Sittingbourne Guide Receives Top Award

A member of the 2nd Sittingbourne Guides is celebrating after receiving the highest accolade for Guides - the Baden-Powell Challenge Award.

Jade Dowsett, from Sittingbourne, chose to complete a range of exciting activities to achieve the award, including playing life-size Monopoly around Canterbury while away on her adventure weekend and Co-ordinating and presenting a fashion show with her fellow Guides.

Jade told the SFM News Team: "I'm really proud to have completed my Baden-Powell Challenge Award because it has taken more than a 18 months of hard work to get it. As part of the award, I had to work with lots of new Guides which I found very daunting. Our unit was very small but has grown dramatically over the time it has taken me to complete the award. I was pretty nervous, but I took time to get to know each of the younger Guides and gain their respect, this has given me so much confidence and lots of new friends!"

The group's Leader, Lesley Taylor told the SFM News Team: "I'm very proud of Jade for completing her Baden-Powell Award. I was overwhelm with pride as I have never had the honour of presenting a BP award before. She has been truly dedicated to achieving this award, and I'm sure this is something she will look back on with pride for years to come."

Jade, aged 16, received the award during a special presentation event on Friday (23rd October) at Kemsley Community Centre. The Baden-Powell Challenge is the highest award available to Guides - Girlguiding's section for girls aged between 10 and 16. The challenge is divided into five sections, including healthy lifestyles and global awareness. Girls can choose which activities they want to do within each section, from researching the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, to giving a presentation on a world issue of their choice. To complete the award, Guides take part in an adventure weekend, during which they face various set challenges, trying new things and pushing themselves outside their comfort zone.

Girlguiding opens up a world of opportunities to girls and young women aged five to 25, offering a hugely varied programme incorporating everything from world issues and science to social action, adventure sports and international travel. The charity builds girls' confidence and raises their aspirations, giving them their own space to have fun and build friendships. For further information about Girlguiding and how to get involved call 0800 169 5901 or visit www.girlguiding.org.uk.