After almost 30 years of providing fun activities and adventures for young girls, the Woodbury Rainbows unit is one of several Girlguiding units in the local area, set to close because of a lack of volunteer leaders.

Girlguiding units have continued to meet via Zoom throughout the lockdown, providing a valuable creative and educational resource for girls in Exmouth, Budleigh and Woodbury, away from the pressures of school and giving them the opportunity to meet up with their friends over the web.

But the thriving Girlguiding membership lacks volunteers to help run the units, which is causing them to close down.

At both Woodbury Rainbows and Brownies there is a waiting list of girls for the unit but there is lack of volunteers to lead them.

As with other units, the young Woodbury Rainbows and Brownies want new volunteer leaders to help them continue their 'journey' in the Guiding movement.

Any girl between the age of five and seven can join Rainbows and learn new skills and try out new experiences through a programme of exciting activities, trips and adventures both in weekly unit meetings and at special events, all of which are currently held by zoom.

Volunteer Guide and Rainbow leader in Exmouth and Woodbury, Beth Noyes said: “Being a Rainbow leader has taught me so many new skills and it’s been a fantastic way to spend an hour each week.

"It’s great to see the girls learn and grow, through taking part in fun activities in a safe space and supportive environment where they can also make new friends.

"There is an amazing Girlguiding training programme, which empowers not just girls, but women as leaders, without which the Rainbows groups would not survive.”

Girlguiding offers volunteer leaders the chance to gain experience in a wide variety of activities, make friends and be part of steering the next generation towards a better future.

Anyone interested in finding out more about becoming a volunteer leader with Woodbury, Budleigh or Exmouth Rainbows, Brownies or GIrlguides should contact Exmouth Girlguiding by emailing exmdivcom@outlook.com