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Original poster

Brownie Badges

60 replies

BrownieBadgeGiving · 15/03/2023 08:25

DD is 8 and does Brownies.

She loves it, the craft, the games etc. are really good for her in general.
Usually each half term they have badge given, unless less than half the girls don’t have badges to be given.

October half term, they’d had a lot of new starters so no badges given. December/Christmas Brown Owl had covid so it moved online for 2 weeks and promised to do it at February. February badge giving was cancelled on the night when they realised the older girls (the 9- and 10-Year-olds) where all from the same school and away on a residential.

We’ve just been told the Easter one won’t be going ahead as they don’t have enough DBS checked leaders to open on that night and have to have so many leaders with DBS checks even if they have parents helping to open. So that one will also be online.

I am frustrated for DD, she’s done 4 interest badges since the start of the summer holidays and has gone nearly 1 full academic year since she got a new badge – they’ve given out the event badges – Queens Commemoritive, Remembrance, Christmas and Thinking Day that everyone locally gets but the programme and interest badges haven’t been given. She wants to keep going to see her friends and loves the sleepovers but finding it strange that her badges have stayed the same since last Summer.

I know one girl left at Christmas to go to Guides and her Guides leaders gave her her badges, even though they also usually do badge giving each half term.

I accepted October being the first half term of the year they didn’t have enough to give out, and December/Christmas was unavoidable to be online. But it seems a bit unfair now that DD has no idea if/when she’ll get any badges and has no idea of progress. She’s desperate to work towards Silver (she has Bronze) but doesn’t know if she’s got it or whether she needs to do another Interest badge -there’s two themes she hasn’t touched the Interest Badges for yet.

It seems it’s local policy to do a half termly badge giving as Rainbows before this was the same. But WIBU to ask if badges can be given out at the start of the summer term? Or will there be new starters then to?

I feel so sorry for the two girls off to Guides who’ve not had their badges either, so it’s about all the others as much as DD.

So WIBU to ask for at least a progress report for DD? I don’t expect details like at school just a “Yes she needs to do an Interest badge from this theme” or “No she’s fine and will get her Silver next time”

OP posts:
mumoffourminimes · 15/03/2023 08:34

You should be able to log into GO as a parent and view her badge progress.

YWNBU to say politely "DD is asking me about badges. Can I let her know when the they might be given out?"

It really sounds like the leaders need more help and I suggest you register to volunteer and get DBS checked to become (at least) an occasional helper. If you can't then start talking to your female family members about it. Here's the link:

www.girlguiding.org.uk/get-involved/become-a-volunteer/

VegetablesFightingToReclaimTheAubergieneEmoji · 15/03/2023 08:37

Damn those volunteers not working hard enough.
it is disappointing for them, as it feels like their hard work isn’t rewarded. But do tread carefully in how you ask and perhaps offer to support E.g assist with the admin and badge admin.

TroysMammy · 15/03/2023 08:43

I know earned badges are important but if you know anything about the current programme Brown Owl could be struggling.

Everything has to be recorded and if you do an unit activity one week which you have to do a few skills builders towards a theme badge and a couple of girls are missing then it's a nightmare. I know interest badges are done in the Brownies own time.

I expect you know Guiders are volunteers, they get no money for doing this. My 12 year old niece recently told me she thought I got paid from subs to be a Brownie leader and was very surprised when I told her I didn't.

The Brownie programme is the main reason I am no longer a Guider. It was no fun, could be difficult to understand and all tick boxes. A lot of Guiders said the format was like being at school. Unfortunately the unit I was a helper at subsequently closed because they couldn't get any volunteers.

mumoffourminimes · 15/03/2023 08:52

Please don't peddle negativity @TroysMammy

I'm a rainbow and brownie leader and much prefer the new programme (which isn't really new anymore), we have loads of fun. There is lots of recording and the girls do need to attend most weeks and show commitment to achieve all the badge, I don't see this as a problem, it is the point. The girls who've come and taken part will get badges, the ones that only attend 50% won't, but they'll still be enjoying it.

OP guiding is ran by a load of hard working, amazing women who give up their time and energy to do something great for the young people in their community. And they often have their own children, plus elderly parents plus paid work plus study plus a load of other volunteering commitments. Please get involved and support the movement in your area :)

NoCatsToday · 15/03/2023 08:54

OP if your group can't run properly because of lack of volunteers then volunteer yourself.

