The Community Centre is home to two thriving Girl Guiding groups, 1 st Botley Brownies and 3rd West Oxford Guides. Both groups were amongst the earliest of the regular hirers and you might have seen (or heard…sorry about that) us out and about on a walk or treasure hunt, or manning a stall at a Community Centre event.

These are both busy groups with very enthusiastic girls aged 7 to 10 (Brownies) and 10-14 (Guides). Girls join the groups to make friends and have adventures (including sleepovers and camps), and along the way we hope they build their confidence, learn team work and leadership skills, challenge themselves and learn to give back to their communities. Activities can be putting on a show, outdoor cooking (or indoor cooking), crafts, games, trips, outdoor activities like abseiling or climbing, geocaching, dance sessions or anything else the girls can come up with.

Things are about to get even louder and more fun as we’re planning to add a Rainbow unit to start after October half term. Rainbows is for girls aged 5-7 and we’re really excited to be able to offer this at Dean Court. Rainbows Look, Laugh, Learn and Love, and they have just as much fun as their older sisters.

These groups rely entirely on volunteers and are in desperate need of more help for all three groups. Volunteers come forward for all sorts of reasons and can be any age from 14 up. Do you know

someone who’s looking to get more involved in the community, wants to meet similar people, wants to gain more experience with children, wants to complete their Duke of Edinburgh service component or wants to earn a free polo shirt and unlimited s’mores? We would love to hear from them.

For information about volunteering, or about any of the other 9 units in the district, email Catriona Allen on catriona_allen@hotmail.com

To enquire about a space at Guides (ages 10-14) email 3rdwestoxfordguides@gmail.com or for Brownies (ages 7-10) firstbotleybrownies@gmail.com or for the brand new Rainbow group (ages 5 -7) deancourtrainbows@gmail.com