In South Yorkshire the Queen’s Guide Award coordinator is Nicola Wrazen. If you would like more information about the Queen’s Guide Award or are interested in starting the award please contact Nicola at queensguide@girlguidingsouthyorkshire.org.uk to get started.
The Queen’s Guide Award is the highest award you can earn in Girlguiding. It is a great achievement to complete the award and it is sometimes also recognised in areas outside of guiding such as by universities and potential employers. The award is designed to challenge you and requires a lot of planning and commitment. The Queen’s Guide Award is open to members between the ages of 16 and 30 and must be completed within 3 years of the start date or before your 31st Birthday if this is within 3 years. You also need to have made your promise – if you haven’t done so already – before your 2nd year of working towards the award in order to finish it.
The Queen’s Guide award is split into five different sections:
- Personal development challenge: Develop a skill in or outside of Girlguiding
- Guiding challenge: Take an active part in guiding at different levels
- Community action challenge: This is your chance to increase your knowledge of an important issue
- Lead the way challenge: Take on a leadership role in an outdoor environment
- Social experience challenge: Challenge yourself in a new setting
If you’re working towards your Gold DofE you could do one residential to count towards both awards – you just need to make sure it’s long enough. Before you decide to count something for both awards, you’ll need to make sure your DofE leader and Queen’s Guide award coordinator are happy with your plans. And check to see if an activity you’re doing for one award might count towards a section of the other.
The syllabus for the Queen’s Guide Award can be found on the Girlguiding website here
At the start of the award you will be required to produce a plan with a mentor of your choosing (this can be anyone who you know through guiding and can support and advise you throughout working on the award) and send this to the Queens Guide Award coordinator in South Yorkshire to be approved. Any changes to your plan as you go along must also be shared with your mentor and Queen’s Guide Award coordinator. Each element of the award is signed off by a chosen assessor in the Queen’s Guide Award record book.
On completing the award your record book will be sent to Girlguiding HQ for the chief guide to sign. You may then arrange to be presented with your award locally and celebrate the award with those who have supported you. You will also then receive an invitation to attend a national celebration/presentation to mark the achievement.