LATEST SCOTTISH NEWS
- Countdown to Playday
- Marketing Vacancy
- Girls Under Stress?
- Guides Join First Female Tall Ships Crew
- Gaelic Logo for Guides
- 2007 Annual Review Online
Countdown to Playday
Girlguiding Scotland is pleased to announce its support for Playday - the annual celebration of children's right to play.
This year it takes place on Wednesday, 6th August.
The campaign theme is Give us a go! promoting the benefits of encouraging children to manage their own risks whilst playing.
Now in its 21st year, the Playday campaign is co-ordinated by Play England, working in partnership with Play Wales, Play Scotland, PlayBoard Northern Ireland and a national steering group.
To find out more about how you can get involved on the 6th August and throughout the summer, visit the Playday website.
21st July 2008
Marketing Vacancy
A fantastic opportunity has arisen for someone interested in a career in marketing and communications to join the Marketing & Communications department of Girlguiding Scotland as a part-time Marketing & Communications Assistant.
For the full Marketing & Communications Assistant job description click here
Closing Date: 23rd July 2008
Girls Under Stress?
New Girlguiding UK research shows pressures of premature sexualization, materialism and boredom are taking a toll on the mental health and emotional wellbeing of girls and young women. The report, A Generation Under Stress?, has been published today in partnership with the Mental Health Foundation.
The research was run among girls in guiding between ten and fourteen, through focus groups conducted by Opinion Leader and an online quantitative survey.
Girls of all ages explained that pressure to grow up before they felt ready was among the greatest influences on their mental wellbeing. Feeling compelled to wear clothes that make them look older, sexual advances from boys, and magazines and websites directly targeting young girls with messages they should lose weight, wear make-up and even consider plastic surgery were identified as particularly damaging. Two-fifths admitted to feeling worse about themselves after looking at pictures of models, popstars or actresses.
One participant explained: “When I was eleven I read a teenage magazine for the first time and that is when it kind of clicked, ‘I should be like this.’” Another said of a young girl shown in the research material “You can see that the way she is dressing she thinks she’s older than what she is. She’s destroying who she is.”
Many girls had direct experience of friends and people they know suffering mental health problems. Two-fifths know someone who has self-harmed, a third have a friend who has suffered from an eating disorder and almost two in five know someone who has experienced panic attacks. Indeed many girls felt strongly that self-harm was within the spectrum of typical teenage behaviour – provided it only occurred infrequently – and was not necessarily symptomatic of a mental health problem.
As one girl explained: “I think cutting your arm the first time you do it is ok – it might just be stress. When it happens more than two times I think you’re starting to get … mental health issues.” Another linked self-harm with being part of a particular social group: “One of my best mates, she was an emo, and me and Charlie stopped her because she kept cutting her wrist . . . She was doing it to fit in with the emos.”
Increased pressure to have money for the latest gadgets and clothes and was also identified as putting girls under particular pressure. Polling showed that such commercialism had caused over one-in-five girls to feel anger and sadness and a quarter to feel worried or bad about themselves. Girls felt that this growing check-list of “ideals” for young girls was giving bullies ever-more excuses to single them out – leading to stress, unhappiness and anxiety.
Girls also felt that negative feelings and behaviour that can get you into trouble – particularly aggression, anti-social behaviour and self-harm – were often prompted by boredom and having nothing to do. As one girl admitted: “If I get bored then I start becoming really aggressive.”
Other key influences on girls’ mental health emerged as bullying, family troubles, exam stress and anxiety about not living up to expectations. Three-quarters reported anxiety about testing and school work.
Facing these different pressures, many girls described struggling to manage a complex spectrum of feelings. A sixth of those surveyed often feel angry while half admit they find anger hard to manage. Around a quarter often worry (28%) and feel like no-one understands them (25%) while around half find both emotions hard to handle.
When asked what might help girls their age cope with difficult emotions, girls felt that stable and supportive families and friendship groups were vital to becoming resilient to mental health problems. Having someone to talk to who would not judge you – whether that be a mother, teacher, or other supportive adult – was seen to be critically important. The research also emphasised the importance of having a safe non-pressured environment where girls are kind to each other and have the opportunity to try out new things they might be good at.
