Respect for the breadth of the organisation she loved, which formed her as a young leader, as well as the women who guided her spiritually and morally; Integrity – doing the right thing even if no one is watching, taking responsibility when things don’t go to plan and learning life lessons in a caring and nurturing environment; Service in so many ways… church services and parades as well as badgework, helping others and recognising the benefits of doing things without desiring a reward; Excellence in all things at home, work and church.
Not settling for second best, and honouring God in all ways, for Jo, the benefit of a girls-only space was not about being distracted by boys (!) but about having a safe environment to work out who she was as an individual and not having to put an act on for others.
These values instilled at a young age in caring and holy ways allowed Jo to develop her leadership skills from Girls’ Brigade through to all work environments, especially as a Chaplain in the RAF. As more and more young women are given the opportunity to lead, in what was and in some places still is, a male-dominated environment, Jo has used the lessons learned as a Girls’ Brigade member and leader, and through serving GBEW as a staff member, to encourage others to aspire to lead and to recognise their self-worth.