Young leader at Brownies

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My Daughter is a young leader ( Girl Guide ) at a Brownie group.

She's been doing this for over a year, always turns up early to help set up, stays late to tidy up. Very rarely misses one.

There were two of them, but the other girl left leaving just my daughter.

At their final leaving party for the summer, the brown owl presented all the other leaders with gifts and thank you cards, did a speech thanking them all for their time and volunteering week in week out but didn't mention my daughter.

My daughter was quite upset and said she didn't expect a gift but felt a bit put out that all the other leaders got them and she didn't even get a thank you, she wondered if it was because they are adults and she is the only young leader.

I'm not sure how to feel about it, but do you think she's being unreasonable feeling a little annoyed or do you think she's well within her right?

I did say volunteering is often a selfless act with not much thanks and she enjoys doing it so that's the main thing.

I am sure they do

Is your DD a Guide who also helps at Brownies or a Young Leader who is 14+.

I'm a Guide leader. We have an amazing YL who we couldn't manage without. We've really missed her while she was doing her GCSEs this term. We've made sure that she will be there tonight for our last meeting of term where we say thank you to everyone and also parent rota volunteers.

Maybe gently mention it to the Brownie leader. This time of year is very busy for everyone, particularly if they have their own kids. It's so easy for things to slip your mind....I went off to camp without my torch and nearly forgot a couple of activities. If this had been me I would pop a card in the post and give her a mention at the start of next term.

I don't think this is entirely true either.

My DC are great volunteers in a few different ways and certainly at least one of those contexts would really struggle to run without their committed and reliable help. For most leaders of groups like this, it's a choice between doing it alone or accepting this help. Do you honestly think the BO would be BETTER off without them?

I'm really grateful to the adults who include my DC when they offer to help out, and those who acknowledge that many teens choose not to give up their free time in the same way.

That's rubbish. I understand why your DD feels upset.
I run a kid's sports club and we have a number of the older ones who help the coaches with the younger children - just stuff like putting cones out for drills, tidying up afterwards and so on but it makes a big difference to how smoothly the sessions run and we really appreciate it.
I think they enjoy it, and it is helping their own development, but that is no excuse for not saying thank you! We always buy our helpers a small gift and formally thank at the end of season celebration. They're valued, and they need to know that.,

Thanks all.

You've all confirmed we were right to feel a little off by it.

She's 14 so definitely a help rather than a hinderance. She's very much interested in being a teacher and saw this as something that would look good for her in the future so definitely takes it seriously.

I did have a chat with her about maybe finding another group but she went to this particular club and she likes all the owls there and especially brown owl. They really helped her come out of her shell when she very first joined so almost wanted to 'give back'

I won't say anything to BO but have definitely mentally noted it for future reference.

She didn't think of her, didn't remember her; she wasn't on her radar. Not saying she twirled her moustache, gave an evil laugh and thought I'm deliberately excluding this kid.