Somewhere, over at Rainbows.... (Rainbow Guides)

Member Name: kingfisher111

Product:	Rainbow Guides
Date:	01/04/09 (475 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: fun and worthwhile activities for young girls

Disadvantages: none

My eldest daughter, Rachel, is five and ever since the start of this year she has been attending a local Rainbow guide group. Rainbows are the pre-runners to Brownies and ultimately Guides. I was really pleased that she got a place as it is quite heavily subscribed and there seems to be quite a long waiting list. I really wanted her to be a Rainbow though because I do think that in this busy high tech sometimes materialistic world that our children are growing up in, the guiding movement stands for some really good old fashioned values.

Any girl aged five or over can become a rainbow and they usually remain so until about the age of seven when they can move on to either Brownies or Cubs. It does state in the notes for parents and guardians that it is open to any girl 'regardless of faith, race, culture, nationality or any other circumstances provided she is able to understand and willing to make or work towards making the Promise'. That promise is what they need to recite when they become enrolled as a Rainbow, which I was very proud to watch Rachel do yesterday.

When the girls start they receive a small book entitled 'Ready for Rainbows'. This helps them to record their unit details, explains more about the Rainbow family, has a story about someone starting rainbows and also has the words of the Rainbow song and Promise.

My daughter attends sessions on a Tuesday which start at half past four and last for an hour. This timing is ideal as it allows time for a bit of a rest after school but also means that she is not out too late on a school night. She always comes home tired but very enthusiastic about what they have been doing that session.

During the sessions the girls take part in both indoor and outdoor activities as part of a programme which is called the Rainbow Jigsaw. Most sessions have seen Rachel bringing something home that she has made. These have included a decorated cloth bag, a door plate and even a plant for me for Mothers' Day. After their final session this term each Rainbow received an Easter Egg. Considering that the subs are only £1 per session I think this is really good value and compares very favourably against the cost of some of her other activities. It's worth just noting that if you are a tax payer you can tick giftaid which means that the group can claim an additional twenty eight pence for every pound you pay so that's definitely worth doing!

When Rachel first started she could wear whatever she wanted but there is a Rainbow uniform and the girls are encouraged to wear the polo shirt if nothing else. This is a pale blue shirt with red collar and sleeves with the word 'Rainbows' brightly strewn across the front. There are also other bits of uniform including shorts, trousers, hat and tracksuit top. You can order these through a catalogue that the unit leader supplies or from the website

www.girlguiding.org/shop

However this is not the only place you can get uniform and I bought Rachel's from

http://www.scoutguidestore.co.uk

They are not cheap though and for cycle shorts, hooded javket and polo shirt I paid £29! It's definitely worth trying to get some secondhand and apparently quite a lot is offered on ebay! She does look very smart in her Rainbow uniform though.

As I said earlier, after a while, once they have decided that it is for them, the Rainbows are enrolled. Yesterday Rachel was enrolled and parents and family are invited along to the informal ceremony. Beforehand, the Rainbow has to learn the Promise:

'I promise that I will do my best to love my God and to be kind and helpful.'

They recite this at their enrollment after having been led under the rainbow flag. It's very enjoyable and the girls don't have to recite on their own. Rachel felt very proud and received a big clap afterwards as well as a certificate and a badge to pin on her uniform. It was interesting to see that at the same ceremony four girls were leaving to move on to brownies or cubs. They each received a badge with a pot of gold on it for as everyone knows there's always a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!

Rachel always enjoys her Rainbow sessions and I feel really pleased that she is engaging in such fun and worthwhile activities. I also like the emphasis on caring and sharing which comes across very strongly.

You can find out much more information by visiting

http://www.girlguiding.org.uk

where you can also request information about local groups. However, I would suggest that if you are able to find a local contact directly and get your daughter's name on the list, you are likely to have a better chance of getting in.

I feel really positive about Rachel being a Rainbow and as it says on the parents' information leaflet it is 'an opportunity for your daughter to look. learn, laugh and love!' Now that's not a bad thing in any parent's book!

Summary: An excellent introduction to the guiding movement