DUNSTABLE’S last remaining Catholic Girl Guides unit faces closure after 30 years unless departing leader Vickie Gibbons can find someone to replace her.
Vickie is taking time out to look after her family as she and husband Chris, of Cookfield Close, Dunstable, celebrated the birth of daughter Georgia in July and are expecting another child in November.
17th Dunstable Guides (St Mary’s) will have to shut down in July, leaving 20 girls between the ages of 10 and 14 without a troop if no one is found to take over.
Vickie, 27, told the Gazette: “It would be such a shame for it to have to close.
“Having kids of your own is a full-time job. I just can’t do it any more.”
Ideally, the replacement will have the necessary qualifications to lead a Girl Guides unit, and be CRB checked.
“It takes between six months and a year to earn a warrant, but if someone came along and was serious about it that didn’t have a warrant, I’d be happy to work alongside them as a warranted Guider while they train.
“There might be someone out there who is looking to come back after doing what I’m doing now ten years ago or so.”
Vickie is proud of the whole Guides movement and believes it to be an important part of many girls’ lives.
She said: “The Guides is the largest female-only organisation in the UK. Just like boys should be able to be boys, girls should be able to be girls – I think that’s really nice.”
Vickie’s unit meets every Thursday at Marian Hall behind St Mary’s Church car park in West Street, Dunstable, 7.30-9pm.
If you are interested in the post, contact Vickie by email at victoria.gibbons@hotmail.co.uk or call 01582 662384.