Girlguiding Sidmouth District

20/10/2026

Not every disability can be seen, and this week is Invisible Disabilities Week 2026. 💜

A Guide might be laughing with her friends while managing the pain of endometriosis. A Ranger might be hiding her autism or ADHD to fit in. A leader might be getting through the evening with fibromyalgia. And anxiety or depression can hide behind the biggest smiles.

Many of leaders and volunteers give their time every week, often while managing invisible conditions of their own. 🙌

Conditions affecting girls and women often take years to diagnose. In Wales, it takes almost 10 years on average to be diagnosed with endometriosis. 💜

Believe people, ask “what would help?”, and make space for breaks and quiet corners.

What’s one small thing that helps you feel supported? Tell us below 👇

19/10/2026

🎄 Join Our Christmas Wreath Workshop!

Book your spot today and help support Sidmouth Girlguiding

No experience needed — we’ll provide all the materials, plenty of guidance, and a festive atmosphere as you create a beautiful wreath for your door or table.

Come along, have some fun, learn a lovely seasonal craft, and help us raise incredibly valuable funds for Sidmouth Girlguiding. Your support makes a real difference to local girls and young women.

16/10/2026

⁉️ Here's a wild idea: what if we gave girls something so good they forget the phone exists for two hours a week?

At Girlguiding, we specialise in:

🔥 Talking her into things she'll brag about for years ("I lit a fire with FLINT,")
😂 Laughing so much someone always ends up on the floor
🤝 Friendships that don't come with a "seen 2:47pm, no reply"
🧠 Skills she didn't know existed (yes, that includes "how to put a tent up without crying")
🌙 Actual adventures - the kind that don't need a filter
💪 The realisation that she is, in fact, an absolute legend

We're not promising she'll hand over the phone willingly. We're not sorcerers. 🧙‍♀️

But we ARE promising Tuesday nights that beat the group chat.

Come find out what all the screaming and laughing is about.

💬 Message us. Your daughter's Tuesdays will never be the same.

16/10/2026

Brilliant post from Girlguiding Old Town District. We are desperately in need to volunteers for Sidmouth Girlguiding. If the below applies to you we would love you to join us and be part of an amazing organisation that gives back to the girls within our community. 💙

🚨 WANTED: ADULTS WHO ARE MAKING IT UP AS THEY GO ALONG 🚨

Are you sat around with nothing to occupy your time?

❌ No?

Perfect.

Can you tie knots?

❌ No?

Excellent.

Can you light a campfire?

❌ Also no?

Congratulations.

You may be exactly who we’re looking for.

Because somewhere along the way, volunteering got a reputation for being something only superheroes do.

You know the type…

✨ Has endless free time

✨ Keeps their cupboards organised

✨ Replies to emails immediately

✨ Knows what’s for dinner before 6pm

✨ Has never stood in a room wondering why they walked in there

Meanwhile, the rest of us are eating cereal for dinner and searching for our phone while holding it.

Here’s the truth:

Girlguiding isn’t looking for perfect people.

We’re looking for people who can:

✔️ Laugh at terrible jokes

✔️ Celebrate the small wins

✔️ Hand out glue sticks

✔️ Help girls try something new

✔️ Pretend they know where the scissors are

✔️ Limit glitter-related incidents to acceptable levels

Some volunteers lead activities.

Some help behind the scenes.

Some bring biscuits and moral support.

Every single one of them makes a difference.

And here’s the bit nobody tells you…

You join because you want to help girls discover what they’re capable of.

Then one day you realise they’ve changed your life too.

So if you’ve ever thought:

💭 “I don’t have enough experience.”

💭 “I don’t have enough time.”

💭 “I’m not the volunteering type.”

Good news.

Neither were most of us.

👇 Take a look at our volunteer opportunities and see if there’s something with your name on it.

https://volunteer.girlguiding.org.uk/

No superhero cape required.

