We meet for one hour each week during term time. We usually take part in four or five short activities on a particular theme. We might make things, have a go at puzzles, try new foods, cook, sing songs, play games, or listen to stories. Sometimes, people from the community will come in and talk to us, and other times, we will go out on visits and join in with local events.

The views and opinions of our girls are very important, and the activities are decided by the Rainbows themselves. They are all, however, based on a common theme –

The Rainbows' programme is called the Rainbow Jigsaw to reflect how the varied Rainbow activities link to create a larger balanced picture.

Rainbows Look

This area allows Rainbows to begin to understand that they are part of a wider world.

Rainbows Look includes activities that explore their environment and communities. Rainbows are encouraged to get out and about to discover the world about them and different communities, both local and further afield.

Rainbows Learn

Rainbows learn all the time, both in guiding and in their daily lives. A Rainbow learns in many ways, such as:

• visiting people and places
• having visitors at unit meetings
• being creative through a range of activities
• using technology to communicate
• enjoying activities with other members of their guiding family
• playing games

A Rainbow learns by doing activities at her meetings. Being a Rainbow should be fun and not at all like school.

Rainbows Laugh

This area of the Rainbow Jigsaw encourages games, songs, parties, celebrations, making a mess and enjoying life.

Rainbows Laugh also has a learning strand, as each Rainbow develops important skills while she:

• form new friendships
• makes her own choices
• participates in small groupss
• has fun

Rainbows Love

This area is at the heart of the Rainbow Jigsaw. A girl is beginning to understand the concept of ‘love’ when she joins Rainbows through her experiences of caring and sharing with family and friends, and being kind to others. Rainbows Love promotes the ethos of Girlguiding and the Promise. It begins to develop the idea of the commitment to a common standard that is a vital part of belonging to the guiding family. Each Rainbow can develop her understanding of caring through activities, games and the arts, and can explore the concept of spirituality in a wider context.

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Celebrations

When a Rainbow has been with us for a few weeks, she may make her Promise and we will have a party to celebrate. When a Rainbow leaves us to move on to Brownies, we will have a Pot of Gold party to say farewell.

Badges

Rainbows also work towards badges, which can be sewn on to their uniform. When a Rainbow makes her Promise she is given a Promise badge to pin on her tabard. When a Rainbow leaves to go to Brownies she is given a special pot of gold badge.

Rainbows also work towards badges called Rainbow Roundabouts and WAGGGS badges.

To see our programme for the term in full, please see our diary of activities.

What Do We Promise

The Rainbow Promise is:

I promise that I will do my best to love my God and to be kind and helpful.

What Do We Wear

We all wear a red rainbow tabbard and rainbow cap. (Badges are sewn on to the tabbard, and it also keeps our clothes clean!) Girls can wear the whole kit if they wish and many do and enjoy wearing it. Uniform can be purchased from ourselves, from Girlguiding UK via the website or from shops like Dexters in Prudhoe, who are a registered Girlguiding outlet.