MEMBERS of Tavy Division Girlguiding were invited to the Mayor’s Parlour recently to be presented with long service awards.

Susannah Batten-Revely and Hannah Champs both received their awards for completing five years of service as girlguiding leaders. Susannah volunteers with 1st Tavistock Rainbows and Hannah with 4th Tavistock Brownies. During her time with the Rainbows, Susannah has achieved her residential qualification which allows her to take Rainbows away overnight.

Sue Davies received her 20-year long service award having completed many valuable roles within local girlguiding in that time, from Tawny Owl to guide hall treasurer and is currently responsible for completing DBS ID checks for new volunteers.

The awards were presented by former mayor Cllr Mandy Ewings, before the new mayor took over last week.

Cllr Ewings spoke about the importance of volunteering and service, how it benefited the town and the young girls who are its future citizens and also how personally rewarding it was.

Among the party were three young women new to volunteering with girlguiding in Tavy Division.

Rica Olver, Tavy Division commissioner, said: ‘It has been encouraging to welcome six new volunteers in the last six months and we look forward to using the skills that they bring as well as introducing them to the benefits and challenges that volunteering in local girlguiding can offer. However, we do still need volunteers to take on the running of units if we are to prevent Rainbow and Brownie units from closing in Tavistock.’

Rica acknowledged that the national Girlguiding UK online and social media initiative #FortheGirl, designed to raise awareness of girlguiding for 25 to 34-year-old women, undoubtedly helped channel these new volunteers to Tavistock girlguiding units.

Anyone interested in joining to help can visit the girlguiding UK website www.girlguiding.org.uk where they can find out about what is involved and register their interest.