Become a volunteerHi everyone, my name is Laura and I am the coordinator for the 18-30 offer in Shropshire. Here is a little bit about what I have been doing during lockdown.
The prospect of lockdown scared me, I was worried for my friends and family but also for my little rainbows and my 18-30 members. How could I find a way to support my guiding family and help them through this difficult time?
My brain went instantly to my love of badges and I decided to develop a challenge! And so the Distance Guiding 2020 challenge was born.
I wanted to think of simple tasks that members could complete at home and as much as possible keep the materials needed to a minimum. I decided to split the challenge into 3 themes:
- The “Keep Guiding” theme was created to show people ways they can stay in touch with Guiding while at home. A reminder to start sewing on that pile of badges we all have, get up to date with our online records or complete those training sessions we haven’t had time for. Badges was where I decided to start my personal attempt at this theme and I had forgotten just how hard badges are to get a needle through so I think it’s going to be a slow process!
- With the toll isolation can have on people I decided that the “Self Care” theme was an important part of how I could help people. Self-care takes many forms, for me it’s getting out of the house or reading a book, for others it’s drawing or painting and it’s so important now more than ever. On some days at the moment, self-care is getting dressed in something other than pjs and eating some chocolate! I think it’s really important during this time for everyone to remember that this isn’t what we are used to, this isn’t our normal and so if you don’t get everything you expected to do done, that isn’t a bad thing. I am proud of everyone around me; carrying on is a big achievement right now and that shouldn’t be overlooked.
- Finally I have always loved how Girlguiding has encouraged its members to support those around them, a “Community” theme felt fitting during this time. We are all surrounded by people who are struggling and we can do little things to help them. Something as little as waving at someone in the street or donating some spare food to a food bank. I’ve hosted online sessions for the summer camp I work for and checked in with friends I hadn’t spoken to in months. These little things help me feel like I do still have a community around me and we can all reassure one another that we are not alone through this.
Overall, I wanted to provide people with something to help with this strange time we are living in. If anyone is interested in the challenge, I have made it available to anyone who wants it and am also ready to launch a version for the different sections of guiding. You can find the PDF by following the link in the Shropshires 18-30 Instagram @ggshrop_18to30 or you can send me an email lulubrumfitt@gmail.com. If you do have a go you can tag us or use the #distanceguiding2020
Stay safe, keep busy and find your new normal!
