Thanks and recognition (including
National Awards)
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This information supports Girlguiding UK's Membership
and Recruitment Policy. Please read it together with the
Policy.
Girlguiding UK has a number of awards which may be presented to
its members and recognised volunteers in recognition of any one of
the following:
- gallantry
- meritorious conduct
- outstanding and excellent service
- long service.
Thanks badge
The Thanks badge (either a brooch or a lapel pin) is usually
given to a person (female or male) who is not a member of
Girlguiding UK as a sign of appreciation for their support, either
over a number of years or during a special event or activity.
Any member of Girlguiding UK may present a Thanks badge after
discussion with her Leader or Commissioner. A Thanks badge does not
confer membership of the Association on the recipient.
In special circumstances a Thanks badge may be given to a member
of the Association.
Good Service
brooch
The Good Service brooch may be given to an adult, who is a
member of Girlguiding UK or a Branch Association, for excellent
service to guiding, by:
- the Chief Guide, for service to Girlguiding UK or a Branch
Association
- a Chief Commissioner, for service in a Country/Region
(including BGIFC)
- a County Commissioner, for service in the County
- the Commissioner for a Branch Association, for service in a
Branch Association.
To be eligible for a Good Service brooch the nominee
must either:
- hold a current member and recognised volunteer card,
or
- have completed a role no more than six months before the
application is made.
The Good Service brooch is silver metal with blue and green
enamel. It is accompanied by a certificate.
Long Service
awards
Girlguiding UK wishes to recognise everyone's contribution
to guiding. Any adult member, irrespective of role, gender or age,
is eligible for a Long Service Award. Service will be counted
from the date the individual becomes a member, aged 16 or
over, and actively carries out a role for 5,
10, 20, 30, 40 or 50 years (not necessarily consecutively).
The Long Service award brooches are all of similar design with
different finishes and metals signifying the years. All the
brooches are accompanied by a certificate. The 5-year certificate
is signed by the County Commissioner, the 10- and 20-year
certificates are signed by the Country or Region Chief Commissioner
and the 30-, 40- and 50-year certificates are signed by the Chief
Guide.
The brooches may be worn on the badge tab or on non-guiding
clothing.
It is the responsibility of the County Commissioner to establish
when active members in her County are due to receive their awards
and to ensure that the awards are presented at an appropriate time
and in an appropriate manner.
If there is any query about length of service, the decision of
the County Commissioner is final.
Discretionary
awards
Nominations for the following awards must be made without the
knowledge of the nominee or her relatives and on the appropriate
form (available from the Country or Region Office), for the
agreement of the Country or Region Awards Committee. Completed
nomination forms must be submitted to the relevant Country or
Region Office, the Commissioner for British Guides in Foreign
Countries (BGIFC) or the Adviser for Branch Associations for
endorsement prior to submission to the Association's Awards
Committee.
The Association's Awards Committee gives careful consideration
to all applications and submits those it recommends to the
Executive Committee for approval.
Gallantry: The Silver
Cross
This award may be given to any uniformed
member of Girlguiding UK in recognition of acts such as heroism
that may, but need not, have involved risk to life. The Silver
Cross has a red ribbon.
A nomination for a gallantry award must be received at the
Country or Region Office, or by the Commissioner for BGIFC or the
Adviser for Branch Associations, within six months of the incident
concerned having taken place.
Meritorious Conduct: The Star
of Merit
This award may be given to any member of
Girlguiding UK aged between her fifth and her 26th birthdays who
has displayed great courage or fortitude. It may also be given to
any member in the same age group who, without risk to her own life,
has shown great initiative or responsibility at an incident. The
Star of Merit is a gold-edged blue star medallion with a gold-edged
navy-blue ribbon.
A nomination for a Star of Merit award for meritorious conduct
at an incident must be received at the Country or Region Office, or
by the Commissioner for BGIFC or the Adviser for Branch
Associations, within six months of the incident concerned having
taken place. There is no time limit in respect of a nomination for
great courage or fortitude.
Outstanding service: The
Laurel Award and the Silver Fish
The Laurel Award may be given to an
adult, who is a member of Girlguiding UK or one of the Branch
Associations, in recognition of outstanding service to guiding.
The Silver Fish is Girlguiding UK's highest award. It is awarded
for outstanding service to Girlguiding UK, in more than one
capacity, and a contribution to the international aspect of
Guiding.
The Silver Fish may be awarded to an adult who is a member of
Girlguiding UK or one of the Branch Associations.
A member nominated for the Laurel Award or Silver Fish
award must:
- hold a current member and recognised volunteer card,
or
- have completed a role no more than six months before the
application is made.
National Honours
National Honours (including CBE, OBE and MBE) are awarded in
recognition of exceptional merit and service to the nation.
Nominations for National Honours can be made for, or include,
outstanding services to guiding.
More information on National Honours and honours nomination
forms.
This website also includes supporting information, such as
advice on writing citations for nominations.
Page last updated:
2/15/2012