When DD was in the Rainbow Guides I stayed for the first few weeks while he settled in. For those that don't know the Rainbows are like smaller Brownies, part of a Girl Guiding Family. And they do age appropriate stuff in the same was the Brownies do. So each week the girls would have 'circle time' talking about things they had done in the week, lost teeth, days out, gold stars on homework, that sort of thing.
Then we would maybe have a speaker, a local vet, or emergency services worker (yes ladies there were firemen) and sometimes a trip out, a walk to the beach, a treasure hunt, a trip to the fire station (there may be a theme here). We would talk about helping each other, what women and girls could do to be useful and then we would do a craft, colouring or making a simple gift like a bookmark etc.
Sometimes we would take part in the wider world of Guiding, setting up a stall at the local Guides Fayre for example.
Then one day when DD was happily settled and I was leaving one of the leaders told me that they may have to close the group. There are rules about minimum adult numbers and they were losing a unit leader to retirement....can you see where this is going?
How could I not help? The girls were all delightful and loved all they did, the leaders were friendly and happy to train me up (though I had to buy my own uniform) and most of all DD loved it. So I started helping, once a week, a few hours and the odd craft to organise (did I mention I grew up with Blue Peter and simply loved making things, it became my 'thing' to organise the craft each week) and so I volunteered. I was a volunteer unit helper until sadly the hours I worked changed and I was no longer able to attend the evening meetings, DD left and became a Brownie and my links to the Guides faded away.
CSV are currently celebrating 50 years of volunteering!
50 Years!! Why not be part of something big!
And if you are arty and over 14 but under 25 why not check out the Poster design Competition?
