Girlguides Rebrand Hostess Badge as Celebrations for Gender-Neutral Fun

A New Era for Girlguiding: Embracing Gender-Neutral and Inclusive Badges

Girlguiding has taken a significant step forward in modernizing its programs by rebranding the Hostess badge to "Celebrations." This change is part of a broader initiative to update the organization's offerings, making them more relevant to the realities of 21st-century life. The new badge aims to recognize young people who learn about and plan celebrations, fostering connections and creating happy memories.

The original Hostess badge was introduced in the 1960s and was traditionally awarded for simple tasks like inviting a friend over and making them a cup of tea. Over time, these activities evolved, with the badge being expanded in 2009 to include party planning. However, it was eventually removed in 2018. Now, the badge has been rebranded and reintroduced based on feedback from girls and volunteers, showing the demand for such an activity.

Expanding Opportunities for Girls

The rollout of 72 new emblems reflects a commitment to providing diverse and meaningful experiences for girls aged four to 18 across Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, and Rangers. These badges cover a wide range of topics, including wellness, personal development, learning, and adventure. Girls can now earn recognition for skills such as having a good night's sleep, critiquing food, discovering a new hobby, planning a holiday, and even mastering mechanics and entomology.

One of the key aspects of this initiative is the involvement of girls and volunteers in the design process. More than 20,000 girls and volunteers contributed their ideas, and over 4,000 badge design concepts were submitted. Additionally, 11,000 girls from 753 units across the UK tested the badges, ensuring that they meet the needs and interests of the community.

A Focus on Confidence and Community

The new badges also reflect a growing emphasis on issues such as climate action, confidence building, and engaging with interests and fandom groups. Different age groups can earn various badges, ranging from interest-based awards to skill-building challenges and unit meeting activities.

For example, the youngest members, Rainbows, can earn the "bee rescuer" badge by helping the environment or sharing their "guiding sparkle." Meanwhile, Guides can work toward a "thrift" badge by customizing, repurposing, and recycling objects. These activities encourage creativity, environmental awareness, and practical skills.

Support from Prominent Figures

Broadcaster and presenter Angellica Bell has joined as an ambassador to support the launch of the new badges. She expressed her enthusiasm for the initiative, emphasizing the importance of providing girls with opportunities to learn, grow, and have fun outside of school. Bell highlighted the need for girls to have their voices heard and to tackle challenges while enjoying themselves.

She praised Girlguiding for creating a safe and welcoming space for all girls, noting the organization’s efforts to address important issues such as online harm, sexism, and misogyny. Bell is committed to using her platform to advocate for equality and empower girls to achieve their goals.

Collaborative Development

The badge activities were developed in collaboration with Girlguiding’s youth panel, Amplify, which includes 30 girls aged 12 to 18. Partners such as The Royal Horticultural Society, the Children's Book Project, Bletchley Park, and the Wellbeing of Women charity also contributed to the design of specific badges.

Amanda Azeez, acting chief executive of Girlguiding, emphasized the significance of the new badges, stating that they were designed by girls, for girls. She noted the positive response from participants during the consultation process and expressed excitement about the impact these activities will have on girls' confidence and aspirations.

With this transformation, Girlguiding continues to evolve, ensuring that its programs remain relevant, inclusive, and empowering for the next generation of girls.