out of touch: 

Carson McCullers’ highly acclaimed debut novel, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, is a compassionate study of humanity’s isolation. Drawing on themes from all walks of life such as Marxism, gender and race, McCullers uses a small town in the deep South and a secluded cast of struggling individuals to tentatively explore the human condition. From the restless young Mick Kelly to the observant yet internally conflicted Biff Brannon, each character confides in the deaf-mute John Singer, for whom loneliness is a familiar spirit. Even as the seasons change and the world shifts around them, Singer remains a constant in their lives of misfortune and misery, and McCullers gently reminds us that it is okay to be hopeful when the world is looking anything but. 

A book to read when you want to cry: 

Ian McEwan’s Atonement is a frustratingly beautiful lament to a pair of young lovers, and the crimes committed in spite of their love ultimately fall upon the reader’s judgement. The novel is told retrospectively by Briony Tallis, a girl with an indulged but neglected childhood, who makes a fatal decision. Through McEwan’s careful use of perspective and allusions, only by the end do we come to understand the catastrophic domino effect her mistake has had on those around her. Set on the cusp of WWII, McEwan reveals how ugly a world rife with war and upper-class indecision can be. However, don’t let this fool you: at its heart, Atonement is a poignant tragedy of romance and the fragile steps that must be taken to reconcile love after an unforgivable betrayal. 

A book to read when you want to lose yourself in fantasy: 

On a lighter note, if quick-witted, card-dealing outcasts and squirrel cats are your thing, then Spellslinger by Sebastien de Castell is the perfect book for you. The first in a series of six, Castell offers us a refreshing array of quirky characters, set against the backdrop of a world rich with magic and facing political unrest. Through comedic narration, we follow the story of Kellen, a mage who is incessantly told he is nowhere near as capable as his peers. However, his world radically changes when the enigmatic exile Ferius Parfax arrives and offers him a new, perhaps his only possible incentive for life. Cleverly heightened by fast-paced action and full of cliffhangers, Castell’s hybrid world of the wild west and high fantasy lore is easily captivating, and the high stakes are only going to have you reaching for the next book in this spellbinding series. 

Happy reading! 

Keeping Connected

Hello, I am the last of the several Emily's in our unit. I wanted my addition to Over the Ranger-Bow to be about something I am missing very much during these peculiar times. My friends. I'm also guessing most people are in a similar position. 

There are a lot of things that are difficult about life in lock-down, just as there are many obstacles when the world is running 'normally'. Trust me, there was plenty I complained about and things I wished I didn't have to do before the worldwide outbreak of a virus. However, all the things I found challenging were always made easier with the support and comfort of friends. Whether it be the friends that helped me keep head up through the course of my A-Levels, to my friends at work who made work not seem like work at all or the Girl Guiding family that gave me a space to clear my mind. These are all people who I have been separated from due to this pandemic. Most, if not all of us are in the same boat.

Despite feeling as though we are in strange times and missing normality very much, hope is not lost. Thankfully we are in an era when we can be connected more than ever, so to keep in tune with my peers that have already posted, my advice to keep yourself sane would be to stay connected. It's easy to let the days melt into one, but it is so important to maintain structure and maintain communication with the people that keep us going. Whether it's through texting, phone calls, Facetime, zoom meetings or anything at all, keep those lines open. If you had events, plans or birthdays disrupted by lock-down, then celebrate anyway, it's just about adapting to fit the times we're living in now. 

One more little idea I have (if you're missing your friends as much as me), look through photos. I have searched and scrolled through my phone, laptop and dusty hard drives to discover forgotten gems of me and my friends. I have complied an album of old and new pictures that capture my favourite moments with the people I miss the most, ready to get printed and plaster on my bedroom walls. Not only does it remind me of all the good times I've had because of my friends, but it shows me all the good times waiting for me once this is all over.

Thank you for reading, stay connected!
Emily :)

Baking while in quaratine

Hi, my name is Emily (I am one of the many emily's in our group!) and I am writing today's blog post on a way to have fun and to kill some time - It is baking time!

 

They may look like this, but you can use different cookie cutters e.g. hearts

It serves 15 people

 

Here is what you need:

50g butter 

50g golden caster sugar 

140g plain flour 

 1 medium egg 

1tsp vanilla essence

1 crushed, clear hard boiled sweet 

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 190C/170C Fan/Gas 5. In a large mixing bowl combine the butter, caster sugar, plain flour, an egg and vanilla essence until you have a dough. 

2. Roll out the dough to the thickness of a £1 coin and cut out various shapes (try stars, circles and hearts) Place your shapes on a baking tray lined with baking parchment.

3.Cut out a small circular hole in the centre of each biscuit. Fill each hole with one crushed, clear hard boiled sweet. This will melt in the oven to create your 'stained glass'.

4.  Bake your biscuits in the oven for 8 mins until light golden and firm. Allow to cool completely. 

Thank you for reading this post! I hpe you enjoy making them!

Emily 😊

Arts and crafts in isolation

Hi, I'm Emily (one of the many Emilys’ in this ranger group) and I am writing today's blog post on a great way to kill some time and be a little bit creative –  it's arts and crafts time :)

Over the last few weeks I have found that motivation to do things has generally been low, however doing some really easy art projects are a nice way to relax, add some decoration to your house and garden, as well as getting a good sense of achievement when it is finished!

Obviously, art and craft materials are hard to come by at the moment as shops are shut, so these following projects are simple and need minimal materials to do.

The first idea is 'pebble art', which is obviously great as pebbles and small stones can be found in the garden or out and about ect. In true 'art attack’ style, here are some I made earlier…

All you need for these are some relatively flat pebbles, some paper, PVA glue, some coloured pens, and some creativity (or pinterest).

