Rainbows badges

[SophK1990]

I remember when i was in Brownies, there were hundreds of badges i could earn! i did loads by myself, and then i did loads with the unit, it was great fun!

My daughter is in Rainbows (wasn't invented when i was that age!) and they do next to nothing!

I have fine tooth combed all ogf the internet and whilst everything says there are loads of badges they can do, i have only seen a couple... where can i get the information, and how can i help my daughter (who i so unwisely promised badges to when she joined) get some for herself?

The leaders are no help, they didnt really have an answer for me when i asked, and said she wasnt even overly sure about what was available!

Can anyone help? i have a 5yr old telling me i have fibbed lol!

Can you get into Ipswich? There is a craft shop/ Scout/ Guide shop there which sells all sorts of badges etc. I'll try to find the address....

Craftability - 4 Lawrence Street. It's a bit hidden away, but worth finding. I've had a look and I can't see much about badges either-apart from roundabout badges- not sure what they are! Sorry, not much help after all, I'm a Scout rather than a Guider and assumed the systems would be similar.

Hi sophK,
This is my first ever Mumsnet post yay!!!
Anyhoo... Here goes...
Rainbows (unlike Brownies) don't work on badges individually. They 'earn' badges together as a whole unit, by completing a series of challenges and activities within meetings. Shops that sell 'roundabout' badges, like Craftability in Ipswich are for Guiders to purchase, not parents, as the girls have to complete a set amount of challenges from each of the four sections from a programme called 'The Rainbow Roundabout'. You can however freely purchase 'camp blanket' badges, as these are just for fun and aren't supposed to be earned in any way. You're not (officially) supposed to sew them on uniform though!!! Usually these are given out just for attending something or to commemorate something.
Our unit works on at least one official 'challenge' badge per half term, as well as the Rainbow Roundabout badges and some 'one day activity' badges with the rest of the district ( where all other Rainbows', Brownies' and Guides' units in the area get together).
I know our unit does pack a hell of a lot in, but I don't know why the leaders of yours seem so clueless!!! I'm sure she has fun there though, even without the badges.