Talk me through this - male on placement with brownies

[nevernotstruggling]

The dds have been to the same brownie unit for around 4 years (dd1 waiting to move up to guides). I know the leaders quite well and there has been one staff changeover in that time. The communication with parents has been excellent. I have felt safe letting the dds go on sleepovers knowing that I know all the adults involved. It's actually been brilliant in terms of safeguarding. No surprises or anything parents haven't been informed of. The dds love it. Dd2 is thriving there because it's a small closed group where she feels safe and familiar.

I dropped the dds off this week and a man came up to dd1 touches her shoulder and said 'you're it' I said to brown owl - who is that?? She replied oh it's Dave (not his name obvs). Me - who is Dave??? BO - he's on work placement (something about youth work) . Me - Er is he DBS checked?? BO- yes. Me- Brownies is a girls group!! BO - we have dads helping! No they don't. Not once the whole time we have attended.

Apparently Dave will be there for 4 weeks.

My reaction has been negative. I'm quite annoyed there was no warning of Dave jointing the unit. There have never been 'work placements' before. I think it was be something to do with the church though.

I think parents should have been told. They use a private Facebook group to keep in touch with parents and this works really well so I'm a bit baffled by the surprise!

Playing devil's advocat, but what if he identifies as female?

If he identifies as female he would be treated the same as the female leaders, and you as parents wouldn’t be told that there is a leader with a penis in close contact with your daughters.

You are going to be a bleedin nightmare as your kids get older.

Thank you

@tiredanddangerous sadly this is why I made such a point in previous years of making sure I knew all the staff. 😥

Dave is still a volunteer. He might have some specific criteria he has to fulfill as part of his work placement, but this will be within the ethos/framework of the GirlGuiding organisation. So basically he is no different to any other volunteer.

Still not sure exactly what you want to know.

My DD has just started volunteering at Brownies. She was introduced as "This is X who is going to be helping out for a few months". (She's actually doing it as part of her DofE award, but there is no reason for all and sundry to know that). I guess you would take exception to her as well?

If he decides to identify as a woman then GG would be happy for him to be your next brown owl....
www.independent.co.uk/voices/girl-guides-trans-inclusion-policy-row-safe-place-sex-abuse-risk-feminism-a8557841.html

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.thesun.co.uk/news/7332923/girl-guide-leaders-units-closed-opposed-transgender-policy/amp/

Oh oh, here comes the dripfeed.

I'm quite annoyed there was no warning of Dave jointing the unit.

Is this thread actually for real? I'd be a bit careful with the replies

Why would parents be told????
I was a guide leader and one of the Dads helped out, was a god sent if another leader was off poorly!
Do you have an issue with male teachers too?
YABVU

Brownies/ Girl guides encourage volunteers, long or short term and it’s a good place to gain knowledge and experience. They are also inclusive and non discriminatory in their organisation.

Would you fancy helping out @nevernotstruggling

You make a point of getting to know the staff just in case they have a penis?

They are a positive thing- some girls may not have many good male role models and this gives them an opportunity to see what a man should be like. Wise up

The OP doesn't need to "wise up" so don't be so condescending. The Brownies is a girls only organisation so she doesn't need any male role models there.

And how do you know Dave would be a good role model?

@BoucleEponine he might not be, but some of the females might not be either. OP is focusing on his gender and it’s not necessary

@BoucleEponine thank you

Dave sounds a whole lot better as a role model than the OP

OP is focussing on his sex not gender. Brownies is for girls not blokes or boys. It's not about role models - it's about little girls enjoying activities in a female only organisation.

It’s a girl’s organisation; if the girls want to (or need to) avail of male role models they can join the cubs .

This attitude annnoys the hell out of me would you have an issue if a girl joined as volunteer? What about a male teacher would that be an issue?

So should we go back to barring girls from cubs and scouts and having male only leaders for them?

Even when they were single-sex, GG allowed male volunteers. It wasn't that common and often they were in backroom roles but it's not a new development.
I know you're distinguishing between youth work experience and volunteering but that's not a distinction that matters.
If your pack usually announces on their facebook page if they're going to have a new volunteer or a visitor then it's odd they didn't mention him. If they don't usually announce any changes, then they've just treated him the same as any other volunteer.
If it bothers you, write to the BO or the District Commissioner and ask for future notice of male volunteers. People often choose GG in the mistaken belief it's a single-sex space so it's understandable that some people will be concerned about a man being there.

OP is focusing on his gender and it’s not necessary

You mean sex, not gender.

it’s great that the girls will have that male influence for a short while

Why? What's so great about Dave? Why do little girls need a "male influence for a short while"? This is the Brownies!!!

You need to go and give your head a wobble. He's volunteering - free, proactively and he's Dsb checked. There are plenty of girls in my son's cub pack. These are 10 year old boys and girls. Do I need to ask the girls why they are there?!

I think you are having a complete and utter over-reaction. Really.

I have sons as well as a daughter who has been through brownies. The thought that the first thing people might assume of my boys is 'pedo' is revolting, just because they have penises and might like to do activities that support girls, too.

"If he identifies as female he would be treated the same as the female leaders, and you as parents wouldn’t be told that there is a leader with a penis in close contact with your daughters."

this is why I made such a point in previous years of making sure I knew all the staff

To make sure that they were biologically female? Seriously?