Page 2 | No badges at Brownies for over a year, probably UR but frustrating

NoBrowniesBadges · 2023-06-06T19:08:54+00:00

DD is 8, almost 9. Has been a Brownie for almost for almost 2 years (started in September of Y3 and is now Y4). She absolutely loves going. But has not had any badges at all since June 2022. We finished tonight for summer no badges given. No-one in the units had any badges at all since June 2022. They usually do a half termly ceremony or at least they did in DDs first year there. She’s feeling a bit lost by it all, she was looking forward to getting the kings coronation badge (they got the queens jubilee last year so no reason to think they won’t get the kings coronation one) and is due to get her anniversary badge as well (think it’s her 4 year one as she did Rainbows before Brownies). We’ve also done a couple of Interest Badges which haven’t been given. We also don't have the Thinking Day Badge from this year which usually get given out to all the girls to. Is this typical of units? No badges given for ages? I don’t want to complain as DD loves going and wants to keep doing it but want to gauge if it’s typical. I'm trying to work out how many badges DD might be expecting - 7 or 8 I'd guess, which will be nice as she usually only gets 1 or 2 per badge ceremony.

MMorales · 07/06/2023 11:43

SaveMeFromForearms · 06/06/2023 20:13

You don't have to complain, but why not just ask?

This probably the best idea

Original poster

NoBrowniesBadges · 07/06/2023 13:55

Thanks everyone have emailed Brown Owl

It's a fairly new group, started just before Covid, so wondering if they haven't found their feet yet with it.

Have offered to do the admin and I genuinely mean it, I work in an office job and absolutely love stuff like that - uploading to websites/databases, ordering stock, keeping a log of meetings, liasing with external agencies (work that can be clients, but I can imagine with Brownies that might be places to camp, trips to cinemas, the council even maybe?) I've also emailed the District Commisoner and offered to help the whole district as I absolutely love doing admin. I also love school related admin for my DC, yes I am one of those strange creatures that thrives on it!

OP posts:

Original poster

NoBrowniesBadges · 10/06/2023 14:51

Update

Saw Brown Owl today at an event (my DD not involved) and she mentioned my email. The issue is they've had no-one to collect the badges from the county office and then sort them so that each girl gets their badges.

So I've offered to do that bit, and another parent is going to help me as well. So they should hopefully be getting badges in a few weeks!

OP posts:

ItsNotRocketSalad · 10/06/2023 15:01

Great update! Good on you for volunteering.

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 10/06/2023 19:24

Bloody hell I bet they bit your hand off!

TheSnowyOwl · 10/06/2023 19:26

NoBrowniesBadges · 10/06/2023 14:51

Update

Saw Brown Owl today at an event (my DD not involved) and she mentioned my email. The issue is they've had no-one to collect the badges from the county office and then sort them so that each girl gets their badges.

So I've offered to do that bit, and another parent is going to help me as well. So they should hopefully be getting badges in a few weeks!

Lovely to read and glad you’ve resolved it. Look forward to all the sewing you’ll have coming your way now!

MMorales · 11/06/2023 14:42

NoBrowniesBadges · 10/06/2023 14:51

Update

Saw Brown Owl today at an event (my DD not involved) and she mentioned my email. The issue is they've had no-one to collect the badges from the county office and then sort them so that each girl gets their badges.

So I've offered to do that bit, and another parent is going to help me as well. So they should hopefully be getting badges in a few weeks!

Great update.

Glad you got it sorted!

underneaththeash · 11/06/2023 14:52

I suspect she's forgotten to give her the interest badges.

We don't do Christmas/King's Coronation etc, but we do skill builders and sometimes themed badges (like a chocolate badge!)

underneaththeash · 11/06/2023 14:53

Sorry, just seen your update. Thanks for volunteering!

Original poster

NoBrowniesBadges · 18/07/2023 20:11

Update

Brown Owl and 1 other leader got the girls together for an indoor picnic today with parents (so not an actual meeting, we weren't charged for it) and around half of the outstanding badges where given out.

We're still waiting on some as the online shop hasn't had them in stock or they've just had 1 or 2 of each when we need 10-12 of them due to the number of girls completing that badge, but hopefully by September they'll have them in stock to be given out.

1 very happy girl tonight who has 4 of her 7 outstanding badges in hand ready to go on her hoodie over summer!

OP posts:

AuntyMabelandPippin · 18/07/2023 20:20

OP, Online Scout Manager which we use for our Scout Group is fantastic for badges. I'm sure they do the equivalent for Brownies etc, might be worth looking it up. Basically you put in which badge they're working on, and tell you when the child has earned it, and even tell you how many of each you need. I think there's still a free version, but even the ones you pay for aren't expensive and you can do all the camps etc through it.

Sierra259 · 18/07/2023 20:22

From my experience it depends a lot on the leader. Our Rainbows leader was relatively new to it and took a while to get the hang of it (plus was also working full time and had 3 kids of her own, so a lot on her plate!). The Brownies leader was super on-it with badges and really encouraged the girls work towards them, as well as giving out the special occasion ones. Think the Guides leader might not be quite as enthusiastic but then not sure the girls at that age are that bothered either!

