Mansfield guide leader Nancy wins Queen’s Guide Award

A Girlguiding member from Mansfield is poised to make her mark on the next generation of leaders after earning the charity’s highest accolade – the Queen’s Guide Award.

Nancy Wilson, 20, of Rainworth, has dedicated three years working toward guiding’s top award – a feat achieved by only a handful of Girlguiding’s half a million members annually.

The Queen’s Guide Award empowers young women to broaden their horizons, raise their aspirations and develop vital leadership skills to help them improve their own lives and the lives of others.

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Nancy, who is Assistant Leader with 3rd Southwell Guides and 4th Rainworth Brownies said: “The Queen’s Guide Award has helped me become confident in taking on challenges and knowing that I can push my limit further if need be. It has shown me how to be a better leader and organiser.”

The girl-only challenge sets participants a series of demanding tasks, including embarking on an ambitious four-day outdoor adventure, overseeing a pair of ground-breaking community action projects and devoting a year to cultivating a new skill.

Among the tasks Nancy chose to tackle were sailing to Holland on the STS Lord Nelson, hiking in the Lake District and organising an event for World Thinking Day.

Nancy, who is currently studying History at Lancaster University, added: “Sailing for ten days on the North Sea was a big challenge as I had never been sailing before and there were many new skills to learn, as well as sea sickness to battle.”

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She received her award from Chief Guide Gill Slocombe – a former recipient herself - at a special ceremony in London on 18 November.

Gill said: “Girlguiding’s research shows most girls aged 16 to 21 – 58 per cent - aspire to take on leadership roles in their future careers, but they need to see more inspiring women at the top to give them the confidence to do so.

“The Queen’s Guide is all about showing young women that this is possible, that they have the potential to take on any challenge the world throws at them and become tomorrow’s leaders in all walks of life – so they can go on to inspire the next generation to aim high.”