For National Volunteers’ Week I’ve been asked to write 7 reasons why I love volunteering. 

1. Friendship

   Making friends as an adult is hard and awkward but with Girlguiding, whether you go to trainings, meetings, residentials and events with other units you’re instantly in a room full of friends, old or new. Going on joint Pack Holidays with friends, climbing a mountain and having a small sip of bubbly to celebrate an 18th birthday/adult promise ceremony or even a catch up and a coffee when doing a DBS is part of the fun!

   
   

2. Being part of a community:

   Being a volunteer means you’re a part of a wider community. Girlguiding is a worldwide organisation and you will have something in common with people all over the world.

   
   

3. It’s a family affair:

   My mother started volunteering with Guiding when I was a Brownie ready to move up to Guides. It’s something we’ve shared ever since, and now we get to share it with my niece too, who is currently one of my Brownies (she even told me when she was a Rainbow that when I’m too old, that she will take over Brownies for me!)

   
   

4. International opportunities:

   As a Guide I was chosen to represent Girlguiding Cymru at an International Camp in Scotland. As an adult volunteer I have participated in the Dublin Dash with my Division, visited Our Chalet in Switzerland as part of a County trip and 3 years ago I took on a Charity Challenge where I trekked through the Costa Rican Rainforest, a bucket list wish of mine is to see all of the World Centres!

   
   

5. Watching the girls grow:

   I love it when I have a shy Brownie grow into a confident Guide/Young Leader. I also love watching what my former Brownies go on to do and I feel a real sense of pride when they ask to come back as volunteers themselves. Our unit boasts a Brownie who recently did an internship at Our Chalet in Switzerland, a Brownie who completed her Animal Lover badge and decided that she wanted to be a vet and is now a qualified vet, our current Young Leader is about to finish her A Levels and go off to University having been head girl for the past year, she is also a former Brownie!

   
   

6. Skills for Life:

   There’s a reason one of our 6 Themes is Skills for My Future. After my international camp as a Guide I was asked to speak at our County AGM. When I finished my presentation I remember throwing up as I was so nervous. I think I swore that I would never do public speaking again! Completing the Leadership Qualification and running my own unit, having to speak to parents, commissioners and people of authority in the community, has helped my confidence grow, so much so that I now regularly stand in front of people conducting marriage ceremonies in front of 100s of people as part of my job.

   
   

7. An Escape from Real Life:

   Being a volunteer and running an unit can be challenging, but for me it’s mainly an escape from the seriousness of my job. Although we have to be “Responsible Adults” we can also take part in activities and challenges along with the girls, whether it’s bobbing apples, foam parties, face paints, ice-skating (although once round the rink is enough for me)

Thanks for reading & Happy Volunteers Week!

Elinor

Leader - 1st Cwmamman Brownies