Big Brownie Birthday with huge stay away sleepover

Rochdale Brownies with Jennie McAlpine, who plays Fizz in Coronation Street

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Girls from across Rochdale took part in a huge residential event at Waddow Hall in Clitheroe as part of an extra-special Stay Away adventure to mark 100 years of Brownies.

The Brownies, all aged seven to 10, joined more than 200 other girls from Rochdale, Bury and Oldham in July to celebrate The Big Brownie Birthday – which will see Girlguiding members from all over the UK take part in sleepovers, camps and holidays in unexpected places.

The girls enjoyed a range of activities, including abseiling, rock climbing, archery, grass sledging, pond dipping, team challenges, orienteering and the crate challenge.

The activities were drawn from the Brownie Adventure programme, which builds girls’ confidence and self-esteem, encourages them to become active citizens and learn about the wider world and gives them a space to have fun and be themselves with other girls.

Cara DeCoza, from 24th Rochdale Brownies said: "I loved the Stay Away – it was cool to get to sleep over with my friends somewhere new. My favourite part was the boulder wall climbing. It was a bit scary at first, but I soon got the hang of it."

Lynne Scales, Leader, added: "The girls were involved in every stage of planning the sleepover and chose all their own activities. It was a really exciting adventure for them, especially the youngest girls who had never stayed away from home before."

Jennie McAlpine, who plays Fizz in Coronation Street, was invited along to take part in the celebrations. Jennie spent time chatting to the girls and signing autographs – she then presented all the Brownies and their Leaders with their Big Brownie Birthday Stay Away commemorative badges.