Meet the Nicofiends!
We’ve teamed up with ASH Wales to bring you the Nicofiends challenge, a free pack of activities for Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers.
Younger sections explore feelings, choices and confidence. Older sections look more closely at the pressures around smoking, vaping and nicotine, including peer pressure, stress and persuasive advertising.
Choose the activities that suit your unit and fit them around your meetings. There’s no need to do everything at once.
You can learn more about Ash Wales here
The activities are written for each age group, so you can choose what suits your unit.
Rainbows (4-7): a gentle, product-free Mini Mission about feelings, copying people around us and choice. Rainbows make a Little Feelings Monster, practise a Brave Phrase and name a trusted grown-up who could help.
Brownies (7-10): games and creative activities exploring pressure, confidence and choice, including Cup Choice, Pressure Postcards, Power Up Tower and a Choice Shield to make a plan for handling pressure.
Guides (10-14): activities such as Reason Rumble, VIP Room, Mystery Auction and Pass It On, looking at how friends, groups and messages can influence choices.
Rangers (14-18): a wider look at marketing, social pressure and online messages, with activities such as What’s Missing?, Pressure Web and Risk Ladder. Rangers can also lead a Nicofiends activity for younger girls.
Earn the badge
Complete the challenge to earn your Nicofiends badge.
The badge can be ordered from our shop.
The badge features a cheeky Nicofiend monster!
Each badge costs £1 each excluding P&P.
Could your unit invent a Nicofiend?
Invite girls to draw or paint a monster representing a reason someone might start smoking, vaping or using nicotine. It could be pressure to fit in, stress or persuasive advertising. Ask them to give it a name and explain what it represents.
For younger sections, start with the pack’s age-appropriate activities about feelings and choices. There’s no need to introduce detailed discussions about nicotine products.
Entries close 15 January 2027. Find the entry information and consent requirements at ash.wales/nicofiends.
The challenge pack launch
The Nicofiends challenge pack was launched at two events in October, with Holyhead Guides and 10th Barry Rangers.
10th Barry Rangers loved the challenge pack. The activities got the group talking, and the Rangers had lots of lively discussions about the pressures around smoking, vaping and nicotine.
Thank you to Holyhead Guides and 10th Barry Rangers for being the first to try out the pack. Photos from the Holyhead Guides launch will be shared soon.
“The Nicofiends pack really made me think about why people start smoking. It’s not just about being curious or persuaded to try it, there’s so much pressure to fit in.
I also think it’s wrong that vapes are advertised to teens like they’re sweets.”
