The Girl Guides, Brownies and Rainbows

Author: Jack Claridge

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’.

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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.

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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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38 questions

Ask Working with Kids a Question

Amy 11/01/2019 at 11:25 am

I'm looking for a rainbows group for my daughter in Blackburn anyone know were there is any

Valmai 05/03/2018 at 1:45 am

I'm looking for brownies group in the rhondda for my 7yr old grandaughter

LC 22/02/2018 at 6:43 pm

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

Amanda Fitzgerald co 20/05/2017 at 9:41 am

I live in Didcot at gwp estate and am looking for a browns group for my 8 yr old

Amanda Fitzgerald co 20/05/2017 at 9:39 am

Hi I live in Didcot and am looking for brownies group for my 8yr old

Jean biggs 22/02/2017 at 3:09 pm

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

Chelsea 16/01/2017 at 8:44 am

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

Nik 29/09/2016 at 11:33 pm

Hello please can you tell me where rainbows is near to yardley wood or kingsheath? Thank you

Sarah 18/02/2016 at 11:45 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

WorkingWithKids Editor 18/01/2016 at 12:33 pm

which should help you further. Good luck.

Kat 09/01/2016 at 7:35 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

WorkingWithKids Editor 07/10/2015 at 3:11 pm

which should help.

Jp 07/10/2015 at 2:10 pm

Would like to take my 6 year old to brownies. Where is the nearest one in wrenthorpe, wakefield.

WorkingWithKids Editor 02/09/2015 at 2:30 pm

You could perhaps contact Girlguiding, Hertfordshire, for more information. I hope this helps.

Tanyaz 01/09/2015 at 11:13 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

val 23/07/2015 at 2:52 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

WorkingWithKids Editor 25/06/2015 at 2:12 pm

@Jane - I have included a link to Nottinghamshire County Scouts here, who should be able to advise further. I hope this helps.

Jane 23/06/2015 at 5:07 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 me thank you x

WorkingWithKids Editor 13/03/2015 at 11:34 am

@faye - Many activities and events take place in both St Johns Church and the Community Centre which includes Brownies. I hope this helps.

Debs Editor 02/03/2015 at 2:31 pm

@babe - yes, I'm sure she can join at any age and will not have needed to go through Rainbows.

babe 27/02/2015 at 11:31 am

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

dipplydiv 20/01/2015 at 8:08 pm

Hi my little girl is 6 and really would like to join a rainbow group I in the Bradford Shipley area how do I go about getting her a place thankyou laura

WorkingWithKids Editor 01/12/2014 at 11:06 am

@Vicki - Google should help you find this information.

Vicki 28/11/2014 at 7:57 pm

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.

sarah 26/08/2014 at 8:36 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.

Donna 06/08/2014 at 9:04 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

lee 12/02/2014 at 6:42 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

TawnyOwl 17/05/2013 at 5:20 pm

Please note there is no upper age limit for Adults to join Guiding

Casslong 18/04/2013 at 11:29 am

I looking for a Girl Guide group in North London, Haringey area, does anyone know of one. If not how does one go about setting one up?

Ninni 31/01/2013 at 6:10 pm

My daughter is 5 in August and would like her to attend a local Rainbows group. Does anyone know of one in the NG5 - woodthorpe/Arnold/Sherwood area of Nottingham .

Sarah 29/01/2013 at 8:40 pm

I am wanting to know where the nearest rainbow club is for my daughter who is wanting to join. I'd like a contact number please for anyone in the Rotherham S64 area.

Betty 23/01/2013 at 6:10 pm

I want to know where I can take my two girls aged 4 and 6 to the nearest rainbow club in the E 10 area

emma 06/01/2013 at 7:24 pm

please could you tell me where my local rainbows group is, my daughter is 5 years old and we live in ottery st mary. please advise. Thanks

Bex 01/10/2012 at 2:35 pm

How do you volunteer to help out at rainbows/brownies/guides?? X x

Nicola 26/09/2012 at 4:23 pm

Hi I am lookin for my daughter Molly aged 5 years old to joining brownies and rainbow! Where is available! We r from Stockport. X thank u

susan 30/08/2012 at 7:45 pm

i am 60 years old . i was a brownie when i was a child ....my question is am i now to old to be a member of the guides ? ...thanking you in anticipation for your reply .

lesliefraecurrie 20/08/2012 at 12:43 pm

Unfortunately, the info in your second paragraph is incorrect, although it's understandable as an oft-repeated myth, even in some early Guide History books.Girls were welcomed and registered as Scouts, it was growing publicity through 1907-1909 that led Robert Baden-Powell to ask his sister to form the Guides. There were over 1000 Girl Scouts at the Crystal Palace Rally!

chez 13/08/2012 at 8:07 pm

Hi, I was wondering if anyone knew how you start up another rainbows/brownies group? There is one in our village but the waiting list is huge and many girls get missed, seems such a shame.

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