Page 2 | Anyone know if Rainbows are excluded from getting Gold due to attendance?

NoMoreGold · 2022-02-01T11:42:08+00:00

DD is 6, very nearly 7 so goes to Brownies soon. She’s desperate for her gold, and already has silver and bronze. She’s been at Rainbows since June last year and missed only 4 meetings; this week, last week and then two last year. Just been told she can’t do Gold because she’s not been a member for 2 years. Is this right? Seems a bit unfair that even if she gets the two remaining theme awards she’s ineligible for the Gold. I can’t see anything in the badge book or on the Girlguiding website about it. It’s bad enough that they only do badge work every 4 weeks so it feels slow to get the themes as it is – the leaders said they get bored if they do badge work more often. I am a bit miffed, and feel it’s totally unfair. Is this the same for Brownies too?

DockOTheBay · 01/02/2022 14:31

If she has achieved all the theme awards by the end of Rainbows, you could ask the Brownie leader if she can complete the Gold challenges with them and they could award her the badge. I recently did this for a couple of my Brownies who completed Rainbow Gold during lockdown but weren't awarded the badge because their leader quit.

Original poster

NoMoreGold · 01/02/2022 14:37

@DockOTheBay

If she has achieved all the theme awards by the end of Rainbows, you could ask the Brownie leader if she can complete the Gold challenges with them and they could award her the badge. I recently did this for a couple of my Brownies who completed Rainbow Gold during lockdown but weren't awarded the badge because their leader quit.

@DockOTheBay Thats a fantastic idea thank you, I won't tell DD yet as we're not sure which Brownies she's going to.

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JustOneMore40 · 01/02/2022 14:44

Showing my age here but when I was at brownies it’s was footpath road and highway badges…..

I had the ‘brown owl’ from hell. I think she actually hated children and especially me. She bullied me. Told me I would never be allowed my highway badge as I was too immature. She also told me I was too untrustworthy to ever carry the flag for church parade 🙄
Every meeting she told me off for things I hadn’t even done and would try to humiliate me in any way possible. I was always a child with quite strong morals and to be confronted with an adult being so unkind and nasty really shocked me. The more i ignored it the worse she became

I still have my brownie uniform. With my road badge as I never did progress after that

Talipesmum · 01/02/2022 14:46

At both beavers and Cubs, ours were told that if they didn’t manage to finish the gold before they moved up, they could finish it at Cubs, or at scouts, where they had moved up to.

DockOTheBay · 01/02/2022 14:49

@JustOneMore40

Showing my age here but when I was at brownies it’s was footpath road and highway badges…..

I had the ‘brown owl’ from hell. I think she actually hated children and especially me. She bullied me. Told me I would never be allowed my highway badge as I was too immature. She also told me I was too untrustworthy to ever carry the flag for church parade 🙄
Every meeting she told me off for things I hadn’t even done and would try to humiliate me in any way possible. I was always a child with quite strong morals and to be confronted with an adult being so unkind and nasty really shocked me. The more i ignored it the worse she became

I still have my brownie uniform. With my road badge as I never did progress after that

I'm sure that was horrible, but not sure it has any relevance as OP doesn't seem to think this is anything to do with the leaders being horrible or her daughter being picked on. I'm sure you know not all Brown Owls are the same as yours.

Original poster

NoMoreGold · 01/02/2022 15:09

@JustOneMore40

Showing my age here but when I was at brownies it’s was footpath road and highway badges…..

I had the ‘brown owl’ from hell. I think she actually hated children and especially me. She bullied me. Told me I would never be allowed my highway badge as I was too immature. She also told me I was too untrustworthy to ever carry the flag for church parade 🙄
Every meeting she told me off for things I hadn’t even done and would try to humiliate me in any way possible. I was always a child with quite strong morals and to be confronted with an adult being so unkind and nasty really shocked me. The more i ignored it the worse she became

I still have my brownie uniform. With my road badge as I never did progress after that

@JustOneMore40 But it's not the leaders fault. The extras that I didn't realise where extras are also great and DD loves, I just didn't realise it wasn't badge work.

She absolutely loves going, has cried both this week and last when I told her she wouldn't be going.

Its just the way the programme works, and I'm tempted to feed it back GGUK about how it's left my DD feeling.

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MrsToadflax · 01/02/2022 16:12

@DockOTheBay

If she has achieved all the theme awards by the end of Rainbows, you could ask the Brownie leader if she can complete the Gold challenges with them and they could award her the badge. I recently did this for a couple of my Brownies who completed Rainbow Gold during lockdown but weren't awarded the badge because their leader quit.

That would be excellent if possible. I think it's poor that the leader hasn't given any such suggestion or tried in any way to make it work. Just a flat out, 'she won't achieve it, hasn't been here 2 years etc.' I do think that is mean spirited. Flexibility is needed, especially during a pandemic. Not everyone will achieve gold, but anyone that wants to try should be given every chance of success.

