Friends Mark 50 Years of Dedicated Girlguiding Service

Ann Johnson and Sarah Goode, lifelong friends and Girlguiding volunteers since 1975, celebrate over 50 years of service, impacting over 1,000 girls and committing to continue their involvement.

Half a Century of Commitment to Girlguiding

Two lifelong friends who first met as seven-year-old Brownies have expressed their intention to "never stop" volunteering for Girlguiding after more than 50 years of continuous service.

Ann Johnson and Sarah Goode initially met in 1975 at Hardingstone's village hall and later took on leadership roles within the Wootton and Hardingstone Girlguiding district in Northamptonshire.

Ann Johnson A child wearing a Brownie uniform with a yellow necktie, standing in front of a patterned wallpaper featuring red and gold designs. — Ann Johnson had been doing Girlguiding for a year when she first met Sarah in 1975

Decades of Volunteering and Leadership

For the last 40 years, both Johnson and Goode have served as adult volunteers within Girlguiding. They believe the organisation has consistently offered a "safe space" for empowerment and personal growth throughout their lives.

"Girlguiding to me was a safe space, a girl-only space, I wasn't trying to impress the boys that I perhaps was at school at 15 - I remember my guide days as being good fun," Johnson said.

"I always reflect back and think about the guiding team now when we look around the district.. The amount of ladies that are now running their own units... they were one of my guides or they were one of my Brownies," Goode added.

Together, they estimate having worked with over 1,000 young girls through their local Girlguiding programme.

Enduring Friendship and Shared Experiences

Over the years, their friendship has deepened beyond volunteering, including travelling together to Australia and taking regular family holidays.

Ann Johnson Two women standing by the waterfront in Sydney, pointing upwards with the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the background. — The two woman have travelled the world together since meeting at Brownies

Johnson recently celebrated 40 years as an adult volunteer, while Goode marked her own milestone in February of the same year.

Volunteering as a Shared Commitment

Emphasising the value of giving back to the community, Goode stated that they represent "just two of thousands" of women who volunteer weekly to bring "fun and happiness" to Girlguiding.

"We're no more special than lots of other ladies whether they've been doing it for one year, two years, 30 years, 40 years - everybody has something to give," she said.

Despite reaching significant volunteering milestones, both women have no plans to retire from their roles. Johnson affirmed,