Cwrdd â'n Comisiynydd Sirol 

Outside of Guiding, I am a Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages in Swansea.  When I have free time, I enjoy live music and theatre, the occasional walk (I am mostly a fair-weather walker), eating out, cooking, and reading.

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I love being part of Girlguiding because making friends as an adult is hard and awkward but with Girlguiding, whether you go to trainings, meetings, residentials and events with other units you’re instantly in a room full of friends, old or new. Going on joint Pack Holidays with friends, climbing a mountain and having a small sip of bubbly to celebrate an 18th birthday/adult promise ceremony, county weekends and trips, or even a catch-up and a coffee when doing a DBS is part of the fun!

Being a volunteer means you’re a part of a wider community. Girlguiding is a worldwide organisation, and you will have something in common with people all over the world. 

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My mother started volunteering with Guiding when I was a Brownie ready to move up to Guides. It’s something we’ve shared ever since, and now we get to share it with my niece too, who is now a Guide (she even told me when she was a Rainbow that when I’m too old, that she will take over Brownies for me!)

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As a Guide, I was chosen to represent Girlguiding Cymru at a BGIFC (British Guides in Foreign Countries) International Camp in Scotland. As an adult volunteer I have participated in the Dublin Dash with my Division, visited Our Chalet in Switzerland as part of a County trip and a few years ago I even took on a Charity Challenge where I trekked through the Costa Rican Rainforest. A bucket list wish of mine is to see all of the World Centres, 2 down, 3 to go! There’s a reason one of our 6 Themes is Skills for My Future.

After my international camp as a Guide, I was asked to speak at our County AGM. When I finished my presentation, I remember throwing up as I was so nervous! I think I swore that I would never do public speaking again! Completing the Leadership Qualification and running my own unit, having to speak to parents, commissioners, and people of authority in the community, and then becoming a commissioner myself has helped my confidence grow, so much so that I now regularly stand in front of people conducting marriage ceremonies in front of 100s of people as part of my job.

Being a volunteer and running a unit can be challenging, but for me it’s mainly an escape from the seriousness of my job. Although we must be “Responsible Adults” we can also try new things by taking part in activities and challenges along with the girls, whether it’s bobbing apples, foam parties, face paints, paddle-boarding, ice-skating (although once round the rink is enough for me) and earning challenge badges with our units.