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Today, 10 July 2009

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Yesterday, 09 July 2009

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Managing money and how to practice safe sex are among the main topics British Girl Guides want more instruction in, according to a poll, The Times said in an early edition of its Wednesday paper.

The survey by Girlguiding UK was an attempt by the organisation, founded nearly 100 years ago, to remain relevant to young women in Britain, with a spokesperson for the group saying that the views of the more than 1000 guides queried would be factored in to future planning.

Most important skills

In the poll, Senior Guides — aged 14 to 26 — said that the most important skill they wanted to master was managing money, while "practising safe sex" was fourth. Assembling furniture, meanwhile, was eighth.

For Guides, who are aged 10 to 14, "cooking a healthy meal" topped the list, though "standing up to boys" was fourth.

The youngest Guides, known as Rainbows and Brownies, wanted to know how to cross the road and how to surf the internet safely.

A more modern world

"We prioritise giving girls the skills, experiences and opportunities they need to reach for new aspirations and succeed in the modern world," Liz Burnley, the chief Guide, told The Times.

"But these goalposts don't stand still, which is why we constantly ask our members what they think, so that we can continue to be truly relevant to tomorrow's young women."

Girl Guides were formed in 1910, three years after the Boy Scout movement was launched in Britain, and initially, members were awarded badges for milking cows and learning how to iron.

Though they still learn first aid and cooking on a camp fire, their topics of instruction have changed drastically since the early days.

The Girl Guides have about 500 000 members across the country, with a waiting list of 50 000, The Times said.

AFP