Anyone's daughter go to Rainbows?

[Scottishgirl85]

I have an almost 5 year old who has been on the waiting list for Rainbows for about a year. I checked today if she might have a place, and have been told she won't get in before turning 7 unless I become a helper, in which case she can start next term!

I went to Brownies and enjoyed it, but remember there being quite a heavy religious element, is that still the case?

Just trying to work out if it's worth me getting heavily involved in - essentially, is Rainbows a nice enough activity to commit to?

Thanks!

@Catting
Going back to when I was a leader; Leaders do not help the children get changed or sleep in the same room. That goes against safeguarding, whether you are male or female, identify as male or female etc. When I was a leader we had the girls get ready for bed/the day in the bathroom and we were not allowed to help them. If that meant they didn't wash for the few days we had them then so be it. Leaders had separate sleeping and washing facilities

My daughter loves brownies, she is quite shy, and she often struggles to mix with children at out of school clubs and ends up on the sidelines however the leaders are great at teaching the other girls to be kind and to make an effort to include everyone. Our group has plenty of helpers, the Rangers (who are 18 now & started rainbows at 5) help at rainbows and brownies. There is no waiting list for rainbows here but a two year one for beavers.

I am a Rainbow leader, please volunteer, it is simply an hour of arts and crafts, games, walks and other activities and they really enjoy it, as do the Beavers.

It is such a special time. My children are in their 20s, how I wish I could wind back the clock and do it all again!

Going back to when I was a leader; Leaders do not help the children get changed or sleep in the same room. That goes against safeguarding

Do what would you have done if a 6/7 year old girl soiled herself and needed help cleaning herself, or wet the bed, or fell over in the shower. All things that have happened on my watch.

I know we're advised not to sleep with the girls etc, but sometimes it's unavoidable. I've done sleepovers where Leaders have been in separate rooms, and where, one by one, homesick girls have asked to come and sleep in with us.

Dd went to rainbows and brownies and is about to move to guides. They say a little prayer at the end but that's about as religious as it gets in ours. Dd loves it.

@MrsJoshNavidi none of our girls had access to a shower. They strip washed at a sink. If a child wet the bed then two leaders would assist with fresh bedding - fortunately I don't think this ever happened. If a child soiled and they really couldn't manage to clean themselves up then our two young leaders would assist. Basically it was never left to one leader - there would always be two of us.
We never had children sleeping with us - but I don't think we ever got any homesick children, maybe we were lucky. By the second night they were all so exhausted (by the days activities) they conked out by 10pm.

I am going back at least 9 years though as the last sleepover I did my DS was a toddler - I appreciate things may have changed

But these situations happen Dobby.
I would never be alone with a child, and neither would any leader I know, but I wouldn't want anyone with a penis attending to my child, accompanied or not.

And as for using a YL for some of the more intimate tasks, you do know that Guiding accepts people with penises at all ages now? From Rainbows up. So your YLs could be boys and you wouldn't necessarily know.

And even if you did know that boys/men are attending the event under the guise of being a girl/woman you can't even include this on your risk assessment. Although you do have to declare boys/men who attend an event as boys/men and provide separate sleeping arrangements etc.

Guiding's whole attitude to transgenderism sucks.

My DD went to Rainbows briefly and is now in Brownies. They don't appear to do anything religious. She really enjoys the games, craft, learning new skills. They did a bit of woodwork last week. They are off on Pack holiday in April which hopefully she will really enjoy. My DS did Beavers and Cubs and got a lot from it and enjoyed the camping and outdoor activities. From hearing of friends with DC in different groups - the groups can really vary depending on the leaders. Some do much less activities and no camps etc. So worth finding out what the group does. I am so grateful for all the volunteers and the amazing value for money. We pay £35 for the whole term and the 2 night pack holiday is only £40.