Firstly, lay the pebbles out on some paper and just experiment with what shapes and figures you can make, before deciding on the final composition.

Then draw in any 2D lines (such as the ground, branches, legs ect…) and add on any designs that are on the pebbles themselves as well.

When everything is ready to be assembled, glue it all in place with some PVA glue and leave it to dry for at least half an hour.

To make your work into nice home decoration, you can frame it with either an actual frame or a DIY frame and voila, you have a lovely decoration.

This kind of homemade craft could be perfect as a gift, especially as at the moment it is difficult to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, etc properly.

Other craft ideas to do in isolation:

Repainting old furniture

Painting a photo frame

Paint a flowerpot

Make a wind chime or lantern

Make some photo holders

Pro-tip: sites such as pinterest and other art and craft blogs and websites are great for sourcing ideas and often giving step-by-step instructions! 

Remember that the main thing is to relax and have fun!

Thanks for reading

-Emily S

Positivity during quarantine

Welcome back to Over The Ranger-bow! Hi, I’m Lottie. I am writing today's blog post about what quarantine is like for me.

Almost a month into quarantine in the UK a routine has been set as many people have recommended, being self critical I would not say my routine is perfect and as productive as others think it should be but it's as good as it could get for a teenage professional procrastinator.

Seeing as this blog is to bring some positivity, I will look on the bright side of life right now. This tricky time has restored my faith in the community and humanity that sometimes you need when you have grown up in a politically turbulent time as I have. Also, I have felt more connected to people I didn't usually see on a regular basis because I have taken this free time to catch up with them. Another positive for me right now is our online Ranger meetings, (obviously!).Before lockdown it was only possible for our meetings to happen once every two weeks but now I get to see my lovely people every week, our meetings are a very nice way to break up the week and to focus on something productive like our different badges and to be able to have a nice chat.

I would recommend that you think of the positives and the new opportunities that this brings to you as well, still consider the bad things or negatives but to change those bad things or find the silver lining not dwell on them.

A message I would like to tell you is: this time is stressful already, so don't add to that by beating yourself up about not doing the things that you didn’t have time to do before lockdown, its okay just to focus on small goals if the goals of writing a novel or learning a language feel to big right now. Just take it easy and stay safe.

Thank you for reading, I hope this added some positivity to your day.

A brief history.....

Welcome to over the ranger-bow, this is a blog co-authored by the members of 1st Birstall Rangers as part of our blogging badge but also in an attempt to spread some goodwill in these uncertain times. I’m Eleanor and I wanted to take some time today to talk about the history of girl guiding. I think that a lot of it can be applied to our present times. Most of the information in this post comes from Janie Hampton’s book ‘How the Girl guides won the war’. It is a heartwarming and entertaining book, if you’re looking for something to read.

You may be wondering what on earth Rangers is, Rangers are the eldest section of Girl Guiding aged 14 to 18. Rangers aims to encourage girls to build their skills, find their voice, support their peers and travel the world. You might be surprised to discover these aims haven’t changed much since Guiding was founded in 1910.

Lord Baden-Powell

Robert Baden-Powell was a general in the British army who, like a lot of people at the time, was

worried about social and moral decline. Baden-Powell believed that the way to avoid this was to give young people something else to do. In 1908 he wrote ‘Scouting for boys’ which was based on his military experience and an experimental camp he held on Brownsea island in 1907. The book was one of the most popular books of the 20th century and the scouting movement took off immediately. Although the organisation would not be officially formed until 1910, girls were involved in scouting almost as soon as it began. Famously turning up at the first Scout Rally, which was held at Crystal Palace, and demanding Scouting for girls.

The Original Guide Uniform 

In 1910 the Guides were set up as a separate organisation, with Baden-Powell’s older sister Agnes at the helm. Agnes was a rather eccentric woman, fifty-one, unmarried, whose hobbies included ballooning and bicycle polo. Although a little Victorian in her views Agnes was keen to establish guiding as a separate organisation. Guides had an immediate effect on the lives of girls in 1910, who were often not allowed out without a chaperone. Guides allowed them a space to socialise with their peers, learn new skills and gain confidence. The Guiding movement strove to encourage equality in a heavily divided society, in fact the one of the original guide laws was ‘A guide is a friend to all and a sister to every other guide no matter to what social class she belongs.’ Girl guiding also strove to include all girls, one of the first units was set up in St Mary’s children’s hospital and extension guiding aimed to help girls regardless of how able they were. Girls completed all badges even fire lighting, with the help of asbestos blankets. Rangers was began in 1916, as the original guides grew up and wanted to continue guiding. During both wars Guides showed a commitment to social action, carrying messages for MI5 during the first world war and raising over £50,000 to help the war effort during the second. After the second world war a committee was set up to train Guide leaders to help in the relief effort after the war, known as the Guide international service.

So where is Guiding today? Over 100 years on Guiding is the largest women’s charity in the UK, with over 500,000 members. At the moment, guiding meetings have been suspended. This has not stopped us, in fact working remotely is not new for girl guiding. From 1921 ‘post’ or ‘lone’ guides became common, these units were set up for girls who were housebound, lived in isolated places or attended a boarding school where Guiding was not allowed. The meetings were held over post with girls posting whatever activity they had completed to their leader and awaiting instructions for their next meeting. At 16 these girls could become lone rangers and join with ranger activities.

At the moment we're all Lone Rangers but I think we can take anything from Guides of the past is to keep smiling and singing in all difficulties. I leave you all with a quote from Baden-Powell: 

‘If you can’t find the bright side, polish up the dark one.’ 

Thank you all for reading!