Just a willingness to give it a go. 💙

12/10/2026

📢 CAMP EPIC LOST PROPERTY – LAST CHANCE! 🏕️

Did you leave something behind at Camp EPIC? 👀

This is your final chance to claim any remaining lost property from our fantastic county camp!

🔎 Check the list online:
👉 https://devonguides.org.uk/county-camp-2026

📅 Final deadline: 31 October 2026

Any items still unclaimed after 31 October will be disposed of, so please take a look at the list and get in touch if you recognise anything belonging to you or your unit.

📦 Collection opportunity this Wednesday!
We’ll be bringing the remaining lost property to the County Committee meeting on Wednesday, giving commissioners the opportunity to collect items and take them back to their local divisions.

Please help us spread the word so we can reunite as many belongings as possible with their owners before the deadline! 💙

Thank you! 💚

10/10/2026

10/10/2026

Sidmouth Rangers & Guides absolutely lit up Wembley this afternoon.
We danced like no one was watching, sang every song to our hearts’ content, and hit every chorus with total commitment & enthusiasm… loudly.

Big Gig, you were epic — we’ll be hoarse (and potentially deaf!) for days.

But most of all, we made memories that will last a lifetime and strengthened friendships that will carry us far beyond Wembley.

Huge thanks to the organising team for another brilliant adventure, and to Cranbrook Guides for sharing the coach journey — the laughter, snacks and pre‑Gig buzz made it even better.

08/09/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/1BfsdGbttq/?mibextid=wwXIfr

🌟 DID YOU KNOW? — AGNES BADEN-POWELL 🌟

👩🏽‍✈️⚜️ The Woman Who Helped Build the Girl Guide Movement

Did you know that Agnes Baden-Powell (1858–1945), the younger sister of Lord Robert Baden-Powell, played a major role in establishing the Girl Guide Movement?

In 1909, girls appeared at a Boy Scout rally at Crystal Palace in London and declared that they wanted to be part of Scouting too. Their determination helped inspire the development of a movement specifically for girls. (WAGGGS)

In 1910, Robert Baden-Powell asked his sister Agnes to help organise the new Girl Guide movement in Britain. Agnes became the leader of the newly established Girl Guide Association and worked tirelessly to give girls opportunities to learn, serve, develop skills and become responsible citizens. (WAGGGS)

One of her greatest contributions was helping develop the first Girl Guide handbook, The Handbook for the Girl Guides, or How Girls Can Help to Build Up the Empire. She adapted Scouting ideas for girls and included areas such as practical skills, nursing, childcare, home skills and outdoor activities. (Wikipedia)

Agnes also helped the movement grow beyond Britain. She supported and coordinated Guiding activities, established the 1st Lone Company in 1912, and contributed to the Girl Guide Gazette. (Girl Guides Australia)

What makes Agnes especially remarkable is that she was working at a time when many people believed that outdoor adventure, camping and active training were not appropriate for girls. Yet she helped demonstrate that girls could also learn practical skills, develop confidence, serve others and contribute meaningfully to society.

Although Olave Baden-Powell later became the more widely recognised public figure in Girl Guiding, Agnes’s early work laid an important foundation for the movement. She continued serving as Vice-President of the Girl Guides Association until her death in 1945. (Wikipedia)

Her story reminds us that great movements are often built by people whose names are not always the most famous.

Agnes Baden-Powell was not simply Robert Baden-Powell’s sister.
She was a pioneer in her own right.

Her legacy lives on every time a girl puts on a Guide uniform, learns a new skill, serves her community and says:

John.K.
Executive Director, Diamond 40 Scout TV 📺

03/09/2026

We have a Open Day for any Junior aged 8 to 18.
Did you watch the Commonwealth Games and see the bowls, here is your chance to give it a try.

Just bring along a clean pair of shoes or trainers and we will do the rest.
Look forward to seeing all budding bowlers.

Saturday 26th September 10am to 12