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Members of all sections were invited to host an Island Café to aid members in the Girlguiding UK Branch Associations.

Island cafe

16,348 members attended ‘Island Cafés’ across the UK, raising a massive £52,893. Some of the money raised will be used to provide a real Island Café for Girlguiding Anguilla giving girls a safe meeting place where they can use computers to help with homework and other studies. The remaining funds will be used to provide opportunities for girls and young women in the Branches and to develop and modernise the Branch Associations for the future. The Island Café truly captured imaginations everywhere, with fundraising café’s being opened everywhere from caves to car boot sales. 9,976 members also learned all about the Branch Associations for the very first time.

The 1st Little Heath and 3rd Potters Bar Guides took on the challenge to run an Island Café. Their café opened three times in one term. On the first occasion, Guides stayed on after the June Church Parade service to prepare a Falkland Islands style afternoon tea for invited guests. On a Tuesday evening in June, two Brownie packs came to visit us at Morven and the unit opened in Caribbean style, with parrots and turtles everywhere! The Guides told them a little about the Branch Associations and they all enjoyed finding all the names in a word search. The Guides then taught them how to go turtle racing - a fun activity from the pack. Not only did this raise awareness about the Branch Associations; it encouraged nine Brownies to decide they would like to join Guides in September! The final opening was at the Potters Bar Fun Day in Oakmere Park, and the unit have raised just over £50 in total.

You can still download the Island Cafe activity pack by visiting the Girlguiding UK Branch Association's information page.