Awards for Leaders, Members & Supporters

UK National Awards

Silver Fish – For Outstanding Service to Guiding UK

The Silver Fish award recognises what a member has achieved across the breadth of Girlguiding
The award is for an exceptional contribution to a wide section of Girlguiding, including international guiding either in the United Kingdom or abroad. This award may be given to an active adult member of Girlguiding or one of the Branch Associations.
Only a small number of these awards are granted.

Award criteria
The application should reflect the nominee’s outstanding service, which must be of an exceptionally high standard.

Guiding experience – the member should have held a range of roles in guiding at District/Division/County levels and beyond. Within this range of roles, the member should have demonstrated excellent leadership skills and made significant contributions as a team member.
Impact – the member should have made a significant contribution to supporting, motivating, nurturing and developing guiding for both girls and adults. This should be over a range of roles, both locally and internationally.
Personal attributes – the member should be outstanding and an exceptionally high achiever who is always ready to take on a challenge – someone who makes things happen, and who inspires and motivates people.
International – it’s not essential for the member to have travelled abroad. However, their work should demonstrate a major contribution to guiding in other countries, resulting in the strengthening of guiding relationships between countries.

Applications are made to the Anglia awards committee via the Essex West Committee, if agreed are forwarded to UK Awards committee for consideration

To nominate a member for this award, please contact the Awards Chairman.

Laurel – For Outstanding Service to Guiding

The Laurel Award is a Girlguiding award given in recognition of outstanding service to guiding. It may be given to an active adult member of Girlguiding or one of the Branch Associations.

Award Criteria

Guiding experience – the member should have held a number and variety of roles within their District/Division/County or beyond. Within these roles, the member should have demonstrated outstanding leadership skills and have been an effective team member.
Impact – the member should have made a significant contribution to supporting and developing guiding for both girls and adults.
Personal attributes – the member should be a person who is respected by their guiding peers, ‘stands out’ and has made a significant difference to guiding.

Applications are made to the Anglia awards committee via the Essex West Committee, if agreed are forwarded to UK Awards committee for consideration

To nominate a member for this award, please contact the Awards Chairman.

Good Service Brooch

The Good Service brooch may be given to an adult who is a member of Girlguiding, for excellent service to guiding.

This award can be presented by the Chief Guide (for service to Girlguiding), a Country/Region Chief Commissioner (for service in a Country/Region) or a County Commissioner (for service in the County).

To be eligible for a Good Service brooch the nominee must either:

hold a current member and recognised volunteer card, or
have completed a role no more than six months before the application is made.

Any member may make an application by completing a nomination form which must be supported by the appropriate District or Division Commissioner. This is then considered by the Essex West awards committee.

Download a nomination form HERE

Thanks Badge

The Thanks badge (either a brooch or a lapel pin) is given to either a member or non-member of Girlguiding as a sign of appreciation for their support.

The Thanks Badge may only be given to a member of the Trefoil Guild if they have given service specifically to Girlguiding.

This award can be presented by any member of Girlguiding, after discussion with a Leader or Commissioner.

No nomination form is required, they are available to purchase from County Office.

Long Service Awards

Any adult member who volunteers regularly, irrespective of role, gender or age is eligible for a Long Service Award. Service is counted from the date the individual becomes a member aged 16 or over, and actively carries out a role for 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 or 60 years (not necessarily consecutively). A Recognised Volunteer Certificate can be presented to individuals who volunteer regularly in guiding but have chosen not to be a full adult member.

The Long Service award brooches are all of similar design with different finishes and metals signifying the years.

Any member who believes that they are overdue a Long Service Award should speak to their District Commissioner.

Anglia Brooch

This Girlguiding Anglia award is for exceptional quality of service given (not just length) and is for service within the Region, not to the Region.

(i) A member of Girlguiding Anglia, or
(ii) A member of The Trefoil Guild in Anglia Region, or
(iii) A non-member who by virtue of an appointment fulfils the criteria.

This award is made for:

(a) Commitment and level of service which has been over and above ‘the call of duty’ in respect of one or more appointment/event within or to guiding or the Trefoil Guild, or
(b) A notable display of mental or physical courage in pain or adversity
(c) A notable display of bravery
(d) A demonstration of initiative and devotion to duty (without risk to their own life)

A minimum of five supporting letters must be included with nominations.

To nominate a member for this award, please contact the Awards Chairman.

Essex West Awards

Essex West Silver Brooch – For outstanding service to Essex West

This award is made at the discretion of the County Commissioner for outstanding service to guiding in Essex West over a period of many years and normally in more than one capacity.

Download the nomination form Essex West Silver Brooch -Nomination-form

Essex West Outstanding Service Certificate

For outstanding service in Essex West

This award is made to any member at the discretion of the County Commissioner for outstanding service to guiding in Essex West.

Essex Good Guiding Award (EGG)

The ‘Essex Good Guiding’ award is designed to recognise those leaders who have consistently provided a Good Guiding programme for the girls in their unit over a period of time.

They will be seen to: