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The Girl Guides, Brownies and Rainbows

By: Jack Claridge - Updated: 11 Jan 2019 | comments*Discuss
 
Children Young Boys The Girl Guides The

In 1907 Sir Robert Baden-Powell formed the Boy Scouts. Revered as a general in the army Baden-Powell came up with the idea of introducing a training scheme for young boys that would instil in them not only discipline and respect but would also help prepare them for life as adults.

In 1909 at the Scout’s inaugural rally at Crystal Palace a small group of girls came to protest and show their desire to join the Scouts or to have a group of their own; this was something that Baden-Powell already had in mind and so the Girl Guides was born.

The Girl Guides is split in to four sections:

  • The Rainbows
  • The Brownies
  • The Guides
  • The Senior Section

Rainbows

The Rainbows are the youngest age group of the Girl guides and range from five to seven years of age (except in Northern Ireland where a girl can join on or after their 4th birthday). The Rainbows promote learning, friendship building and play and are intended as a means of instilling confidence in small children so that they bond and play together on an equal without barriers or prejudice. They will take part in games and activities that all come under the banner of the ‘Rainbow Jigsaw’.

Brownies

Having successfully completed their Rainbow stage the girls move onto being a Brownie. Being a Brownie involves being part of a pack referred to as ‘Sixes’. This is designed to ensure that all of the girls in the group have a unit of ‘ready made friends’ and can interact and mix with those around them, which helps to build up confidence.

Guides

By the age of ten a girl is ready to join the guides and with that comes the opportunity to progress her communication skills and also to build up her skills set that have already been taken to a particular level. Guides form patrols in a similar way to the Brownies before them with their ‘sixes’ but these ‘patrols’ are encouraged to plan their own activities and elect their own patrol leader, who will be instrumental in helping plan activities and also act as a mentor for the others in the group. This role – and the role of the others in the group – is designed to help the girls build confidence and also build up their ability to plan and take control of their own lives – skills which will be invaluable in adult life.

The Senior Section

Young women between the ages of 14 and 26 can join the senior section of the Girl Guides and can embark on outside activities such as award schemes and the guides’ own Look Wider Programme. The Look Wider Programme encourages these young women to consider their lives as adults and also to help those around them – or indeed those girl guides younger than them. They are also eligible to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme, which can lead to qualifications, and skill sets that might have otherwise eluded them.

The Girl Guides – just like the Boy Scouts – is designed to help self-confidence blossom and individual’s bring their personalities to the fore whilst all the time interacting with others and forming long term friendships.

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I'm looking for a rainbows group for my daughter in Blackburn anyone know were there is any
Amy - 11-Jan-19 @ 11:25 AM
I'm looking for brownies group in the rhondda for my 7yr old grandaughter
Valmai - 5-Mar-18 @ 1:45 AM
am looking for a rainbow group for my daughter to join she was four in January that is local to me how do I get her joined in a group? thank you
LC - 22-Feb-18 @ 6:43 PM
I live in Didcot at gwp estate and am looking for a browns group for my 8 yr old
Amanda Fitzgerald co - 20-May-17 @ 9:41 AM
Hi I live in Didcot and am looking for brownies group for my 8yr old
Amanda Fitzgerald co - 20-May-17 @ 9:39 AM
Hi all of you I am a leader and my thoughts would be go to the guiding website . And go on to join us and put in your local area and it should come up with the nearest to you
Jean biggs - 22-Feb-17 @ 3:09 PM
Hi, I'm looking for a rainbow club and a brownies club for my 2 daughters! But I'm struggling to find a location they are held close to me. Kings Heath/ Moseley. Could You help me With A Couple In The Area Or Closest To me Please. Thank you
Chelsea - 16-Jan-17 @ 8:44 AM
hi just having slight difficulty in finding a rainbow group for my two daughters to start going to in my area eldest is nearly 7 youngest has jus turn 5 sa4 4nf
benbow - 6-Oct-16 @ 12:55 PM
Hello please can you tell me where rainbows is near to yardley wood or kingsheath? Thank you
Nik - 29-Sep-16 @ 11:33 PM
My daughter is 4 at the moment and is 5 in august.She is desperate to join rainbows and I think she would benefit and learn loads from this
Sarah - 18-Feb-16 @ 11:45 PM
Laura - Your Question:
I'm looking to do some volunteering to strengthen my uni application I was a brownie myself when I was younger and would like to volunteer in my local one. Could you possibly tell me my nearest one and contact details postcode SS9 5YA

Our Response:
Please see linkhere which should help you further. Good luck.
WorkingWithKids - 18-Jan-16 @ 12:33 PM
I'm looking to do some volunteering to strengthen my uni application I was a brownie myself when I was younger and would like to volunteer in my local one. Could you possibly tell me my nearest one and contact details postcode SS9 5YA
Laura - 17-Jan-16 @ 4:55 PM
Hi my 6 year old would like to join a rainbow club but can't find were they take place or times , we line in Whitehaven. Thanks
Kat - 9-Jan-16 @ 7:35 PM
Jp - Your Question:
Would like to take my 6 year old to brownies. Where is the nearest one in wrenthorpe, wakefield.

Our Response:
Please see link here which should help.
WorkingWithKids - 7-Oct-15 @ 3:11 PM
Would like to take my 6 year old to brownies.Where is the nearest one in wrenthorpe,wakefield.
Jp - 7-Oct-15 @ 2:10 PM
Tanyaz - Your Question:
Hi my daughter is interested in joining the brownies/rainbows but I can't seem to find a group near me. I Amin North Bushey, Hertfordshire, WD23.Thanks

Our Response:
You could perhaps contact Girlguiding, Hertfordshire, for more information. Please see link here. I hope this helps.
WorkingWithKids - 2-Sep-15 @ 2:30 PM
Hi my daughter is interested in joining the brownies/rainbows but I can't seem to find a group near me. I Amin North Bushey, Hertfordshire, WD23. Thanks
Tanyaz - 1-Sep-15 @ 11:13 PM
My daughter is 6 she would like to join brownies or rainbows, but I can not find any details in my area rise park bestwood, arnold.. Nottingham.. Can any one help please
val - 23-Jul-15 @ 2:52 PM
@Jane - I have included a link to Nottinghamshire County Scouts here, who should be able to advise further. I hope this helps.
WorkingWithKids - 25-Jun-15 @ 2:12 PM
Hello my daughter would like to join girl scouts but we need to know thr clostist place to Arnold Nottinghamshire and she hasnt been through rainbows either so cab you get in touch with methank you x
Jane - 23-Jun-15 @ 5:07 PM
@faye - Many activities and events take place in both St Johns Church and the Community Centre which includes Brownies. I hope this helps.
WorkingWithKids - 13-Mar-15 @ 11:34 AM
Hellomy daughteris interested in joining brownies.Can youtell me the nearest to me ct9 3hx regards faye x
faye - 11-Mar-15 @ 3:59 PM
@babe - yes, I'm sure she can join at any age and will not have needed to go through Rainbows.
Debs - 2-Mar-15 @ 2:31 PM
Hi my daughter would like to join brownies at the age of 9 but has not been through rainbows we live in Arnold Nottinghamshire is this possible?? Cheers Sarah
babe - 27-Feb-15 @ 11:31 AM
Hi my little girl is 6 and really would like to join a rainbow group Iin the Bradford Shipley area how do I go about getting her a place thankyou laura
dipplydiv - 20-Jan-15 @ 8:08 PM
@Vicki - Google should help you find this information.
WorkingWithKids - 1-Dec-14 @ 11:06 AM
Hi, I was wondering if the Rainbows Group was still active at St Pauls Church, Bushey Hall Road, Watford Herts and if so who do I contact to find out more information. Thanks.
Vicki - 28-Nov-14 @ 7:57 PM
Hello my daughter is 9 and would like to join the 7th barrhead brownies pack in barrhead Glasgow. Does anybody have their contact details. Thank you.
sarah - 26-Aug-14 @ 8:36 PM
My 12 year old daughter would like to join guides in the wrenthorpe area wakefield can you advise if any clubs near here thank you
Donna - 6-Aug-14 @ 9:04 PM
hi im wanting to look at rainbow club near me for my daughter to join and i am getting no where in finding out where there is one.we live in.postcode wf133pw. i a also wanting to know cost etc,thanks
lee - 12-Feb-14 @ 6:42 PM
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