Girlguiding Dorset EDI October 2021 News

Here is the second of our themed e-news introducing our new EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) team.  Each of the team has a speciality that they will explain below.  In the meantime, please have a go at the EDI e-learning by clicking here and checkout the new adjustment plans here.  You can contact the team for help and advice on edi@girlguidingdorset.org.uk.

Lisa Upward

County Commissioner

Hi, I am the County Equality Adviser and I am happy to assist leaders, Commissioners and the County team with any aspect of the Equality Act and provide advice and guidance, assist with running events or activities that cover Equality, promote events and activities that are being run within Dorset and please let me know if there anything you would like us to promote or advertise or be part of.

I am here to advise on any of the protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010:

• Age
• Disability
• gender
• gender reassignment
• race and ethnicity
• religion or belief
• sexual orientation
• pregnancy and maternity
• marriage and civil partnership

I recently co-ordinated Girlguiding participation in Bourne Free Pride Parade in August in Bournemouth. 15 members of the County joined other organisations from across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole in the walking Pride Parade. We looked great and showed Girlguiding Dorset’s support to LGBT+ community, as Girlguiding we believe that all members should be able to be themselves without fear of discrimination. No member within Girlguiding should be treated differently, or offered different opportunities, based on their sexual orientation.

I’m here to help you , my contact details are edi@girlguidingdorset.org.uk. I’m on Facebook as Sandi Clarke or you can ring me on 07989 450469.

Hi! I’m Anya and I’m currently a unit helper at 1^st Longfleet Brownies and Guides and I’m doing my LIT with 1^st Longfleet Rainbows. I came back into Guiding three years ago just as my younger cousins and niece started to want to join because I loved my time as a girl being a Brownie and then a Guide and I wanted to help other girls have the same opportunities I was afforded through Girlguiding. My background from an EDI perspective is a combination of my own lived experience (I myself identify as a Bisexual woman, I have mental health problems, Fibromyalgia and came from a low socio-economic background), my university career as disability officer for my SU and president of the students with alternative needs society and finally in my current career as a care worker. Our County is made up of wonderful adult and young members and I believe we should encourage all women and girls to join us regardless of their background and celebrate everything that makes us diverse.

If you managed to see the recent girls’ attitude survey report you may have been left, like myself, feeling overwhelmingly worried about the mental health of our young members. The pandemic has taken its toll on all of us but the girls who took part in the survey made their voices clear, our young people are struggling with their mental health now more than ever. Only 25% of girls aged 7-10 say they feel happy most of the time and this number drops to 6% for 17-21 year olds. So, what can we as leaders do to help our young members? Luckily Girlguiding has some great resources: there are some UMA activities (such as the take a moment UMA for Guides), there are peer educators who can provide the “Think Resilient” session and on the Girlguiding adventures at home website under each and every section there is a section called “Thinking resilient: activities for wellbeing” which has a host of wonderful activities that we can use within our units to help our girls with their mental health. As always if you have any concerns about any member of Girlguiding the safeguarding team is just a phone call away.

Hi, my name is Annette Bowden and I am the County Inclusion for Members with Additional Needs representative. I am a leader with 3rd Christchurch Brownies and Guides.  Please contact me for any advice or help you may need with regard to members in your unit who have disabilities or special needs.

WHAT IS NORMAL?

For everyone “being normal” is different

I would like to help you and all the members of your unit to feel confident and able to provide a fulfilling and challenging programme to any girl/girls with Additional Needs. Or to support an adult member in the enjoyment of her leadership role within your unit.

If I don’t know the answer I will endeavour to find out!

Please check out the Girlguiding website by clicking here.

Other useful websites:

• Action on Hearing loss
• National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS)
• British Sign Language
• Royal National Institute of Blind People
• Hearing Dogs – PAWS with a Cause
• Medical Detection Dogs
• Hounds for Heroes
• Guide Dogs