The refreshed Queen’s Guide award syllabus was launched in March 2023! Perhaps you know lots about it, or perhaps you’ve never heard of it at all, but if the idea of challenging yourself and earning shiny badges appeals to you, read on…
What is the Queen’s Guide award?
It’s the highest award in Girlguiding that members can work towards; our equivalent to the Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s award or King’s Scout award.
That sounds prestigious!
Well, it is! Middlesex North West has had just five members complete the award in the past ten years.
Award recipients are presented with a beautiful silver award badge to wear on their uniform, and are invited to a national celebration event to mark their achievement.
They also receive a certificate, an ‘everyday’ enamel badge (which can be worn on uniform instead of the silver one if preferred), and a cloth badge (non-uniform).
See, I said shiny badges were involved.
How long has it been around?
Nearly 80 years! The Queen’s Guide award was introduced in 1946 and originally undertaken by members of the Guide section. From the mid-1980’s it changed to being an award for members of the Senior Section. Now with the new syllabus anyone age 16-30 can complete the award: Ranger, Young Leader, leader or Inspire member.
What activities do I have to undertake for the award?
The Queen’s Guide award is all about challenging yourself and making a difference at all levels of Girlguiding and within your local community.
Candidates complete six challenges: undertaking Guiding at a variety of levels; leading adventures; a social experience; personal skill development; community action project; and personal reflection. You also must make or renew your Guiding Promise.
The syllabus offers lots of scope and options as no two Queen’s Guide candidates are going to find the same things a challenge.
Take a look here: https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/what-we-do/our-badges-and-activities/badge-finder/queens-guide-award/
What important things do I need to know?
- You can choose to start the Queen’s Guide award any time between your 16th and 30th birthdays. However, you must complete it within 3 years of your start date, or by your 31st birthday, whichever is sooner.
- You need to register for the award on GO to start – ask the County Queen’s Guide co-ordinator to do this. This also registers you as a Queen’s Guide candidate with HQ (vitally important as not doing so means your award can’t be verified or recognised).
- Activities completed prior to your Queen’s Guide award start date can’t be used, even if they seem a perfect fit for one of the challenges. However, you can use qualifications you already hold to help you complete the challenges.
- You will need to choose a mentor to help support you through the award, but this doesn’t need to be another Queen’s Guide. They don’t have to be a Guiding member in the same county either!
- The county Queen’s Guide co-ordinator is there to help you with any questions or queries – if you’re stuck for a mentor, they can fill this role too.
- You can take up to 1 year’s break during the award; this may be planned in from the start, or unplanned if life throws up unexpected surprises.
- And if you don’t manage to finish the Queen’s Guide award in the 3 year time limit, it’s okay – you aren’t limited to one attempt only. As long as you’re under 30, you can give it another go!
The Queen’s Guide award seems a bit much for me right now – is there anything else I can do?
The Commonwealth award is a perfect choice. It can be completed any time between your 13th and 26th birthdays. It also doesn’t have to be completed while in one section, so you could start it as a Guide and finish it as a leader.
It is open to all Girl Guide and Girl Scout member associations of the Commonwealth, using the same syllabus and same badge; despite this you’ll find holders are few and far between so it’s extra special when you do meet another!
It consists of three required clauses: service, knowledge of Girlguiding, and knowledge of a Commonwealth country, and two other clauses of your choice from an extensive list of options.
If you want to learn more about the history of Girlguiding in the UK and around the world this is a wonderful award to undertake!
Take a look here: https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/what-we-do/our-badges-and-activities/badge-finder/commonwealth-award/
If that has grabbed your interest and you want to know more about either the Queen’s Guide award or Commonwealth award, get in touch!
queensguide@girlguidingmiddxnw.org.uk
Hils Parker
Queen’s Guide award co-ordinator
(shiny badge enthusiast)