Harebrain · 15/03/2023 09:01

As @NoCatsToday said, the best thing to do is to volunteer yourself. These groups cannot run without volunteers. The people who run them aren’t paid and have jobs and families of their own, yet they make time to plan activities and events for the children of others. They need your support.

TroysMammy · 15/03/2023 09:05

@mumoffourminimes I'm not "peddling negativity" perhaps I should have said I didn't find it fun. The Brownies did. I was firstly a Brownie leader in 2000 and I did have a break but went back to it, firstly helping out at Rainbows before going back to Brownies. Perhaps my problem was I don't have children but wanted this generation to have my 1970s Brownie experiences and knowledge.

Perhaps I'm too old and not amazing anymore.

Original poster
BrownieBadgeGiving · 15/03/2023 09:07

I help as much as I can as a parent volunteer but can't afford to do my own DBS check. Lots of the other mums and grandmothers also help but similarly aren't DBS checked and can't/won't pay for their own. Local GG won't do them due to funding, so we have to fund our own or already have an enhanced one through our work/other volunteer jobs and then they pay for the movable bit as thats cheaper.

They have to have 4 adults helping, and 2 of those have to have a DBS check, so even if 3 mums/grandmothers offer to help the group can't open because they don't have enough with DBS's so they move online for those weeks.

They work incredibly hard, I'm not doubting or saying otherwise, my DD loves going.

I just wanted to know if/when she'll get her badges, and how far away she is from Silver but if I can check on Go I will, when I looked on Go I couldn't see how to see the badges, but if someone can tell me how, i'm happy to have another try.

OP posts:
Woodywasatwat · 15/03/2023 09:10

My dd went for a year and they didn’t do a single thing to work towards a badge.

They just got loads for things they hadn’t done, badges about the commonwealth games, jubilee etc. They just played board games and sat chatting in the hall. DD left for a sports club in the end, she found it boring.

I did ask the Brown Owl and she went round and round the houses without answering me.

Woodywasatwat · 15/03/2023 09:12

When I as a brownie we were always working towards badges. I didn’t understand why dds group didn’t.

At dds, it wasn’t due to lack of volunteers either - they had so much interest there was a waiting list to be a volunteer.

PuttingDownRoots · 15/03/2023 09:12

Volunteer... I'm not how it works with Gyides but if all they need is one more DBS adult sometimes, that could be very helpful.

Badge giving... in Scouts we would just do it at the next meeting instead. I've dropped the badges to my Cubs houses before and officially presented them online. I can appreciate they may not have time for that. Nut doing it the were after the holiday before the hidalgo shouldn't be an issue They? The idea is they get the badge when they remember what it is for.

PuttingDownRoots · 15/03/2023 09:13

Volunteers get free DBS checks by the way!

Original poster
BrownieBadgeGiving · 15/03/2023 09:14

PuttingDownRoots · 15/03/2023 09:13

Volunteers get free DBS checks by the way!

@PuttingDownRoots Will look into my own DBS check then thank you I was told by the District Commisonor I could help as much without a DBS but that they couldn't pay for it, so it might still be online if there isn't enough DBSed volunteers.

OP posts:
NoCatsToday · 15/03/2023 09:15

BrownieBadgeGiving · 15/03/2023 09:07

I help as much as I can as a parent volunteer but can't afford to do my own DBS check. Lots of the other mums and grandmothers also help but similarly aren't DBS checked and can't/won't pay for their own. Local GG won't do them due to funding, so we have to fund our own or already have an enhanced one through our work/other volunteer jobs and then they pay for the movable bit as thats cheaper.

They have to have 4 adults helping, and 2 of those have to have a DBS check, so even if 3 mums/grandmothers offer to help the group can't open because they don't have enough with DBS's so they move online for those weeks.

They work incredibly hard, I'm not doubting or saying otherwise, my DD loves going.

I just wanted to know if/when she'll get her badges, and how far away she is from Silver but if I can check on Go I will, when I looked on Go I couldn't see how to see the badges, but if someone can tell me how, i'm happy to have another try.

This doesn't seem right. I don't know about GG but in Scouting they are free to volunteers. This is either covered by the capitation cost or is totally free. I don't know

Brownie Badges
Marmite27 · 15/03/2023 09:17

Re DBS check, I attended our county office for mine, and it didn’t cost anything to me (I’m Rainbows).

