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 ormale) 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 up to their 65th birthday, 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 or the Commissioner for BGIFC, for service
in a Country, Region or 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.
However, it is possible that in a very limited number of cases,
it is service post age 65 that completes a pattern of contribution
to guiding that would lead to consideration for an award.
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 and in particular those who carry out
specific roles. Any 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
and actively carries out a role for five, ten, 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 five-year
certificate is signed by the County Commissioner, the ten- 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.
Long service certificates for recognised volunteers
Long service certificates are available for guiding supporters
who are not necessarily members – Unit Helpers, Secretaries,
Treasurers, Advisers and so on. There are certificates for five,
ten, 20, 30, 40 and 50 years of service. They are signed and
awarded by the Unit Leader or a Commissioner.
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 up to their 65th
birthday, who is a member of Girlguiding UK or one of the Branch
Associations, in recognition of outstanding service to guiding.
However, it is possible that in a very limited number of cases,
it is service post age 65 that completes a pattern of contribution
to guiding that would lead to consideration for an award.
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 (up to their 65th
birthday) who is a member of Girlguiding UK or one of the Branch
Associations.
However, it is possible that in a very limited number of cases,
it is service post age 65 that completes a pattern of contribution
to guiding that would lead to consideration for an award.
A member nominated for the Laurel Award or Silver Fish award
must:
- hold a member and recognised volunteer card
or
- have held one within six months of the nomination form being
received at the Country and Region offices, or by the Commissioner
for BGIFC or the Adviser for Branch Associations.
National Honours
All nominations for a National Honour (eg CBE, OBE or MBE) for
or including services to guiding should be made through the
relevant Chief Commissioner at her Country or Region Office. The
Chief Commissioner should then forward the nomination to the Chief
Guide at CHQ.
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