Girlguides boogie in city to celebrate 100 years

Around 30 young women, from groups across the region, surprised shoppers at Meadowhall as they launched into an energetic routine featuring choreography from popular dances throughout the 20th century - covering every decade that Girlguiding has been empowering girls.

Carol Bancroft, who is an adult member and The Senior Section Adviser for Girlguiding Sheffield, said: “The girls wanted to do something really special and different to mark The Senior Section’s birthday and they thought this was a really fun way to celebrate together.”

Olivia, aged 18 and a member of Beighton Senior Section Unit, choreographed the routine. She said: “It was the most nerve wracking but exciting thing I’ve ever done.”

Meadowhall’s centre director Darren Pearce said: “Meadowhall was delighted to be the venue for the Girlguiding’s flash mob event and it gave our shoppers a real surprise.

“The girls did a superb job performing in front of such a large crowd, I don’t think there would be many people out there who could do it so well and so confidently!”

Over the years, Senior Section members have witnessed the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, swum the Channel, attended the UN Convention on the Status of Women and represented Great Britain at the Olympics. The group is open to girls aged 14 to 25, offering a host of opportunities from international travel and outdoor adventure sports to peer mentoring, advocacy and leadership skills.

This year will see a host of nationwide celebrations to mark 100 years, from mountain marathons in Scotland to a carnival fiesta in the Midlands, inviting girls to step out of their comfort zone and take on a new adventure.