Deputy chief guide Sally Kettle on new interest badges

From encouraging laughter to helping us care for the world, these are all the things I'm loving about our new badges.

Following the launch of our 72 new interest badges, the reaction both inside and outside Girlguiding has been amazing! There’s truly something for everyone – from cracking codes to cracking jokes – and I’ve already got a few firm favourites. 

There’s something deeply satisfying about setting a goal, giving it a go, and proudly showing off the results with an all-important badge. But before I dive into the badges I love, let’s take a moment to celebrate how we got here. Over 27,000 volunteers, girls and their parents or carers have already played a part in shaping this project – through programme feedback, ideas submitted via the topper activity, and the incredible insights from our programme testing pool. Thank you – we couldn’t have done it without you. 

Now, onto the badges that have captured my heart. 

Let’s start with the Rainbows. The laughter badge made me grin from ear to ear. Having rowed across oceans (and survived the odd cabin-based meltdown), I know how powerful a well-timed giggle can be. Laughter builds resilience, connection, and joy and helping our youngest members discover its magic is a brilliant idea. Then there’s the bee rescuer badge – as someone who lovingly tends to an allotment in a lay-by, I know how vital these fuzzy little pollinators are. We’re committed to reducing the impact on the environment, a big cheer for badges that help us care for our natural world in small, meaningful ways.

On to Brownies, and the passions badge is a total winner. I’ve built my career and adventures around following mine, and I love the idea of helping girls explore what truly lights them up. The animal helper badge also hits home – I seem to attract stray animals like a magnet. If there’s a lost dog, an injured pigeon, or a sheep in the wrong field, chances are I’ll be wading in to help.

Guides have scored some brilliant new options too. I’m especially fond of the thrift badge – partly because I’ve pledged not to buy any new clothes this year. It’s about making conscious choices, being creative, and challenging our throwaway culture. And the day tripper badge? That’s pure joy. Some of my favourite adventures started with a packed lunch and a train ticket proving you don’t need a passport to explore something or somewhere new.

And then there’s the Rangers badges. The gardening badge is a favourite but I’m also loving the challengers badge. It encourages young women to stretch themselves, try something tough, and redefine what they think they’re capable of. It’s the kind of spirit I see every day in our Ranger community – bold, brave, and up for anything.

A lovely touch this time around is the brand-new little badge books – one for each section – giving girls a beautifully simple, compact way to track their progress. Think of them as pocket-sized powerhouses of pride and potential.

Our badge launch has touched all corners of the media with everyone from chief guide Tracy Foster to our advocates talking about their favourites. I really hope you’ve seen us shouting about the badges and what they represent. There’s an incredible range of skills, adventures and values packed into these little patches of possibility. Because that’s what they are– stitched symbols of curiosity, courage, kindness and fun. 

So, here’s to laughter, bees, passions, thriftiness, kindness, gardening, and big challenges. And to a generation of girls growing in confidence, skills and joy, one badge at a time.