Melissa Timperley receives girlguiding highest honour

Chief Guide Gill Slocombe and Melissa Timperley with her Queen’s Guide Award

A Girlguiding member from Rochdale has been awarded the charity’s ultimate accolade – the Queen’s Guide Award – demonstrating her exceptional leadership and community action.

Melissa Timperley, 20, has proven herself to be a powerful force for good in her community – having spent several years completing a series of demanding challenges to achieve the top honour.

Melissa, who is a Young Leader with the 44th Rochdale Guides, was presented with the prestigious award by Chief Guide Gill Slocombe at a special ceremony held at Goldsmiths’ Hall in London on 21 November.

The Queen’s Guide Award, open to young women in guiding aged 16 to 25, sets members a series of demanding challenges, including embarking on an ambitious four-day expedition, overseeing a ground-breaking community action project and devoting a year to cultivating a skill of their choice.

With latest research from Girlguiding revealing that 63 per cent of girls aged 11 to 21 say more female leaders would mean a better deal for women, Melissa is leading the way in showing how young women can make a difference to the world around them.

Among the tasks Melissa chose to tackle were taking six young guiding members for a weekend away, gaining a first aid qualification, taking part in a night-time walking marathon in aid of Cancer Research and learning to drive.

Melissa said: “I really enjoyed doing the award, although it was difficult working full time. The first aid course was a big challenge for me as I am extremely squeamish. I’ve learnt and developed a lot of new skills and knowledge, as well as gaining more confidence.”

Chief Guide Gill Slocombe said: “The Queen’s Guide Award embodies all that’s best about guiding. The adventures that recipients experience, the skills they learn and the friendships and confidence they build will last a lifetime - and prove immensely valuable as they pursue their goals in life.

“This challenge has helped them become confident, skilled, self-reliant young women ready to make a positive difference to the world around them, and I have no doubt that they will.”

Melissa joins an impressive list of Queen’s Guide Award recipients.