Girlguiding UK Croydon clear up

Girlguiding Croydon yesterday joined Croydon Voluntary Action (CVA) along with members of other local youth organisations to help repair damage caused by the recent riots.

Guides and Senior Section girls painted the hoardings around the Old Croydon General Hospital site and engaged with the public to find out if they took part in volunteering.

Meg Passey, a local Brownie Leader, said, ‘It was great to see all the young people working together and giving something back to their community.’

They were also joined by HRH Prince Charles and The Duchess of Cornwall who spoke to some of the young people and admired how they had come together to demonstrate the advantages of a uniformed organisation.  The girls requested positive comments about Croydon and volunteering to be written on a ‘We Love Croydon’ mural and message board.  Cloud, aged 14, said, ‘I am glad I helped, if it was me who had been affected I would want people to help me. It’s nice for those people to know others think and care about them. Charles and Camilla attending was the icing on the cake'.

Over 100 young people and around 20 adult volunteers came forward from a range of organisations to help with the clear up.

Mystery donor saves Guides' camping gear - after Advertiser story

By lucy buckland This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

GENEROUS well-wishers have saved Croydon Girl Guides' equipment from the dump – after an Advertiser story highlighted their plight.

Since a report appeared in last week's newspaper, Guide leaders have been swamped with offers of cheap storage space all over Croydon as well as cash donations.

Leaders of Croydon 1st and 49th Guide troop thought they would have to throw away camping equipment and scrap summer holidays after a storage unit in West Croydon proved too expensive to keep. Now, thanks to a well-wisher, the troop has found a rent-free double garage in Park Hill and a retired school teacher has offered them £500 to spruce it up.

Girl Guide leader Julie Winters said she was shocked by the level of generosity.

She said: "We are just thrilled, absolutely thrilled. We had no idea people would be so generous.

"The girls will be ecstatic because they thought we would have to throw all the equipment away and not go on any more trips.

"It just goes to show how generous people can be. I am really overwhelmed by the whole response. All the Guides are really grateful to the Advertiser for helping us."

Although Ms Winters said the double garage needs some work to make it waterproof and could do with some shelves, she said the £500 donation would more than cover the cost.

The mystery donor, who asked not to be named, said she was moved by reading the troop's story.

She said: "I know how much being in the Guides means to these girls. They get a sense of identity and a taste of freedom away from their mums and dads.

"I read the story in the Advertiser and just felt for them. Luckily I am in a position where I can help them out and I am thrilled they have found somewhere."

The 62-year-old, who lives in Sanderstead, added that she wanted her donation to remain anonymous because she didn't want any attention.

However, the Croydon Guides, which has 4,000 members, is still looking for a cheaper space for its old uniforms and other memorabilia.

Leaders spend £1,300 on a small storage space in Shurguard, Purley Way, Croydon, but say the space is too small for the cost.

Girl Guiding Croydon County Commissioner Anne Pilkington said: "We are absolutely delighted with the response. We are still looking to save money on our storage space in Shurguard and some people have come forward so right now its just about deciding on the right one."