Another day means another team member! Today we're introducing you to our amazing First Aider Sarah!
Name?
Sarah Dale
Where are you from?
Morecambe, which is a small seaside town in Lancashire, North West England.
What do you do in Guiding?
I am an Assistant Leader with 1st Heysham Guides and 1st Slyne-with-Hest Guides. I am also the Senior Section Advisor for Morecambe Division and I am currently involved in helping to grow Guiding in Lancashire North West.
What's your favourite Guiding memory?
This is a very difficult question, because I am very grateful for so many brilliant opportunities which I have experienced with Guiding since the age of seven when I joined my local Brownie unit. I always looked forward to every weekly session, and I went on a couple of Brownie pack holidays and day trips, such as to the Lake District, Lancaster and Blackpool, which were a lot of fun. Eating cheese sandwiches by Lake Windermere which had melted in the heat was certainly memorable. When I went to my first Guide session, it was thrilling to make little oil lamps in a clean baked bean tin and we lit them outside to toast marshmallows, which sparked a passion for outdoor cooking and camping. Toasting marshmallows on homemade fires on the beach at Half Moon Bay and watching the sun set is one of my favourite Guiding experiences, as well as taking part in camps to Silverdale, Waddow Hall and Sheffield. As a Young Leader and Ranger, I began to appreciate more fully the hard work which leaders put in to provide a wide variety of fun and unusual activities, and my self-confidence significantly increased. As an Assistant Leader it has been fantastic to see girls and women become comfortable in their own skin and take pleasure in trying new things, especially at the first Guide camp which I have recently organised. It was also wonderful to represent the UK at this year's Helen Storrow Seminar at Our Chalet in Switzerland and become good friends with women from different Guide and Scout organisations from across the world. I thoroughly enjoyed discussing ways in which we can actively tackle environmental issues in our local communities, and it was brilliant to share our cultures and languages with each other. It was a real pleasure to meet some of my 10 million Guiding sisters at this amazing event, especially as we instantly became friends due to our shared passions for Guiding and the environment.
Hardest thing you've ever done?
Public speaking has always been a big challenge for me, because I often feel extremely nervous when I stand up in front of a group of people. However my studies at university and my year abroad in particular required me to frequently give presentations and communicate with a large group of people on a regular basis, so I am very grateful for the support of my family, friends, peers, Guide leaders, colleagues and tutors in helping me to learn how to speak comfortably in front of others.
Fun fact that not many people know?
My voice has been recorded for GCSE-level English exams in Germany, which was a nerve-wracking and interesting experience.
Favourite thing that begins with G?
Generosity. I believe that kindness is the most important tool in life, because it can help individuals to be open, respectful citizens in a global community. I am very grateful for the generous support of others throughout my life and I strive to be there for others in order to help nurture self-respect and confidence in one's own abilities.
What are you most excited for on project?
I'm especially looking forward to immersing myself in the Ghanaian culture and to gaining a great insight into the structure of The Ghana Girl Guide Association. This will be my first trip outside of Europe, so I am very excited to be travelling to Ghana. I am also thrilled to be working with such a wonderful and inspiring bunch of women from across the UK. It has been fantastic to see our project take shape over the last few months and I can't wait to put our ideas into action!
GOLD Love
XOXO
