Wirral Girl Guides appeal for more volunteers after high demand for places

Jan 9 2013 by Helen Hunt, Heswall News

THE demand to join girl guides in Wirral is so great organisers have said there are huge waiting lists in some parts of the borough.

Linda Smallthwaite, Lead Volunteer for Girlguiding Wirral, said girl guiding in Wirral is “thriving”.

Speaking after girl guiding members went on the ITV show This Morning with Prince Charles to recruit more volunteers, she said they need another 60 leaders in Wirral so every girl who wanted to be a guide could join in.

She said: “Many people are surprised when we say we're thriving. We have 4,000 girl members and 1,000 adult volunteers in Wirral, Ellesmere Port and Neston and areas where we have huge waiting lists of girls.

“At the moment another 60 leaders would help us to get every girl on a waiting list into a Unit.”

She added: “Guiding is a unique girl only space and offers wide ranging opportunities including events, outdoor adventure and overnight and international experiences too.”

Guiding Leader Heather Smith, 21, and Girlguiding members Hannah O’Gorman 18, and her sister Sally, 15, met Prince Charles.

The young women were interviewed by This Morning presenter Alison Hammond at Safeside in Birmingham for the film, which was broadcast on Tuesday .

During the show, his Royal Highness paid tribute to the positive contribution that volunteers make to communities around the country and highlighted the need for more people to give their time to voluntary organisations.

Julie Bentley, Girlguiding UK’s chief executive, said: “Girls in guiding have lots of fun – that's the most important element of our programme - but they also learn through doing and our volunteers pass on invaluable life skills.

“They also encourage girls to make their own decisions so they have the confidence and resourcefulness to take positive action when it is needed.”

Find out more about volunteering with guiding in your area by visiting girlguidingwirral.org.uk.