Scots Urged to Think about Volunteering on World Thinking Day

On World Thinking Day later this month, Girlguiding Scotland is urging Scots to think about volunteering with the movement that has 70,000 members across the country.

Members of Girlguiding Scotland will be hosting special activities and events for World Thinking Day, 22nd February 2007, joining more than ten million girls and young women from around the world celebrating the diversity of Girlguiding. In Scotland, Girlguiding is also making a special plea to encourage more adults to become involved.

Thinking Day is the day when members of Girlguiding think of their counterparts across the globe and reflect on different cultures and traditions. Most units take the opportunity to learn more about Girlguiding in a different country. Girlguiding Scotland is marking this important date by hosting a national event 'Set Your Imagination Free', from February 16 to 18 at Netherurd House, West Linton. Girls and young women from across Scotland will gather to learn yoga, drumming, Cuban dancing and lots of other activities from different countries.

The event at Netherurd is one of many taking place across the UK. Here members will discover how the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts has enabled women and girls to develop leadership skills and self-esteem, make new friends, speak out on issues that affect them and their peers - and raise money so that Girlguiding can continue to empower girls and young women across the globe.

Liz Pitcairn, Scottish Chief Commissioner, commented:
"This is an exciting event at Netherurd which will help the girls and young women to try out activities which they may never have experienced before.

"Guiding spans more than 140 countries with over ten million members, and our World Thinking Day celebration will help the girls and young women to learn more about the cultures and traditions of our members not only here in the UK, but also worldwide.

"On this Thinking Day, we are also appealing to Scots to think about volunteering with Girlguiding Scotland. There are lots of different options available from working directly with the girls in units, to setting up IT systems and helping organise unit finances. As a volunteer you have the opportunity to use your talents, learn new skills, develop existing expertise and make new friends! Also to put something back by helping, encouraging and promoting young people today.

"Fifty per cent of women in Scotland were members of Girlguiding. They will remember the significance of Thinking Day and what better way to mark this event than to help girls and young women across the country gain the same opportunities they did? Committing only 12 hours per year would make a massive difference."