The Queen’s Guide award is the highest award you can work towards in guiding.
It gives you the chance to develop your skills, give back to guiding and support your
local community. It’s open to members aged 16 to 30 and must be completed within 3 years from the start date or before your 31st birthday, whichever is sooner.
Why should I get involved?
The Queen’s Guide award isn’t just a great achievement to share with other members of Girlguiding. It also shows potential employers and further education organisations you’ve challenged yourself and achieved goals in lots of different ways.
The programme can also be matched with activities you are already doing in guiding, meaning you can get more than one award for the challenges you are taking on – such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s award (DofE), Lead Away permit and going away with license.
Duke of Edinburgh Award
Learn new skills and have fun adventures by completing your Bronze, Silver or Gold award with Girlguiding.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) is a voluntary, non-competitive programme of activities. It’s open to girls and young women aged 14 to 24 or aged 13 and in the school year they turn 14.
Girlguiding has joined forces with DofE so you can complete this fantastic challenge as part of your guiding experience.
DofE fits in closely with many of the other awards and qualifications available to you through guiding, in particular the Queen’s Guide award. There are 3 levels of the award – Bronze, Silver and Gold.
For each level you need to undertake 4 sections:
- Volunteering
- Physical
- Skills-development.
- An expedition.
For the Gold level you’ll also need to take part in a residential event.
The DofE programme operates in over 100 countries and is recognised by potential employers and universities as a mark of real personal development and achievement. The programme is balanced and develops you as a whole person – mind, body and soul – in an environment of social interaction and teamwork.
Activities within the DofE programme can also be matched with those you are already doing in guiding so you can get more than one award for the challenges that you complete.
DofE has 3 levels.
- Bronze – for those aged 14 and over, or aged 13 and in the school year they turn 14. It takes at least six months to complete.
- Silver – for those aged 15 and over, or aged 14 and in the school year they turn 15. It takes at least 12 months for direct entrants (those without Bronze Awards).
- Gold – for those aged 16 and over. It takes at least 18 months for direct entrants (those without Silver Awards).
You can decide which levels you complete and in what order, as long as you meet the minimum age requirement.
For more information visit the Girlguiding website or there is a great deal more on the Duke of Edinburgh website
For help and support contact the Lead Volunteer for DofE in Northamptonshire dofe@girlguidingnorthamptonshire.org.uk
Thanks badge
- The Thanks Badge can be either a brooch or lapel pin given to members and non-members of Girlguiding as a sign of appreciation for their support.
- Any member of Girlguiding may present a Thanks Badge after discussion with a Leader or Commissioner.
The Thanks Badge may only be given to a member of the Trefoil Guild if they have given service specifically to Girlguiding.
Good service brooch
This brooch may be given to an adult member of Girlguiding or a Branch Association for excellent service to guiding. It can be awarded by:
- the Chief Guide, for service to Girlguiding or a Branch Association
- a Chief Commissioner, for service in a Country/Region (including British Guides in Foreign Countries)
- a County Commissioner, for service in the County
- the Commissioner for a Branch Association, for service in a Branch Association.
To be eligible for a Good Service brooch the nominee must fulfill one of these criteria:
- hold a current member and recognised volunteer card
- have completed a role no more than six months before the application is made.
The Good Service brooch is silver metal with blue and green enamel. It is accompanied by a certificate.
Long service awards
Any adult member who volunteers regularly, irrespective of role, gender or age, is eligible for a Long Service Award. Service is counted from the date someone becomes a member, aged 16 or over, and actively carries out a role for 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 or 60 years. Years of service don’t have to be consecutive.
The Long Service award brooches are all of similar design with different finishes and metals signifying the number of years. All the brooches are accompanied by a certificate:
- 5-year certificate is signed by the County Commissioner
- 10 and 20-year certificates are signed by the Country or Region Chief Commissioner
- 30, 40,50 and 60 year certificates are signed by the Chief Guide.
Brooches may be worn on the badge tab or on non-guiding clothing.
It is the responsibility of the County Commissioner to establish when active members in her County are due to receive.
Members can also be nominated for the following discretionary awards:
The Guiding Star
The Guiding Star rewards bravery and determination in challenging situations
An award for any member of Girlguiding, up to her 26th birthday, who has displayed exceptional courage or who has shown great initiative or responsibility during an incident.
What are the award criteria?
The Guiding Star Award may be given for:
- saving or helping to save a life
- bravery and competence in facing an emergency situation
- caring for a sick relative
- showing courage and determination in guiding in the face of a serious or long-term medical condition
- coping with exceptional circumstances in life.
If the award application is based on an incident or emergency situation, this must have occurred within the last six months.
More about the Guiding Star Award >
The Laurel Award
The Laurel award celebrates exceptional service. An award for active adult members of Girlguiding or one of the Branch Associations.
What are the award criteria?
- Guiding experience – the member should have held a number and variety of roles within their District/Division/County or beyond. Within these roles the member should have demonstrated outstanding leadership skills and have been an effective team member.
- Impact – the member should have made a significant contribution to supporting and developing guiding for both girls and adults.
- Personal attributes – the member should be a person who is respected by their guiding peers, ‘stands out’ and has made a significant difference to guiding.
The Silver Fish
The Silver Fish award recognises what a member has achieved across the breadth of Girlguiding.
The award is for an exceptional contribution to a wide section of Girlguiding, including international guiding either in the United Kingdom or abroad. This award may be given to an active adult member of Girlguiding or one of the Branch Associations.
Only a small number of these awards are granted.
What are the award criteria?
The application should reflect the nominee’s outstanding service, which must be of an exceptionally high standard.
- Guiding experience – the member should have held a range of roles in guiding at District/Division/County levels and beyond. Within this range of roles the member should have demonstrated excellent leadership skills and made significant contributions as a team member.
- Impact – the member should have made a significant contribution to supporting, motivating, nurturing and developing guiding for both girls and adults. This should be over a range of roles, both locally and internationally.
- Personal attributes – the member should be outstanding and an exceptionally high achiever who is always ready to take on a challenge – someone who makes things happen, and who inspires and motivates people.
- International – it’s not essential for the member to have travelled abroad. However, their work should demonstrate a major contribution to guiding in other countries, resulting in the strengthening of guiding relationships between countries.
