Girlguiding ‘hostess' badge gets gender-neutral makeover

Telegraph

6 days ago

Girlguiding has given its 'hostess' badge a gender-neutral makeover as part of a modernisation drive.
The badge, first introduced in the 1960s, has been renamed the 'celebrations' badge to 'reflect the diversity of girls and modern life in the 21st Century'.
It is one of 72 new badges that have been introduced by the group that runs the Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers programmes.
Other new badges recognise having a good night's sleep, laughter and dancing.
The Hostess badge was originally awarded for playing 'hostess' by inviting a friend round and making them a cup of tea.
These activities were later expanded in 2009 to include party planning, so that Brownie-level girls could learn event planning skills.
The badge was scrapped in 2018 but has been brought back with a rebranded title because of popular demand.
It will recognise youngsters who learn about and plan celebrations, bringing people together 'to make lots of happy memories'.
The new badges were developed after a consultation which sought the views of more than 20,000 girls and volunteers.
They cover a range of academic and environmental pursuits.
Girlguiding said the laughter badge allowed Rainbows to 'discover loads of different ways to snort, giggle and roll about the floor, from silly actions, songs and games... then share the laughter with someone else'.
The sleep badge allows children to prepare for 'a deep, relaxing slumber and discover the benefits of taking a snooze cruise'.
The 'get grooving' dancing badge invites children to 'express yourself with movement, and even have a dance party!'
Young girls taking part in Rainbows can be recognised for being a 'bee rescuer', while Brownies can be 'book reviewers'.
New 'bookworm' and 'healthy sleep' badges
Guide badges now include 'bookworm', 'historian', and recognise aspects of 'healthy sleep'. There are also 'clean planet' and 'biodiversity' badges.
Rangers, the most senior, cannot be recognised for their 'nostalgia', with the guide to the new badge stating: 'Pop your rose-tinted glasses on...
'Discover what nostalgia means to you and other people... showcase your past and love for TV, film and even objects, and dive into the past and spread the joy.'
Angellica Bell, the broadcaster and presenter, has joined as an ambassador to help launch the project.
She said: 'Girlguiding offers a safe and welcoming space for all girls, and I am so impressed by the work they do to build girls' confidence and wellbeing, whilst tackling important issues impacting their lives such as online harm, sexism and misogyny.
'In a world where the voices of girls and young women are not always fairly heard, I am proud to stand alongside Girlguiding and will be using my voice to speak up for equality and to show that girls can do anything.'
Amanda Azeez, Girlguiding's acting chief executive, said: 'The launch of these new badges is a huge moment for Girlguiding.
'They've been designed by girls, for girls, which is so important to make sure we are staying relevant to girls' wants and needs.'
The badge activities were developed with Girlguiding's youth panel Amplify, which is made up of 30 girls aged 12 to 18, and seven partners, including The Royal Horticultural Society, the Children's Book Project, and Bletchley Park.
It follows reports that Girlguiding would introduce an 'inclusive' new uniform following a row over trans children joining the organisation.
A consultation has been launched to make uniforms across Girlguiding, Rainbows, Brownies and Rangers 'more coherent' with a 'look and feel that unifies all the sections across the organisation'.
In 2023, the Girl Guides ditched the words 'mother' and 'father' for 'parents' and 'carers' as part of a new inclusive language guide.
The guide set out to tell people 'how to be as inclusive as possible when communicating' and the organisation boasted that it was trans-inclusive.
It said: 'We know the term 'girl' may not cover these young people – and language is of course always evolving. When we can, we adjust our language to be gender-neutral. This helps us include all young people who relate to experiences of girlhood and womanhood.'
It prompted Sir John Hayes, the former security minister, to hit back at the guidance with the claim the organisation's former patron – 'our beloved late Queen' – would have been 'horrified' by it.
Andrea Jenkyns, who is now the Reform UK mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, said at the time that the Guides had 'lost their way'.