Auntie Bea is an experienced Guider who’ll try and give you an answer to any question, however trivial it may seem. Just email her at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and wait for her words of wisdom. Auntie Bea’s reply will only be posted on this site for others to read with your agreement. 

Go on, try her!

Here are some of Auntie Bea’s earlier problem-solving suggestions.

Dear Auntie Bea,

I don't have time to do too much paperwork, though I am happy to help at the weekly meetings...

Dear Busy Guider,

Please do not let this get you down and put you off going into uniform as a Guider, remember how much you enjoy working with those girls! I know that it may seem that there is a lot of paperwork at times but you do not have to do it yourself. Remember too that you are not on your own, even if you were the Unit Guider, you would not have to do everything yourself. You can always ask a parent or friend to do this for you, to relieve the pressure.

Remember too that your District Commissioner and District secretary may be willing to help. If it is gift aid that worries you, ask your District Treasurer for some support. The amount of paperwork that you do yourself is totally up to you.  In addition, we are on the verge of becoming an increasingly paperless organisation with the onset of ‘Project Streamline’ – you may have heard of this online system that will, when it is launched in the next couple of years or so, relieve us of some of the forms that we have at present. (link to Campaigns page for Streamline info) Don’t let paperwork make us lose you, we value your efforts and the Brownies really love you!

Auntie Bea

Dear Auntie Bea, 

I am not any good at reading and writing much, and I am worried I will fail because I haven't any papers to go with the Adult Leadership book...

Dear Worried Guider,

Please do not worry; you certainly will not fail because you have a problem with reading and writing. Have you chatted this through with your DC and your mentor? It is not the amount of evidence that you have, but the quality of it and it is possible to complete the Leadership Qualification without doing much reading and writing.

Your mentor should understand that you have a problem and be more than willing to spend time talking to you and then making noted in her book yourself. Your mentor signs off the book when she is happy that you have completed everything. It is the wonderful work that you are doing with the Rainbows that is important and there are people in your District who will be more than happy to help you with this. Can you ask the other adults in your unit to help too?

Auntie Bea 

Dear Auntie Bea,

I can only afford a babysitter for one night a week, sorry but I can’t do all these District meetings and outings and going to other units…

Dear Guider,

Please be assured that you are not expected to give more time to guiding every week than you are able. There are three Guiders and two unit helpers in your unit, including yourself, so hopefully you can ask one of these adults to go to the District meetings for you. But if this is not possible, talk to your DC who will support you by ensuring that you receive the information given out at the meetings promptly and also allow you the opportunity to give your views on matters to be discussed beforehand. She may be able to E-Mail you the agenda and any relevant notes in advance of the meeting, so that you are kept in the loop.

Your unit does not have to participate in lots of outings and activities other than those on a Monday night, but I am sure that it is possible with some support from the other adults in your unit team and the other Guiders, or even Trefoil Guild members in your District. There are several Guiders like yourself who cannot give a bigger commitment than their unit meeting and that is fine.

The Trefoil Guild in particular, loves being asked to help out in situations like yours. Please be assured that nobody will think any less of you. Have you thought of bringing your little one along to the meetings with you? Several Guiders have been known to do this in the past. If this is not possible at present, I am sure that it will get easier as he gets a bit older. Don’t let it stop you enjoying your Guiding!

Auntie Bea

Dear Auntie Bea,

I don't have a computer and if I did I wouldn’t know where to start on it! I suppose I could give that list of names and addresses to my friend in the shop to type in on the thing, though...

Dear Computerless Guider,

I am not surprised to hear that you are worried; the onset of ‘Project Streamline’ is going to make many Guiders feel the same as you do. . (link to Campaigns page for Streamline info) I could tell when it was discussed at the District meeting last week that several Guiders were concerned about it. That is why we are starting to make the preparations for it now, by appointing Key Users and getting the training team prepared to help everybody. There isn’t a Key User in your District yet, but it is still early days and I can assure you that you will not be left floundering when we become more reliant upon the use of a computer in Guiding.

Your friend in the shop…is she really good on the computer? Would she have the time to become a Key User? It would be great to get some more adult volunteers in the area and she would be ideal for you to work with as you see her regularly. At the moment, carry on the way that you are, enjoy your working with your unit and do not worry, leave that to your DC, that is what she is there for – to look after her Guiders!

