What a year. We are ending 2015 with four new units in Chislehurst Division - 1st Chislehurst 'Blizzard' Senior Section, 2nd Chislehurst Rainbows, 3rd Chislehurst Rainbows, 9th Petts Wood Rainbows. More than 50 girls have been moved from waiting-to-join lists into Rainbow units.
So is this it? No!
The aim was to open five new Rainbow units to meet the demand - three in Petts Wood, two in Chislehurst. Three out of five is not bad.
We have welcomed numerous new volunteers into, or back into, Guiding, but we still need more volunteer leaders across all sections locally. That is our greatest need in the Division.
That's where you come in.
It's Christmas, you're busy - we know. Stay with me here.
Consider this - soon, 2016 will be upon us. You'll be writing those New Year's resolutions; pledging to give to charity; pledging to keep in touch with all those people you sent Christmas cards to, whom you haven't been in touch with since Christmas 2014; pledging to join the gym and actually attend on a regular basis (I went to the gym once and had a delicious lunch); pledging to take up Pilates; adopt a penguin; make a conscious decision to travel more, other than that tedious commute to work; learn the ukelele; see the family other than at weddings and funerals; eat more fruit...
What about this - why not pledge to take up some form of volunteering?
I'm not going to get on my usual growing Guiding soapbox here (that will come later). I am actively challenging you to think about pledging any amount of time to support any cause that isn't your family, or your paid work. And I don't mean pledging your money, I mean something much more precious than that - pledging your time.
Overuse of the word 'pledge', I know. And what a peculiar word it is - to some it's just a furniture polish, but here's my thinking...
When you 'pledge', you agree to do something. It's not usually formal, it's a personal agreement with yourself to take action. No-one is going to follow you up on this - it's up to you.
Do you have skills? Girlguiding and a plethora of other charities can find an opportunity for you. It really is as straightforward as that. Do you have accounting skills? There are charities actively seeking someone like you to do their books. Do you like working with children? Girlguiding and a number of other youth organisations can find a group for you to work with. Are you an administrator? Hundreds of organisations would welcome your administrative skills with open arms. Think about it. Find your local volunteer bureau here, or ring some charities and ask how you can give them some of your time and skills.
If the idea of supporting girls and young women to reach their potential speaks to you, then please get in touch. Have a look here and read about what you could be part of in 2016.
Volunteering with Girlguiding is truly wonderful. You have the opportunity to positively influence the citizens of tomorrow. Imagine becoming part of something - a unit, District, Division, County, Region, a national organisation with 500,000 members, a global movement of 10 million members of WAGGGS (the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts), which operates across 146 countries. A new Rainbow parent said the other day after an evening at the ice-rink surrounded by Rainbows and Brownies, quite unprompted, 'you really feel like you're part of something when you're doing this - it's lovely'.
The variety that Girlguiding offers is also hard to beat.
In the last few weeks, local activities have included: singing with the Rainbows and Brownies at Chislehurst Station to raise funds for the Guide Friendship Fund; taking over an entire ice-rink for members and their families; learning about Parliament, democracy, leadership and receiving the #DoDemocracy Parliament Week badge; promoting Girlguiding opportunities at local events, with banners, leaflets, origami chairs and more; taking a patrol on a day-trip to London (for the Amazing London Bus Challenge, the London Eye, a river cruise and more) after a member won a Jack Petchey Award for the service she gives each week; supporting a Guide to run a coffee evening to raise funds for Macmillan; watching 21 new Rainbows make their promise in front of their parents; reading an article in the local paper about one of our Senior Section members who was selected to take part in a debate in the Chamber of the House of Lords; making star decorations; writing poems; playing parachute games; making Christmas presents; end of term parties, and so much more.
You could be part of all this! What are you waiting for? Don't be shy - embrace the New Year Revolution - adopt that penguin.
