From: Ann Peacock, PR Advisor, Girlguiding Wharfedale

CAN you help us?

Members of Girlguiding in Wharfedale were extremely pleased to see your two page spread highlighting their activities throughout this Covid Crisis and thank you for your continued interest.

However, there are issues I would like to draw to the attention of your readers.

Volunteers power Girlguiding and sometimes we need a bit of extra help. Owing to a change in circumstances, we are in desperate need of two new teams to lead a Rainbow Unit and a Brownie Unit respectively.

Unfortunately, if we cannot find volunteers, these units will have to close. That will mean a minimum of 40 girls will no longer have the opportunity to meet each week and have the sort of fun described in the recent report.

The current Rainbow leader would like to step back but would be happy to support while someone new learns the ropes.

Rainbows is the youngest section of Girlguiding, from 5 – 7 years. Rainbows learn by doing – they get their hands dirty, do sports, arts and crafts and play games. Being a Rainbow is all about having the space to try new things. Through taking part in a range of different activities with girls their own age, Rainbows develop self-confidence and make new friends.

Brownies (7 – 10 years) carry on in the same vein developing further skills and becoming more self reliant. They learn to look beyond their environs and explore the wider world, helping others being one of their primary aims.

If you think you’d like to join our fantastic team and be able to volunteer some time and would like more information, please visit the Girlguiding web site www.girlguiding.org.uk and look at what is required and the sort of support volunteers get in the way of training.

Further details about local contacts can be found on the Ilkley Pages www.ilkley.org or https://discoverilkley.co.uk/community/