Auntie Bea

Dear Auntie Bea

I don't get a chance even to suggest what we might do in the unit so the Guider in Charge will never let me do activities with the girls even if I worked out some...

Dear Frustrated,

It can be very hard when a Guider has been working on her own with just the help of unit/parent helpers who have not wanted to take any responsibility, like yours has, for the last five years to adapt and delegate some of the jobs in the unit, as it comes naturally to her to do everything after all of that time. Now that you have started the Leadership Qualification, you need to be able to prove that you can run activities for the girls, so she really must stand back a little. Have you talked about this with your DC? She could possibly pop into the unit meeting with some letters or information for the unit and then she will be able to observe the problem for herself and should be able to chat about it with your Guider. Is this just a delegation issue, or is it that actually you are not best placed in this unit?

If you and the Guider are not comfortable working with each other, it may be in everybody’s interests to introduce you to another unit. The other thing is that I know that your Guider is planning to go on holiday in December to visit her son in New Zealand. The unit should be able to continue running in her absence as you are there, so with help from your DC and/or other Guiders in the District, you could run the unit. This would give you increased confidence and a chance to try out your ideas without you feeling that the Guider is judging you. I am sure that your DC or supporting Guiders will be only too happy for you to take the lead in the unit, as you know the girls and the routines (every unit runs differently). Whilst doing this, you will also be able to complete many clauses of the leadership qualification, including the observation element too.

When the Guider is back in the New Year, she will certainly hear about how things went, from other Guiders, even if you do not feel able to tell her.  No doubt the Rainbows will also let things slip by asking to play a game that you organised for them…if it was something new, your Guider would have no choice but to let you run it…after all Guiding is girl-led, even at Rainbow age! Be strong, persevere and I am sure that you will not regret it. Adjustment takes a long while when meetings only happen once a week in term time!

Auntie Bea

Dear Auntie Bea,

This Promise thing: not sure I want to commit myself to something I don't understand…

Dear Confused,

The Promise is something that many Guiders worry about, even those who have been in Guiding since they were Rainbows! You need to be able to chat it through with an adult of your choice and consider each of the three parts separately. It isn’t complicated and is really only encouraging our members to be thoughtful, good citizens but I do appreciate that this isn’t obvious initially. Do you have an adult that you feel able to talk about the Promise with in your area? If you don’t, there is often Promise training sessions organised in the county. They are designed to help Guiders explain what it means to the members of their unit and I am sure that we could get you along to one of those. This would give you a chance to air and share any problems that you have and to listen to some more experienced adults in Guiding as they discuss their ideas about it.

Afterwards you would be able to make your own conclusions as to whether you want to make the commitment of becoming or Guider or whether you would be happier being a Unit Helper. If you do not feel that you want to discuss it in such a public arena as a training session, perhaps you could have a ‘Promise Evening’ in your unit…suggest it to the others in the unit team. The Guides will benefit from thinking about the Promise again and without them knowing it; they will be really helping you. Good Luck!

Auntie Bea

Dear Auntie Bea,

I have been working on this qualification for 18 months now and I have a load of bits and pieces but don't know what to do about it all and no one is helping me!

Dear Concerned,

How frustrating for you! I am sure that after 18 months you have more than completed the Leadership Qualification and that you want to get it out of the way. You should have received your book from a Guider who agreed to be your Mentor…this is obviously not working for you so you need some different help. I am sure that there are other Guiders in your District who will have completed the Leadership Qualification who would be able to help you to make sense of all of your bits of paper.

The other option of course, is to talk to your DC. She should be only too willing to help you to overcome this problem. If this fails, find out from the County Office, who the County Leadership Co-ordinator is and get in touch with her or another member of the Training Team if you know somebody who lives nearer to you. I know that they will be only too happy to help you to make sense of your evidence and will be delighted to sign off the modules for you. This can be sorted out quite easily I am sure when you have a meeting arranged. Let me know how you get on,

Auntie Bea

Dear Auntie Bea

I don't have any transport and can’t get anywhere I can’t walk to. There are no buses come round here...Trains? What are they? No, I don't cycle and haven't got a bike anyway. You’ll be asking me to go on a horse next!

