Volunteer with Girlguiding Scotland

To mark Volunteers’ Week, Girlguiding Scotland is celebrating its helpers across the country this year. The organisation’s network of 11,500 volunteers contribute over one million hours to help 50,000 girls and young women benefit from the fun and adventure of guiding.

Many people who volunteer find themselves gaining new skills which enable them to pursue jobs or get ahead with their careers.

Kimberley Cadger, a Brownie and Guide Leader, and Peer Educator from Angus, said: “Volunteering with Girlguiding Scotland has helped me to grow in confidence and given me some fantastic opportunities. I’ve gained the skills to get ahead in my career and it’s helped me make friends for life.

“From helping to run my Brownie and Guide units to helping girls and young women tackle big issues, like mental health and body confidence, as a Peer Educator, volunteering makes me feel like I’m making a real difference.”

Ellie Salter, 32, is a County International Advisor in Dundee, helping Girlguiding Scotland members to make the most of international opportunities. Volunteering with Girlguiding Scotland both in her local community and around the world has helped her to realise her dream of becoming a doctor.

“It’s taught me so many valuable skills including time management, leadership and communication,” she said.

“Volunteering has given me so many opportunities to make a difference both in my local community and around the world.

“In 2006 and 2007 I had the chance to be part of a trip to Hondouras where we supported an AIDS and HIV awareness project. As well as making some great friends and amazing memories, this project fuelled my ambition to apply for medical school and become a doctor.

“The values and skills I picked up from volunteering with Girlguiding Scotland– like helping others and working in a team – are still useful in my career today.”

Fiona Dalziel, 48, is a Guide Leader and Senior Section Leader in Arbroath and works as a secretary at a secondary school. Fiona joined Girlguiding Scotland as a Brownie and returned as a Leader 20 years ago when her daughter joined the Rainbows.

She said: “Guiding has taught me that I really can make a difference to the world around me, from small individual things to being part of a bigger picture.

“The skills I have learned through guiding have helped me every day in my job and are truly invaluable – as I look back over the last 20 years or more I can attribute a great deal of my success in the workplace to the skills I learned in guiding!”

As well as building girls’ confidence and raising their aspirations, recent research by Girlguiding Scotland also highlighted the positive impact for volunteers.

Scotland’s leading charity for girls and young women found, through a survey of its members, that 99% of Girlguiding Scotland volunteers said that guiding has had a positive impact on their lives, with many reporting it has helped them make friends (98%), have fun (94%), and boost their confidence (79%).

Almost half (44%) of volunteers also said that giving their time with guiding has boosted their career chances by helping them get a job or work experience.

Sue Walker, Girlguiding Scotland’s Chief Commissioner said: “The work our volunteers do to bring guiding alive for our young members is inspirational. As a volunteer you could find yourself helping girls learn about stars, campaign for women’s rights, camping or even travelling abroad. In return, we look after our volunteers with dedicated support, training and skills development.”

Girlguiding Scotland welcomes volunteers of all backgrounds, abilities and faiths. From running a group to giving just one or two hours a month, guiding offers flexible opportunities that can fit into a busy lifestyle.

Volunteers’ Week runs until June 12. www.girlguidingscotland.org.uk/getinvolved

Girlguiding Scotland is giving its volunteers a thumbs up across the country.