Guiding is already an essential part of many Bedfordshire communities today. However, we believe we need to reach out continually into all communities in our area to:

• Tell people what we are up to and to change any outdated views they may have about the relevance of Guiding for young people today
• Make sure every girl or woman who wants to can join the Guide Association
• Ensure that Guiding is for everyone

This is particularly important given the diversity of cultures in some areas in which we work. It is essential that real equality of opportunity is fully reflected in the work we do at a local level and in how we ensure that our Guiding programme appeals to all.

Our members this year have been active in taking Guiding out into the community.

Activities included:

• Displays about local Guiding by Sandy East District in Sandy and Potton libraries, a leaflet drop to all Potton households and an open evening in a middle school to tell people about what Guiding has to offer
• A Guiding display by 1st Brickhill Rainbows at Putnoe library
• Handing out Guiding postcards by Stopsley North District in Stopsley Village
• A talk to a school assembly in Linslade District to tell girls of Brownie and Rainbow age about the exciting opportunities Guiding has to offer

At a county-wide level, in July we created the new post of Membership Development Advisor to co-ordinate our work within the community. Over the next two years, we hope to implement a strategy across Bedfordshire to:

• Publicise Guiding more widely
• Recruit new members
• Take Guiding to new communities

Bedfordshire was also involved in the Guide Association's national Reach Out and Recruit Initiative which ran over September and October. This offered opportunities to tap into national media coverage about Guiding.