Young people in Heaton Chapel have been proving that you are never too young to make a difference, after a social action project brought together local Guides, Brownies, families and Stockport voluntary organisations.
1st Heaton Chapel Guides, led by Guide Leader and Marketing Stockport member Caroline Brown of Grassroots Recruitment, have been exploring Girlguiding’s Take Action theme, learning how young people can use their voices and ideas to create positive change in their community.
To help bring the theme to life, the unit invited Beth Nunn, founder of Heatons-based social enterprise Pursuing Individual Excellence (PiE), to deliver a workshop on social action and community impact. Beth led the Guides through a ‘social action sprint’, encouraging them to think about issues they cared about and how they could turn campaign ideas into practical action.
The Guides created three campaigns focused on mental wellbeing, spreading happiness and reducing fast fashion.
But the project did not stop at ideas. The girls put their campaigns into action by organising an outdoor activity challenge for local Brownies, creating bracelets and positivity postcards to spread kindness, and collecting pre-loved clothes for a swap-shop event that encouraged families to reuse clothing and think differently about sustainability.
As Caroline explains:
“The project brought together Guides and Brownies, giving the older girls the chance to lead younger members and build confidence, teamwork and community awareness. Parents, volunteers and group leaders gave fantastic feedback, praising the girls’ creativity, kindness and enthusiasm.”
The swap-shop event raised an impressive £145, which the Guides voted to donate to Dementia Disco, a Stockport organisation supporting people living with dementia, their families, friends and carers, through joyful disco events. Founder Kate Darby has also offered to visit the unit to run a mini ‘Dance Against Dementia’ session and talk to the girls about the difference their donation will make.
The project has created a powerful local link between three voluntary and community organisations with roots in the Heatons: 1st Heaton Chapel Guides, Pursuing Individual Excellence – PiE, and Dementia Disco.
Caroline, along with fellow leaders at 1st Heaton Chapel Guides, is justifiably proud of the impact the project has had both for the charity and for the Guides:
“What has been so special is seeing the girls realise that social action is not just about fundraising. It can be about listening, caring, raising awareness, changing habits, spreading kindness and bringing people together.
“Through this project, they have supported younger girls, involved families, connected with local voluntary organisations and chosen to help older residents and families affected by dementia. We are incredibly proud of what they have achieved.”
The Guides will now celebrate their work with families, leaders, volunteers and the organisations involved, sharing the campaigns they created and reflecting on the impact they have had.
The project is a heart-warming example of Stockport’s community spirit in action: local organisations connecting, young people leading the way, and generations coming together to make a positive difference.
