Underpinned by robust safeguarding and risk assessment, we will be piloting new approaches to attracting and retaining older girls and young women in Girls’ Brigade. We are about to develop some new programme materials targeted at 14–18-year-olds on topics like:
- Having a safe night out
- Making sustainable choices /environment and care of creation
- Online safety, social media and AI
- Money management
Each topic will be covered in a single meeting (or possibly over two meetings). The materials will be developed during November and December 2024 and will be launched in January 2025 for use in existing groups and in online groups, and participants will also be invited to attend the Esther Generation weekend in February 2025. A podcast will be made about the key points emerging from each of the discussions and will be used to create more interest, enthusiasm, and engagement in both traditional place-based groups and also in exploring the role of online and virtual approaches in youth work moving forward.
The opportunities for you to get involved are:
- Young women between 14 and 18 years of age who’d like to help us co-design and co-create the new programme materials
- Young women between 14 and 18 who are looking for experience to put on their CV or to include in their applications for college or uni.
- Young leaders (under 30 years of age) who would like to help us co-facilitate the online sessions
- Young women currently doing their Queens’ Award looking for a project or wanting an opportunity to volunteer
- Adult leaders or helpers who would like to help move this innovative approach forward
Obviously, we appreciate that people might have limited time available. No worries – we’d be grateful for whatever time you have available. Please think about young women in your group or in your district and reach out to them to see how they’d like to be involved.
Contact us at [email protected] if you’d like to be involved.