Girlguides to ditch outdated badge system and be rewarded for ambition

Badges rewarding girls for sewing, cooking and “hostess” skills could soon be a thing of the past as Girlguiding UK faces its biggest overhaul to date.

Rainbows, Brownies and Guides will instead be encouraged to take part in new challenges involving app design, entrepreneurship, “speaking out”, upcycling or vlogging to name a few ideas put forward by members.

So far around 15,000 girls have taken part in testing ideas for the new badge system, which will be set around six positive-message themes – “skills for my future”, “have adventures”, “be well”, “know myself”, “express myself” and “take action”.

Charity group heads were quick to ensure that Girlguiding has “always moved with the times” – introducing new badges over the years including “air mechanic” (1910s), “electrician” (1930s), “telegraphist” (1930s) and “radio communicator” (1980s).

However, lead volunteers for the programme said the badges scheme would be revamped in order to remain relevant for the most ambitious and capable generation of young people.

Jess Bond, a Lead Volunteer and Brownie group leader from Cambridge, told The Independent: “It’s the biggest ever overhaul of our programme - and the first time we've made big changes across the whole system in decades, so we will see changes to what girls do in their group meetings.

“There will be new developments and badges available, but we are also giving girls the opportunity to become a bit more independent,” she added.

“Some of the activities will require them to work in groups, developing teamwork and leadership skills as well as some more individual learning badges that might follow their own particular interests.

“At the moment we’re collecting lots of ideas from members of the public too about the sorts of things that girls and young women are interested in to ensure that we remain modern and relevant for the 21st century - for today's girls and tomorrow's women.”

Olympic gymnast Beth Tweddle, one of a number of women to be given a Girlguiding “I give girls a voice” badge, said she would create a resilience badge.

“I know from experience resilience is such a valuable skill and it has helped me in different situations, from handling the pressures of competing in gymnastics to dealing with the demands of daily life,” she said.

“A resilience badge would help to tackle the stigma around mental health from a young age by empowering girls to talk confidently about these issues and equipping them with the skills they need to be resilient throughout their lives.”

The new programme will be launching in summer 2018 with new activities and badges introduced at different stages.

Young leader for the Guides, Elena, 17, said: “A Chemist Badge would be brilliant as girls could find out about acids and alkalis and have a go at conducting experiments. It would be a fantastic way to engage girls in chemistry.”

Maia, 9, added: “My dream badge would be the Be Yourself Badge because I think that being yourself is very important for Brownies and for life.”