My eldest is in Brownies and the other week she was presented her space badge and she was the only child to get a badge that week, so I think it’s a bit of a cop out to wait so long to present badges due.

mumoffourminimes · 15/03/2023 09:19

GG pays for all your DBS checks and training!!

ChildminderMum · 15/03/2023 09:20

DBS checks should be free for volunteers.

It definitely sounds like the leaders are struggling, so your best bet would be to become an assistant leader and commit to going every week.

Original poster
BrownieBadgeGiving · 15/03/2023 09:21

Thank you for the info re DBS checks I will look into this, I would happily have an enhanced DBS check and I know a few of the other mums and grandmothers would as well, so could be a useful thing to have so they don't keep getting cancelled.

OP posts:
Original poster
BrownieBadgeGiving · 15/03/2023 09:22

ChildminderMum · 15/03/2023 09:20

DBS checks should be free for volunteers.

It definitely sounds like the leaders are struggling, so your best bet would be to become an assistant leader and commit to going every week.

@ChildminderMum I can't do every week as I have caring responsibility that I do during Brownies but I could commit to say once every 4 weeks, but then I know some of the other mums/grandmothers can help a similar amount, there's 20 girls and at least 5 other volunteers so we should between us be able to sort it.

Sometimes the Rainbow or Guides leaders can help as well and we stay in person meetings as they're DBSed. So I'm sure we can manage something.

OP posts:
Marmite27 · 15/03/2023 09:23

I wonder if they didn’t want anyone else on their roster for census, so they didn’t have to pay for you….

mumoffourminimes · 15/03/2023 09:23

BrownieBadgeGiving · 15/03/2023 09:07

I help as much as I can as a parent volunteer but can't afford to do my own DBS check. Lots of the other mums and grandmothers also help but similarly aren't DBS checked and can't/won't pay for their own. Local GG won't do them due to funding, so we have to fund our own or already have an enhanced one through our work/other volunteer jobs and then they pay for the movable bit as thats cheaper.

They have to have 4 adults helping, and 2 of those have to have a DBS check, so even if 3 mums/grandmothers offer to help the group can't open because they don't have enough with DBS's so they move online for those weeks.

They work incredibly hard, I'm not doubting or saying otherwise, my DD loves going.

I just wanted to know if/when she'll get her badges, and how far away she is from Silver but if I can check on Go I will, when I looked on Go I couldn't see how to see the badges, but if someone can tell me how, i'm happy to have another try.

Could you PM me which area you are in? This isn't right at all and against national policy. If money is an issue subs needs increasing. What are you paying for subs?

mumoffourminimes · 15/03/2023 09:26

Marmite27 · 15/03/2023 09:23

I wonder if they didn’t want anyone else on their roster for census, so they didn’t have to pay for you….

If things are that tight they need to increase subs to make the unit sustainable

TemporaryNaming · 15/03/2023 09:26

My Dd has been at Brownies almost 2 years now and has 2 badges. To be honest she is feeling the same that it's a bit boring. The volunteers are lovely & I am incredibly grateful they take the time to organise things for the girls but I can't make her enjoy it. Her friends from school are at another unit and do all sorts of exciting things, they had a sleepover at a sea life centre & DD went to the panto. She didn't get any badges for the Queen etc either. She will still go probably until she turns 10 but has already said she doesn't want to move up to guides. Which is a shame as I think it's good for confidence building and friendships but again, I can't force her to go.

mumoffourminimes · 15/03/2023 09:27

ChildminderMum · 15/03/2023 09:20

DBS checks should be free for volunteers.

It definitely sounds like the leaders are struggling, so your best bet would be to become an assistant leader and commit to going every week.

^^wss

bluesuitcase · 15/03/2023 09:27

I’d relax about it, she’ll get them in time.

All units do it differently; I have one DC at a group where they get badges at the end of every term, and get a pile in one go. I have another DC where they get them as they earn them, and get special ones at ceremonies (I.e. she’s completed her bronze, silver and gold awards and these were given at special ceremonies, but the standard ones have been given as and when).

Lack of volunteers is the issue. One of our groups has a decent number of permanent leaders but my other DC’s group only has a couple of permanent leaders. To make up for this, all parents are put on a rota and have to help out at a session every few weeks or so. No DBS checks are required for this (only if you want to help out on camps). Maybe they could put something like this in place to help out.

It must be really tough for the leader if she’s the only permanent one with a DBS check, and the one organising everything. Someone will need to step up at some point and offer to help out…