Dinah Faulds, Scottish Chief Commissioner, said: “Young girls today face a new generation of pressures that leave too many suffering stress, anxiety and unhappiness. All of us who care about young women have a part to play in helping them find a way through these conflicting demands to build the confidence they need to be themselves.That is why Girlguiding continues to provide a safe space for girls –where no-one is trying to sell them anything or pressurize them to be someone they are not – and where they can form the friendships that we know are so important to their happiness.”
Dr Andrew McCulloch, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation continued: “Girls and young women are being forced to grow up at an unnatural pace in a society that we, as adults, have created and it’s damaging their emotional well being. We have a responsibility to put this right – we must tackle head on the difficulties that the younger generation are facing.”
A Generation Under Stress? is the third report in theGirls shout out! research series. Download a copy of A Generation Under Stress? by clicking here.
15th July 2008
Guides Join First Female Tall Ships Crew
Demonstrating what it means to be a girl in the lead, Girlguiding Scotland members, Malaika Rose and Fiona McCusker from Glasgow, and Laura Manson from Orkney will sail into history competing as part of the first all-female Class A Tall Ships’ crew.
The Tall Ships Race - an annual event - will see more than 70 vessels depart from Liverpool, the European Capital of Culture, on the 21st July and race across the North Sea to the port of Måløy in Norway. The Scottish Guides are part of a 40 strong crew from Girlguiding UK who will join eight professionals, also female, from the Jubilee Sailing Trust (JST) aboard the STS Lord Nelson. The voyage represents a new and unique partnership between Girlguiding and the JST.
The Lord Nelson was the first purpose built ship that enables a mixed ability crew to work alongside each other, regardless of whether they have a physical disability or little sailing experience.
Malaika is an Assistant Leader from Glasgow and is the only deaf member of the crew and is enthusiastic about their vessel, the Lord Nelson.
She said:“Sailing on the Lord Nelson completely changes one’s perspective on what a 'disabled' person can do. For example, a wheelchair user can go Aloft, a blind person can be at the Helm and someone with manual dexterity issues can ties knots. You don’t need to have any experience of sailing to go on one of these voyages, since you get all the training required on board.I’m looking forward to being part of an all-female crew, with whom I share the common bond, like many others, of being part of Girlguiding and showing that we do indeed have girl power!'
Dinah Faulds, Scottish Chief Commissioner, said: "Participating in the first all-female Tall Ships crew is a wonderful achievement for Fiona, Malaika and Laura. Girlguiding Scotland consistently broadens the horizons and experiences of our members. This trip is a fantastic example of the types of opportunities we create for members of all ages, from across Scotland. We wish the crew the best of luck and look forward to following their progress throughout the journey."
1st July 2008
Gaelic Logo for Guides
Girlguiding Scotland unveiled a new Gaelic logo and strapline at their annual event in Inverness earlier this month. It reinforced the organisation’s commitment to reach out to new areas and to make Guiding as accessible as possible.
Volunteer leaders from across the country gathered at the Eden Court Theatre to hear how the organisation is ‘Accessing All Areas’. Dinah Faulds, Scottish Chief Commissioner, provided an update on the many achievements throughout the year including: the opening of new units, the publication of research on equality, careers advice and self esteem, and the launch of new resources to engage as many people as possible, both young and old.
There were updates from a volunteer who had travelled to China, another who started a new unit for girls with additional needs and a third who explained how stereotypes had almost limited her career options. The latter explained how careers advisors tried to direct her towards a traditional ‘female’ career but support from Guiding meant she had the confidence and skills to pursue her dream and qualify as a plumber. Everyone also received a copy of the latest Annual Review.
The new logo and strapline were warmly welcomed. Although there are no plans to phase out the existing English language logo and strapline, units in areas with a high number of Gaelic speakers will use the Gaelic logo instead. Its introduction gives the organisation more flexibility. Units in the Highlands and Islands already have plans to use them on publications and at events.
June 2008
Annual Review 2007 Online
The
2007 Annual Review is now online.
07 Annual Review PDF in new window (requires Acrobat Reader)
07 Annual Review HTML in new window
June 2008