JustOneMore40 · 01/02/2022 16:33

I wasn’t insinuating in OPs case that it was down to the leaders at all. It just triggered off a memory for me so I thought I’d post about it 😞

capercaillie · 01/02/2022 16:37

Could well be down to not having enough of the unit meeting minutes - activities not linked to a badge but recorded. But the minutes needed during covid have been reduced so I’d be tempted to ask the question about how many she has in for the missing theme awards. It might jsut be that the unit has done a lot less on one theme. Missing meetings definitely impacts whether my brownies get the theme award. Getting the Silver award is amazing though - we o to have 1 Brownie who has managed it so far!

MrsFionaCharming · 01/02/2022 16:52

Please do feedback to HQ!

I have yet to meet a leader or girl who enjoys the new programme. It’s a pain in the arse to run, and the activities are boring. Plus as you’ve noted, it gets really difficult to complete awards if you miss a single session.

Original poster

NoMoreGold · 01/02/2022 16:55

@MrsFionaCharming

Please do feedback to HQ!

I have yet to meet a leader or girl who enjoys the new programme. It’s a pain in the arse to run, and the activities are boring. Plus as you’ve noted, it gets really difficult to complete awards if you miss a single session.

@MrsFionaCharming I absolutely will, when I signed her up to Rainbows she was so excited, the stuff her leaders do is amazing and she loves going. We don't have a garden and they get her outside and trying new things so I love that part.

But DD is one of those children whose very motivated by targets and rewards, so is quite disappointed she won't get Gold.

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Aroundtheworldin80moves · 01/02/2022 16:59

If it was because they physically couldn't cover six units in a year that would make sense. But covering six units in a year, but saying g no because of dates seems unfair.

I'm a Cub leader. We sort of have a two year rolling programme for some events and badges. But will happily work with any Cub trying g to make up gaps to get the Chief Scouts Award. (And any new Cub trying to finish their Bronze from Beavers, especially the camping bits which can be seasonal). We want them to get their badges. But it does depend on them (and their parents) being willing to do some things in their spare time.

Original poster

NoMoreGold · 01/02/2022 17:11

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

If it was because they physically couldn't cover six units in a year that would make sense. But covering six units in a year, but saying g no because of dates seems unfair.

I'm a Cub leader. We sort of have a two year rolling programme for some events and badges. But will happily work with any Cub trying g to make up gaps to get the Chief Scouts Award. (And any new Cub trying to finish their Bronze from Beavers, especially the camping bits which can be seasonal). We want them to get their badges. But it does depend on them (and their parents) being willing to do some things in their spare time.

@Aroundtheworldin80moves We do loads at home, she's done all 12 interest badges because she wanted to, which I know is an achievement in itself.

Saying that I do tend to link it with stuff she's doing in School or her other activities, might as well.

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Dixiechickonhols · 01/02/2022 17:32

It definitely seems a shame that there’s no leeway in the system definitely worth feeding back to Girlguiding. They are in rainbows for a short time anyway plus covid impact.
I know when I spoke to Rainbows leader she was saying it was hard work when they restarted as the girls weren’t used to being in school so sitting and listening skills were affected which affects what and how much they can do. It sounds like your leader has managed to do a lot in time plus your daughter sounds fantastic.
Your posts sound reasonable and constructive.
I’d just caution that leaders are volunteers often doing best under tricky situations in covid times - we lost a whole meeting 2 weeks ago as so many covid positive which knocks out planning. A moaning email really does make you think why do I bother (Guide leader).
A constructive email though is totally different.

Original poster

NoMoreGold · 01/02/2022 17:36

@Dixiechickonhols

It definitely seems a shame that there’s no leeway in the system definitely worth feeding back to Girlguiding. They are in rainbows for a short time anyway plus covid impact. I know when I spoke to Rainbows leader she was saying it was hard work when they restarted as the girls weren’t used to being in school so sitting and listening skills were affected which affects what and how much they can do. It sounds like your leader has managed to do a lot in time plus your daughter sounds fantastic. Your posts sound reasonable and constructive. I’d just caution that leaders are volunteers often doing best under tricky situations in covid times - we lost a whole meeting 2 weeks ago as so many covid positive which knocks out planning. A moaning email really does make you think why do I bother (Guide leader). A constructive email though is totally different.

@Dixiechickonhols I emailed the leaders to say that we wouldn't be attending this week and last due to covid and asked if there was anything at home I could do as DD is keen to get her gold.

They replied saying she can't get it because she hasn't been there two years.

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Dixiechickonhols · 01/02/2022 17:44

I’d definitely speak to them when you next see them to see if there’s a solution like other posters have suggested eg activity day. It seems such a shame when your daughter is so keen to miss out.
I would also definitely feedback higher up re programme.
Hope you get a solution and she carries on loving it.

KindergartenKop · 01/02/2022 20:12

Fundamentally it's meant to be a fun activity where kids can try out new skills. I'd play down getting badges and ask about all the games and new things she can do. And I agree with the pp who suggested she just go up to Brownies at the right time. It'll be more fun!