SENIOR BRANCH
SENIOR BRANCH
Ways to Belong to Senior Branch
Many people think you can only be a member of Senior Branch (a Senior Brancher) if you have been in Guiding since you were small. That’s not true! You can jump in and get involved at any age. There’s a way for everyone who wants to belong to take part – even if you’re busy with lots of activities.
- You can join a Senior Branch Unit that meets regularly
- You can focus on one aspect of Girl Guiding – outdoors or global development for example and then take time off for other activities in your life
- You can customise your experience so that you can focus on going to events and travelling – and there are plenty of places to go
- You can also join to help with the younger Branches and get special acknowledgement for that work
- You can join to complete your Bronze, Silver or Gold Gaisce – The President’s Award
- You can become a Leader with a Ladybird, Brownie or Guide Unit
Guiding is here to be exactly what you want it to be and it’s an experience that is all about what you want to make it. Our programme allows you to be who you want to be, try new activities, and take up new challenges.
“I promise on my honour to do my best,
to do my duty to my God* and my country,
to help other people at all times
and to obey the Guide Law.”
*The word “God” can be replaced by the word “faith” according to one’s spiritual beliefs.
“My special responsibility as a member of Senior Branch is to take this Promise into the wider world by rendering service and growing in the skills and responsibilities of Leadership.”
“Be Prepared” (BP are also the initials of our founder, Lord Robert Baden Powell)
Senior Branch members use the same Law as Guides.
- A Guide is honest and reliable.
- A Guide is loyal.
- A Guide is useful and helps others.
- A Guide is a friend to all and a sister to every other Guide.
- A Guide is polite and considerate.
- A Guide cares for all living things and their environment.
- A Guide is responsible and respects authority.
- A Guide has courage and is cheerful in all difficulties.
- A Guide makes good use of time, talent and materials.
- A Guide respects herself in all she thinks, says and does.
Senior Branch may use the left handshake, in common with all members of the Guide and Scout movements worldwide.
Senior Branch Uniform Options
Pink Senior Branch neckerchief with a white IGG ribbon edge and a black woggle.
Navy fitted v-necked t-shirt with a green stripe and a green logo.
Navy hoodie with a green logo and green inner hood lining. For formal occasions, there is the option of wearing a bottle-green shirt with pink logo instead of the navy hoodie.
Plain navy trousers/skirt or denim jeans (for safety reasons denims are not allowed when hiking).
- The Trefoil/Promise Pin should be worn on the Senior Branch neckerchief by all enrolled members.
- Senior Branch members may wear pin badges on the official Badge Tab (but not button badges) which should be worn the right side of the inner/outer top, in line with the logo. A maximum of four badges only may be worn on the badge tab. For details please refer to the Leaders’ section.
- Senior Branch members may also use the same bag as Guides for their badges.
As a Member of Senior Branch
As a member of Senior Branch in IGG, you will embark on a journey that will help you grow in independence, develop your organisational skills, try new activities and become the person you want to be. You will be in charge of your destiny with us, you choose your path and you make what you want happen.
Senior Branch Units begin each term with a planning meeting when Leaders are present, activities and other meetings are planned for the term. The arrangements for the rest of the term are then decided – the plan for how often the Unit will meet, where you will have your meetings, what activities you are going to take part in, and whose responsibility it is to organise particular elements.
The Parents’ Information Leaflet has been prepared by Senior Branch Committee to help explain how Senior Branch operates and is primarily for the parents of members under 18 years.
The initial stage of the programme when a girl joins Senior Branch is that she prepares to make her Promise. She examines her Promise and Law from her point of view and her extra responsibility as a member of Senior Branch. She shows commitment to her Unit by attending four meetings and understands how Senior Branch works in her Area. She knows what the Senior Branch uniform is and how to wear it correctly. Once she has completed these tasks and others she is enrolled as a member of Senior Branch and will receive her first badge – her Promise Pin.
Once they have completed the initial two stages (Becoming a Senior Branch member and Now You’re a Senior Branch member) they are free to choose from three different pathways as they continue their Guiding journey.
Pathway A Overall Awards – these Awards allow our members to work towards their Bronze Star, Silver Moon and Golden Sun. These incorporate the Bronze, Silver and Gold Gaisce Awards and Senior Branch members can be credited with work completed once registered online with Gaisce – The President’s Award.
Pathway B Specialised Area Pins – members can choose to earn these pins in six Adventure areas. These Adventures are: Community, Lifeskills, Change, Outdoors, Global Awareness and Guiding.
Pathway C Interest Badges – members of Senior Branch have the opportunity to earn their “I am a Badge Diva” badges by completing Interest Badges from the three other Branches – Ladybirds, Brownies and Guides.
Senior Branch also encourages members to develop their leadership skills by becoming part of the Leadership Team in Ladybird, Brownie or Guide Units. Senior Branch provides great opportunities for national and international travel, networking, fun and friendship while further developing leadership skills, critical thinking, global awareness, self-confidence, self-reliance and independence.
Senior Branch members are treated with more independence than younger Branches.