What happens at your DD's Rainbows group?

[NedsHead]

I've volunteered as a helper and I am feeling oddly like I don't have a role. I've only been 4 times but 3 out of 4 of those occasions, the girls have played big group games. The one time they split into groups, I didn't get a group.

The Rainbow leader is in training so being mentored. That adds another adult. Another little girl has a support assistant so that adds another adult.

Last week there were 6 adults and 13 girls!! I'm not that great at putting myself forward until I am sure of a situation and what is going on but also there's little opportunity to step in and help when there are so many other adults and the girls are spending the whole hour taking instruction from one leader.. Am I wasting my time? What's the usual set-up?

I used to be a rainbow leader,about 10 yrs ago.We had loads more girls and 2-3 adults and occassionally a young leader(teenager)

Sounds like too many adults,why are you volunteering?

Have they asked you?

Have you asked them what needs doing?

Yes, I have asked what I can do to help, what are we doing tonight etc... The leader in training delegates to the young leader.

Sorry still don't understand why you are there if you are not needed?

I guess somewhere down the line, when the leader is trained and the little girl with the support assistant leaves, 2 of the adults will cease to be there.

I volunteered generally and this was the unit I was placed at. What should I do? It seems like I will be needed in the future but not now.

Does the group have a plan for the whole term, or are the activities done on an ad hoc basis? If there is a plan, could you ask the leader if you could be responsible for some of the activities and/or games on particular evenings? Make sure you are involved at the planning stage, so you can suggest things to do which would then become your responsibility. Research lots of games, so if an activity finishes sooner than expected, you could step in with a game. I run a Rainbows group, and it is usually quite chaotic at the beginning when everyone is arriving, so someone to lead a quick game then would be very useful. Also, volunteering to do the register/run the waiting list/compile the parents' rota/keep some craft stuff at home would also be very useful. Are you going to train to be a leader yourself?