New well-being badge for girlguides

Abiee Harris, 19, joined 100 fellow girlguiding members, all aged 14 to 25, at the event to receive training on how to deliver the new badge to girls in Hampshire East.

Developed by girlguiding, with support from youth mental health experts Young Minds, Think Resilient uses interactive activities to help girls find positive ways of dealing with pressures and challenges in their lives.

The programme was created following requests from girls, and will be delivered by young women in a supportive peer environment.

As a member of girlguiding’s innovative peer education programme, Abiee will be able to deliver Think Resilient to girls and young women in Hampshire East.

Abiee said: ‘It was great to learn all about girlguiding’s new mental well-being badge, as this is such an important issue for girls and young women today.

‘I think it’s easier for girls to discuss issues like this with girls of their own age, and I’m looking forward to delivering this new programme in Hampshire East.’

The resource comes after the latest girlguiding research revealed the dire state of UK girls’ mental well-being. Girlguiding is committed to researching and responding to the key issues affecting girls today and Think Resilient is the latest addition to girlguiding’s award-winning Peer Education programme – following the body confidence resource Free Being Me.

The peer educators, of which Abiee is one, will run sessions for girls aged 7 to 25 in guiding groups, including brownies, guides and the senior section.

The sessions will help girls to understand what resilience means, introduce techniques for positive thinking, celebrate their strengths and achievements, and identify their support networks.

Sessions will be run in a fun and interactive way, with activities tailored to different age groups.

Activities include learning self-calming techniques and responding to agony aunt letters by breaking problems down into small, solvable steps.

Girlguiding’s Chief Guide, Gill Slocombe, said: ‘Girlguiding listens to girls and we’ve created this inspiring new resource as a direct response to what girls told us they need.’

For more information go to girlguiding.org.uk.