I think if your DD put the work in for the interest badges, I would chase it up with the leaders as she should get the recognition for her efforts. The other ones are kind of optional and I would feel bad hassling people who already give up their free time to run these groups. You can buy the non-interest badges yourself from the online girlguiding shop (Jubilee, coronation etc) for about £1. I think it's nice to have a record of big events on the camp blankets for them to look back on in the future, so I'll sometimes get them myself if they're not given out.

Original poster

NoBrowniesBadges · 18/07/2023 20:23

AuntyMabelandPippin · 18/07/2023 20:20

OP, Online Scout Manager which we use for our Scout Group is fantastic for badges. I'm sure they do the equivalent for Brownies etc, might be worth looking it up. Basically you put in which badge they're working on, and tell you when the child has earned it, and even tell you how many of each you need. I think there's still a free version, but even the ones you pay for aren't expensive and you can do all the camps etc through it.

@AuntyMabelandPippin I'm not a leader but will pass it onto Brown Owl, I volunteered to help sort the badges when they arrived as they lost the leader who used to do this a while ago (moved areas), but me and another mum have offered to carry on helping this way for as long as needed.

OP posts:

Sierra259 · 18/07/2023 20:23

Sorry, cross post about the online shop! Glad to hear your daughter got her badges 😊

funtimesahead100 · 18/07/2023 20:44

agree about online scout manager, there is girl guide equivalent and saves so much admin time, tracks attendance, help design programs and activities, and keeps track of badges due and awarded

5foot5 · 18/07/2023 20:59

Will email and ask, I am happy to help with the admin side of things if thats the issue, I can't help at actual meetings because I only really like my own DC

😂😂@NoBrowniesBadges Well that's refreshingly honest!

Mumofmarauders · 18/07/2023 21:05

NoBrowniesBadges · 07/06/2023 13:55

Thanks everyone have emailed Brown Owl

It's a fairly new group, started just before Covid, so wondering if they haven't found their feet yet with it.

Have offered to do the admin and I genuinely mean it, I work in an office job and absolutely love stuff like that - uploading to websites/databases, ordering stock, keeping a log of meetings, liasing with external agencies (work that can be clients, but I can imagine with Brownies that might be places to camp, trips to cinemas, the council even maybe?) I've also emailed the District Commisoner and offered to help the whole district as I absolutely love doing admin. I also love school related admin for my DC, yes I am one of those strange creatures that thrives on it!

Amazing that there are people like you! The mum of one of the girls in my daughter's friendship group and she is so dynamic and helpful 😊 The rest of us are in awe. PS my youngest seems to get a brownie badge every second week, got one for innovation at the end of term session yesterday despite as far as I or she can tell having done absolutely nothing innovative to speak of!

OwlOfBrown · 18/07/2023 21:05

funtimesahead100 · 18/07/2023 20:44

agree about online scout manager, there is girl guide equivalent and saves so much admin time, tracks attendance, help design programs and activities, and keeps track of badges due and awarded

There is but it's really of limited use since Girlguiding's data protection policies mean it can't be used in quite the same way as OSM.

Whattheactualwhatnow · 18/07/2023 21:13

We’ve got a couple of the random ones but not various others for ages. Was asking when previous daughter was going through and really keen on getting all the badges, I gave up this time around.
not ideal but on other hand I wouldn’t wanna run it myself so I’ll take what I can get.

Original poster

NoBrowniesBadges · 18/07/2023 22:04

OwlOfBrown · 18/07/2023 21:05

There is but it's really of limited use since Girlguiding's data protection policies mean it can't be used in quite the same way as OSM.

Show quote history

@OwlOfBrown Brown Owl says they have a spreadsheet, a list of the badges and a list of activities for each, they then add girls names into the box next to it when they've completed that activity, it also helps with the UNMHs apparently as each activity takes 45-60 minutes each. Very time consuming, we where then given a list of which badge went to which girl. We sorted them into plastic wallets with the girls names at the top and then they where given out. Very time consuming and can see why Brown Owl/Other Leaders didn't have time to sort it all out on top of everything else.

OP posts:

OwlOfBrown · 18/07/2023 22:56

NoBrowniesBadges · 18/07/2023 22:04

@OwlOfBrown Brown Owl says they have a spreadsheet, a list of the badges and a list of activities for each, they then add girls names into the box next to it when they've completed that activity, it also helps with the UNMHs apparently as each activity takes 45-60 minutes each. Very time consuming, we where then given a list of which badge went to which girl. We sorted them into plastic wallets with the girls names at the top and then they where given out. Very time consuming and can see why Brown Owl/Other Leaders didn't have time to sort it all out on top of everything else.

Show quote history

That sounds complicated.
I use GO. It takes maybe 3-4 minutes to add activities to the whole unit after a meeting and is easy to see who has done what towards skill builders and theme awards. I know it isn't popular but I find it simple to use.
I do have a spreadsheet that I maintain as well. That includes extra information that can't be added to GO - things like when they've received a birthday badge and other non-programme badges.

OwlOfBrown · 18/07/2023 22:57

But thank you for volunteering where you can. 🙂