We were so proud when Olivia Plumb (know to many people by her maiden name Olivia Ferris-King) received her Queen’s Guide Award at an event in Denton. Olivia gave a presentation about what she did to achieve her award and we wanted to share it with you here. The Queen’s Guide award is split into sections as follows
Service in Guiding
Service in Guiding involves active participation at various levels within the organisation.
The first element was probably one of the easiest for me to complete, thanks to my regular attendance at unit meetings and my role as District Commissioner. As many of you in Guiding know, it’s definitely more than just an hour a week!
When I started my Queen’s Guide, I had already completed my Going away with licence, led residentials and acted as a 1st aider, being a QM wasn’t really my idea of fun! I soon realised how much fun and excitement city breaks with Girlguiding can be, which sparked a new interest in taking groups on city break adventures. This led me to plan and take my Guides on a residential to London in March 2020, just before lockdown began. It was an amazing experience—visiting the Science Museum, watching Wicked, and exploring London’s major sights. Organising a city residential was a completely new challenge for me: managing public transport, sticking to a strict budget and preparing a 21-page risk assessment. This experience opened my eyes to the possibilities of taking units to different locations. Since then, I’ve taken groups to both London and Edinburgh.
As a District Commissioner, I had the opportunity to work with some incredible volunteers to organize several events. One of the highlights was the Ashton Division Standard Service, an annual event where the safekeeping of the Ashton Division Standard is handed over to a different unit. In 2020, it was the turn of Droylsden St. Stephen’s Rainbows and Brownies. I played an active role in planning and coordinating the event, which was a great success.
I had the chance to get involved in county-level projects. However, it was a bit of a challenge to find opportunities, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, I was balancing my studies as a student and newly qualified nurse, and I had just moved to a new county—Lancashire Border—where I didn’t know anyone. Despite these challenges, I didn’t give up and kept searching for ways to contribute.
Eventually, I found an opportunity to join a working group for the Platinum Jubilee Beacon Lighting Event, a historic occasion where young members and volunteers from across the county were invited to light one of the official Platinum Jubilee Beacons. We organized a full afternoon and evening of activities, including a bouncy castle, crafts, bushcraft, and a sleepover to celebrate.
Fitting over 150 children into a school hall with roll mats was a creative way to achieve this element of the award!
Outdfoor challenge
The outdoor Cchallenge section of the Queen’s Guide Award is designed to help awardees develop leadership and teamwork skills in an outdoor environment.
One of the biggest challenges I faced during this section was organizing an exploration with my peers. After a few attempts were delayed by COVID or conflicting schedules, I came up with the idea to team up with three strangers from the Queen’s Guide Facebook Group—Eve, Eloise, and Louise—who were also working on their Queen’s Guide Award. Together, we decided on Nottingham as our destination, as it met the criteria of being over 30 miles from each of our homes, which spanned the Midlands, Warrington, Prestwich, and the Lake District.
Our goal was to create an A-Z guide of activities and considerations for taking a unit on an exploration in Nottingham. We met over Zoom five times to plan, and then finally, we met in person for the first time on the train to Nottingham—a true leap out of my comfort zone!
The trip itself was packed with highlights. We witnessed a court case at the National Justice Museum, visited the Goose Fair, saw the Major Oak, and even met the real Robin Hood!
Guiding helps build lifelong friendships- our unforgettable Nottingham exploration also let to an adults-only trip to Adventures in Lisbon, where we were the winning adult group!
Personal skill development
The personal skill development section requires you to dedicate 60 hours over 12 months to developing a personal interest. For this I decided to take up counted cross stitch. I had never tried it before and honestly didn’t even know how to read a pattern! I started with a simple children’s cross stitch kit I picked up on sale, and I’ll never forget how proud I felt after completing my very first stitch. As I gained more confidence in my ability, I moved on to bigger and more complex patterns. Cross stitching became a great form of escapism for me, especially during lockdowns when I was juggling nursing placements and university assignments. Over the year, I worked on two “showstopper” pieces. The first was a cross stitch of my parents’ dog, Fabio, which I made as a Christmas gift for my dad. My personal favourite, though, was an anatomically correct human heart—a real challenge, but so rewarding to complete!
Community action
The Community Action section encourages active participation in making a positive impact on the world around us. Over a 12-month period, you undertake two projects: a practical one and a research-based one, focused on a chosen topic.
For this I focused on children’s and young people’s mental health, exploring the causes and impact of poor wellbeing in under-18s. One of the most striking findings from the Girls’ Attitudes Survey was how much things have changed over time. In 2009, 40% of girls reported feeling “very happy most of the time,” but by 2021, this had dropped to just 14%. The 2024 survey revealed that 50% of participants felt anxious, and 46% of 11-16-year-olds felt overwhelmed about the future.
I also looked at the support available, both locally and internationally. For example, I found that children in the Netherlands are among the happiest in the world. This is largely due to a school culture that values individual strengths over exam results and a proactive approach to mental health. In contrast, the UK faces challenges such as long waiting lists and stigma around mental health, though charities like Young Minds are doing incredible work to make a difference.
As part of my practical project, I raised £200 for Young Minds to help with their mission of ensuring that no child faces a mental health crisis alone.
For my research project, I surveyed children’s nurses, teachers, and teaching assistants to gather their insights on the causes of poor mental wellbeing in children and the support available. Once I completed the research, I felt it was important to share my findings with some of the participants. It was fascinating to hear their reactions, especially regarding the services available in other parts of the UK and abroad. Many were particularly supportive of the advisory approach used in the Netherlands.
Residential experience
The residential experience section is designed to help awardees develop interpersonal and communication skills in a residential setting.
For this element I found a great opportunity through the Waddow Hall, where I volunteered at their Waddow Wizardly Weekend. This event brought together Brownies from various units for a magical, book-and-go-style experience. I joined the volunteer team, leading a range of activities for the girls. One key challenge, I faced was that I didn’t know anyone at the event. Throughout the weekend, I fully immersed myself in the experience. I made new friends, led activities like wand-making and pyrography, attended a campfire, and even had the chance to meet an owl! To ensure I met all the requirements for the award, I decided to stay for an extra day to volunteer at the King’s Coronation Family Fun Day. During this event, I learned a valuable new skill—how to make candy floss!
What have I gained from the experience?
Throughout my journey to complete the Queen’s Guide award, I’ve gained a wide range of personal benefits that have shaped my growth and development.
Self-Confidence – I was challenged to step outside my comfort zone on several occasions. Each challenge allowed me to build confidence in my abilities, and through these experiences, I reinforced my own self-belief.
Resilience – I faced a variety of tasks and challenges that tested my perseverance. Despite setbacks, including the impact of COVID, I adapted to changing circumstances and learned to bounce back, which strengthened my resilience.
Sense of Achievement – Completing the Queen’s Guide award has given me an immense sense of pride and personal satisfaction. It’s shown me the results of my dedication, effort, and commitment, and provided a clear sense of what I can achieve when I set my mind to something.
New Skills and Interests – The process pushed me to try new things and explore areas I hadn’t considered before. I’ve expanded my skill set and discovered new interests along the way.
Lifelong Friendships – Through my experiences, I’ve met like-minded people, built lasting friendships, and strengthened connections with others who share my values and passion for making a positive impact in the world.
One of the most significant outcomes of completing the Queen’s Guide has been the confidence I’ve gained to take on future roles. I’ve proven to myself that I can handle responsibility and complex situations. These skills and qualities will undoubtedly empower me as I take on leadership roles, both within Girlguiding and in my future career.