Dear Stranded,

We are very lucky as members of Guiding, to be part of one large, very supportive family…you should still be able to enjoy all of the benefits that Guiding offers even though your transport options are limited. I am sure that it is possible for you to get a lift to unit meetings with either another adult who works in the unit or even a parent, all volunteers are valuable and we will do anything that we can to support you. At this time when we are all concerned about the size of our carbon footprint, we are actively encouraging car sharing anyway, so when it comes to activities and meetings away from the unit meeting place, I am sure that other Guiders will be only too pleased to have some company on their car journey.  I am sure that it will get to the stage where you do not even have to ask, which I know can be embarrassing, as the Guiders will appreciate the effort that you are making and will offer…possibly even insist, that you have a lift to places!

Auntie Bea

Dear Auntie Bea

I have this three week come from Russia country. I like help you and leetel girl in groups but I no read understand this speaking little. You help me, yes?

Dear Lidia,

It would be really nice if you could come along to Brownies, to help our 7-10 year old girls, as we are short of help. Can we meet tomorrow at McDonalds at 3pm to talk about it?

Auntie Bea

Dear Auntie Bea

I’m not standing in front of all that lot and taking a game! I’ll help you though – might take a few in a corner if they don't laugh at me...

Dear Worried,

You do not have to feel forced into doing something at Guides that you are uncomfortable about. It is very scary the first few times that you run activities for the unit, especially Guide aged girls, as they are not afraid to make their feelings and opinions known! I am sure that your Guider will be more than happy for you to work in a more supportive role and if you share your worries with her, I am sure that some Guides could be hand-picked who are easier for you to work with whilst you find your feet and increase in confidence. Don’t expect to do too much too soon at the unit meetings. Take your time to get to know the unit and learn the Guides names, do as much as you feel able and enjoy yourself! Don’t panic about what you think you cannot do and you will gradually grow in confidence by observing the Guides and learning from the other Guiders in the unit. Good Luck!

Auntie Bea

Dear Auntie Bea,

That woman in the District Meeting was staring at me and sniggering to her friend. I think she‘s anti-Muslim. I’m not going there again.

Dear Upset,

How awful for you to go along to your first District Meeting and come away feeling like this. I am sure that your DC would be furious if she knew that it had this impact on you. Guiding is an all-inclusive organisation and everybody should be welcomed, no matter what religion they are. Remember that it may be that you have totally the wrong impression about the lady concerned. You really do need to talk to your DC about your concerns. I am sure that she will be wanting to have a word with the lady concerned anyway as it seems that she and her friend were very rude throughout the meeting and not really taking an active role in it anyway.

Please do not let it put you off from taking an active role in Guiding, Your efforts are valued and appreciated.

Auntie Bea

Dear Auntie Bea

One of the Guides told me last night that she is cutting herself; I think she spoke to me about it because I am younger, being a Young Leader. She has now started chatting to me on MSN too. I don’t know what to do, but we need to help her…

Dear Young Leader,

Your poor thing having this to worry about! You have done exactly the right thing by talking about it with an adult. You certainly cannot deal with this on your own. You need to write down exactly what you remember about the conversation and what the Guide said to you, including what you said. Remember not to promise her anything and to not get persuaded to keep any secrets, especially when she is talking to you on MSN. You then need to talk to the Unit Guider who will have to get in touch with the girl’s parents. It may be that things are not as bad as they seem.

Remember not to worry too much,

Auntie  Bea

Dear Auntie Bea,

I do not get on with my Mentor and I dread our meetings, what should I do about it?

Dear Worried,

This is a problem for you, but certainly one that has been heard of several times before! You need to discuss matters with your DC who should be able to support you and help you to get to the bottom of the problem with your Mentor. You have not said what it is, but if discussing things, as a group cannot solve it, she will be able to help you to find a second Mentor. It may be that your Mentor is also unhappy with the way that things are going but she does not want to let you down. Remember that you have the right to be able to plan and manage your own progress through the Leadership Qualification and that your Mentor is there for you to discuss things with and to act as a facilitator for you, making the qualification as easy and stress free as possible to complete

Talk to your DC and I am sure that this can be resolved,

Auntie Bea