Top Girlguiding honour for Ballycarry leader

Maeve Connor, 22, joined colleagues at the House of Commons where she was given the award by Chief Guide Gill Slocombe and the No More Page 3 campaigner Lucy-Anne Holmes.

Maeve took three years to complete the Queen’s Guide Award, a personal collection of challenges which must be undertaken before reaching the age of 26.

The Ballycarry Rainbows and senior section leader selected volunteering, social action, developing new skills and travelling to a new place.

This included volunteering for the 22nd World Jamboree, an international Guides and Scouts event in Sweden, and becoming a leader in her senior section group, for girls aged 14 to 25.

Maeve, who is an accountant, said: “My advice to anyone doing a challenge like the Queen’s Guide Award is to enjoy it.

“Working as a team of 8,000 people, to help over 30,000 Guides and Scouts from over 200 countries enjoy the Jamboree was an experience I’ll never forget.”

As well as presenting awards, Lucy Anne Holmes gave a speech about the amazing dedication of the Queen’s Guides.

She said: “The No More Page 3 campaign received such strong support from Girlguiding, and working together was fantastic. When I started No More Page 3 it became immediately obvious that there are people out there who embody the positive change that they want to see in the world. And the Queen’s Guides are just that.

“These inspirational volunteers give up their time to work with young people and have taken on the challenge of a lifetime to get their Queen’s Guide Award. I want to say massive congratulations to all of them today.”

Gill Slocombe said: “I’m proud of these inspirational young women who have achieved the Queen’s Guide Award by setting themselves incredible challenges and giving up their valuable time. They are our next inspiring female role models who have proved they are a force for good.”

For more information about how to get involved with Girlguiding, visit www.girlguiding.org.uk