Girl Guides and Sustainable Living

LCIC activity contributed to Norfolk's trail-blazing brownies and guides becoming the first in the country to earn a new badge which encourages eco-friendly lifestyles. The Sustainable Living Challenge badge was launched by about 150 members of Girlguiding Norfolk at an event at Swaffham's EcoTech Centre last year.

To earn the right to stitch the new badge on their uniforms, the girls will have to demonstrate a range of skills from growing vegetables and recycling to saving energy and composting. They will also be required to encourage their families and neighbours to alter their habits and reduce their carbon footprints.

The badge was developed in partnership with LCIC, and the University of East Anglia more widely, with funding from its Community University Engagement East (CUE East) project, aimed at building cooperation between academics and communities. It will be trialled by all 8,000 members of Girlguiding in Norfolk - from rainbows through to senior guides and leaders - before being rolled out to more than 550,000 members nationwide.

A resource pack to help guide the girls towards the award of their badge has been developed in collaboration with scientists across the Norwich Research Park and LCIC ourselves.

CUE East chairman, Professor Keith Roberts, said: “The young have a major investment in the future of our fragile planet, and at CUE East we are both proud and delighted to be sponsoring this new badge that will support their practical knowledge and appreciation of sustainable issues.”