Rainbows, Brownies, Guides - Has your child returned to meeting in person?

[Ickabog]

I know a few groups have returned but have been meeting outside. However, i'm curious to know if any have returned to meeting inside, and if so how things have changed.

[Sittin]

It’s rather galling that while units struggle hq is spending a huge amount on legal fees to argue that they were right to make a leader who challenged the inclusion of males who identify as female leave her unit. I can’t remember the details but I think it was £100,000 or something

[Sittin]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3977201-Update-on-my-case-and-on-exactly-how-much-Girlguiding-is-spending-of-their-money?pg=8

[KatieAlcock]

My thread says not available?

[averylongtimeago]

I have just clicked the link in the post above and it works.

[Beamur]

Link worked for me.
Yep, pretty hard to swallow all that money going on legal fees.
Surely the abandonment of self ID must open this policy up for review now? Especially given there is no measures for a child to have a legally recognised sex other than the one they are born with. Plus with Leaders, how can you justify requiring a DBS check but not a valid GRA?

[scissy]

Well, they wouldn't have had to defend the case if the person in question hasn't brought it in the first place .

Anyway, I already mentioned or unit above but forgot our situation about outdoor. We don't have outdoor space attached to our regular hall, and there isn't a free park nearby. Whilst half our unit could probably get to a free park by car, the less well off members (which incidently mostly cross over with the ones unable to access zoom) mostly can't. Why should they miss out twice when we could wait a few extra weeks and start up inside?

[BettyOBarley]

DD goes to rainbows and they haven't met since March (haven't paid any subs since then either). The leader has tried really hard on the FB page with activities and a virtual sleepover which DD loved but don't think there was much take up. They have put a risk assessment in for face to face meetings and are having their first zoom meeting tomorrow but DD isn't keen on the idea. She's due to leave rainbows at Christmas anyway so I'm wondering if there's any point now which is a shame as she really loves it.

What I don't understand is if they met indoors (mixed schools) and one tests positive would they be classed as a bubble and all have to isolate? If so we definitely won't be doing it as DD is already self isolating after only 2 weeks of school due to a case in her bubble, it doesn't seem worth the extra risk.

[Murraytheskull]

A question here about risk assessment - is there not a central proforma from GG HQ that can be adapted to suit the unit so there isn't so much pressure on a unit leader to create it? Or does this exist already.

[Serialcatmum]

I can’t wait to be meeting face to face again (indoors) from the 8th October. We are a brownie unit and are only going to meet for an hour (to allow us to clean the building before/ after meeting) instead of our usual hour and a half. Good luck to all the other leaders meeting- took 3 attempts to get my risk assessment signed off but we got there!!!

[Serialcatmum]

@Murraytheskull yes there is an 11 page risk assessment that has to be personalised. Took me several hours and a few attempts before it was approved. I work in education and have spent the last 6 months risk assessing my special school so am now a dab hand at risk assessing!!!

[capercaillie]

Brownie Leader - we're meeting on zoom at the moment, and hoping to do an outside meeting in the next couple of weeks. May try another one outside before Christmas if we're able to. About 60% of our Brownies are taking part and seem to be enjoying it. Can't meet inside - hut not yet opened/ risk assessed and not our job to do it - done by Scout and Guide committee. Will prob move to face to face meetings in Jan if all ok.

[Murraytheskull]

@Serialcatmum ah that makes sense. I too work in education so I'm used to risk assessing too! They do take a while to put together if you're not used to them. Tbh if my local unit is struggling to get theirs done I would go and offer to help! It would be a shame if that is a hurdle to groups returning.

[Serialcatmum]

@Murraytheskull yes I’ve been emailing my approved risk assessment to the other units that meet in the same venue! Every little helps!

[BogRollBOGOF]

@BettyOBarley

DD goes to rainbows and they haven't met since March (haven't paid any subs since then either). The leader has tried really hard on the FB page with activities and a virtual sleepover which DD loved but don't think there was much take up. They have put a risk assessment in for face to face meetings and are having their first zoom meeting tomorrow but DD isn't keen on the idea. She's due to leave rainbows at Christmas anyway so I'm wondering if there's any point now which is a shame as she really loves it.

What I don't understand is if they met indoors (mixed schools) and one tests positive would they be classed as a bubble and all have to isolate? If so we definitely won't be doing it as DD is already self isolating after only 2 weeks of school due to a case in her bubble, it doesn't seem worth the extra risk.

If they have thouroughly remained 2m apart outdoors then the bubble should not need to isolate if one is positive because they haven't been in close contact. (I can't vouch for indoors)

The trouble is keeping 8yo Flossie away from her best mate that she's been with all day at school where they didn't have to keep their distance. It's harsh because they're kids and we're all there trying to have as much fun as we can scrape out of it and we don't want to nag constantly, nor can we risk bubbles popping and losing a leader's team largely of key workers.

On the whole, they are doing well and just relieved to be back.

Always worth checking the GG website directly as this is prime Chinese Whispers time with regular updates and misinterpretation. We have a DC who is very keen and rigourous about paperwork even in normal times... it shows up when you have leaders operating in different districts and version 1 is accepted by the other DC while ours shuttles it back and forth like Federer vs Nadal...

[underneaththeash]

drspouse
If they're council owned they can ban anyone. We're lucky as my family personally put a lot of money into the scout hut and we now entrenched. Our previous meeting place is shut.

It's quite easy to set up your own GG group - contact your local centre and they will help you, it's very rewarding. Or PM me and I will put you in touch with the right people.

[Dartsplayer]

My girls aren't back. They haven't even done it on Zoom, they just get sent a video of activities to try - they have totally lost interest which is a shame as they will be leaving in the spring when they are 11. I am very disappointed with it. Even the Rainbows at our church do it on Zoom

[EduCated]

I have to say as a leader, I find Zoom meetings really fucking hard. Way harder than being in the room. Trying to come up with enough activities to offer variety, trying to manage the kids at a distance, and the mental load of staring at a screen when that’s all I’ve been doing at work all day is hard going. I don’t blame leaders for not jumping wholeheartedly into Zoom meetings. As someone upthread said, it’s not exactly what we volunteered for.

[midnightstar66]

Not inside no. Our brownie unit is huge so can't imagine it will happen any time soon and for guides many are 12 and over so stricter rules re distancing. DD's are attending both groups outside but weather and daylight likely to halt that soon