Help - a Guiding problem - calling all Guiders

[Itsthawooluff]

I'm just taking over a Guide Unit. I've been approached by the leader of a Brownie group in another village to take on her Brownies in September.
The problem is that the other village already has a Guide unit, but the Brownie leader doesn't like the focus of that unit. (They;re a bit more socialising, we're a bit more out door activities) It has not helped that the previous leader of my unit was very polite when the idea was raised with her, and although Xleader says she didn't say so, the Brownie leader thinks that XL said there would be no problem.
If we do start taking these Brownies into our unit, we have 2 problems. Firstly, I suspect we would end up turning people from our own area away eventually, and secondly, we would weaken the Guide unit in the other village.
So I'm pretty much certain I want to say no - but it is finding the bestway to do it. Really I think if the Brownie leader has a problem with her local Guide group she should take it up with them - but how to say so politely? I'm not very good at polite refusals.
I realise this is a very small problem in comparison with some today BUT it is the one which kept me awake last night!!

I haven't been a guide leader for many years but how is it organised now. Do you still have a district commissioner equivalent and if so wouldn't it be up to her to make the decision.

It sounds impractical to me.

When she says take on her Brownies does she mean you take over the running of the whole group in that village, or just accept her Brownies when they reach the age to move into Guides.

If it is the second I guess it should be up to the parents whether they are willing to travel to another village and what sort of emphasis they want for their children.

Thanks for replying. I meant accept her Brownies once they are of an age to move up.

I think I will have to contact the District Commissioner, to see what she has to say.

Interesting.

Surely it's up to the parents which guide unit their children go to? Unless you will be too full of course.

We've got boys who are in scouting and we've got a similar dilemma but from a different perspective.

My eldest loved cubs and moved to scouting last September. He doesn't enjoy the scouts as much as they don't seem "to do" as much and there is a distinct lack of leadership with this unit. (It often clashes with other commitments too).

Having seen how much he enjoyed cubs, I'm loathe to let him finish and we have been advised by a "friend within scouting" to get him to look at other units before he decides to quit completely. This is something we will be looking into.

We have 2 Rainbow, 6 Brownies and 3 Guide Units in our District and they don't feed into any particular one.

Just depends on times, days and other things (dancing/swimming)

It is the parents/childs choice at the end of the day and weyjer they want to travel to another village for an hour and a half activity.

I'm a Guide Guider btw

OK - I can see your point of view re the parent's choice - and tbh if the BL/or the relevant parents had approached me on a one at a time basis, I probably wouldn't have picked up on it - but it's the "You will take on all my girls (5 of them)" approach, when we've only got 6 places in total. I feel a bit as if the BL has talked the other parents into it already and I'm being painted into a corner.

I could say first come first served, but what then about parents who don't realise that if they want their daughter in this unit they have to talk to us now, rather than at the end of August. And (rural poverty and all that) this might be people who can't afford to ferry their children 15 miles for an hour and a half at a different Guide unit.

That puts a different slant on things tbh.

The scouting units I was referring to are all within a couple of miles of each other. I wouldn't consider taking mine 15 miles.

If your places are so limited, then you need to say so.

Might also be worth a talk with your brownie group and their parents, so that they can indicate their intention to move up to you or otherwise. They're no doubt interested in finding out your plans anyway, given that you've just taken over.

As a side issue, I think you should perhaps raise this with your DC too, even if you deal with it yourself. The brownie leader of the other group seems to be undermining the work of the guide leader, very demoralising I'd have thought. Conversely if there is an issue with the guides in the other village then the DC surely needs to look at it?

The person who I've been talking about knows my son isn't settled and has advised me about checking out other units. Not quite the same thing.

Best to go to your dc first, she can then approach the Brownie units who should (because of district/distance) come to you and she can also approach the dc of the other village with regards to the BL attitude and maybe the GL cos there isn't smoke without fire.

If you have the same dc it just saves repeating yourself

good luck - and you are only just taking this on.

15 miles away is far too far..are you even the same district

I would definitely discuss openly with the dc (now i have confirmed she still exists lol)

And a tip for taking on the guide leader duties don't get bogged down

I am a parent of a Guide which is only 10 minutes walk away fro us. It is also on a Friday night which is good for us as she doen't have to get up for school the next morning. I would definetly not be able to take her 15 miles to another Guide unit however good thy are. Guids and brownies should be part of the local community.

Thanks very much for your responses - its been very helpful to have a little bit more to think over.