1st Hoylake St Luke's Guides '60 for 60' challenge

The 1st Hoylake St Luke's Guides held their first meeting on March 23, 1964 at St Lukes Church in Hoylake.

They have since taken part in "many adventures" over the years, including more than 100 guide camps and festivals and "has taken pride in helping members gain in confidence and build resilience and independence".

For their 60th anniversary, the group is embarking on a challenge called 60 good deeds for 60 Years' where the unit will undertake good deeds for the local community.

This will include a local litter pick, helping a neighbour and raising money for a local charity.

They also plan a celebration party and a potential visit to Blackpool.

Leaders of the 1st Hoylake St Luke's Guides who are preparing a list of challenges to mark 60 years since the group was formed (Image: Craig Manning / Newsquest)The group has had many leaders over the years including Doreen Stanley, Catriona Schorah, Sue Dean and Lynne Whitby.

The reins are now held by a team of four leaders - Jo Dooley, a guider in the unit for 30 years; Jacquie Robinson, Ruth Barowclough and Sophie Fenney.

Doreen Stanley, who ran the unit in the unit the early 1970s, before moving away and coming back, told the Globe: "It's not often that units run for so long, but every now and then you get one that does and this is one that has been thriving for 60 years, which is wonderful.

"The classic answer to why it has lasted for so long, I think, is because it is a girls-only space, where girls can come and be themselves without having to worry about impressing boys or that sort of thing. 

"It's just good fun and a great opportunity to try all sorts of different activities that you probably wouldn't get the chance to do, such as camping which is often the draw.  "It becomes a way of life in the end.

"If you come into guiding to give community service, with that as your only object, you're not going to stay very long.

The 1st Hoylake St Luke's Guides are preparing a list of challenges to mark 60 years since the group was formed (Image: Craig Manning / Newsquest)"You need to buy into the ethos of guiding and what guiding is and then you stay.

"It's all about giving the girls an opportunity to see what they are capable of and to achieve their potential."

Jo Dooley added: "The activities have changed over the years, but the core things that have stayed through the organisation are resilience, confidence and independence.

"Particularly, after covid, a lot of girls came back and we noticed, at all levels, that their mental health had been negatively impacted by what had happened.

"The activities we do within the unit have really helped and we've seen our girls grow in confidence and their guiding skills since covid.

"We had a dip in numbers after the pandemic, but are continuing to grow and nearly at our current capacity of 20 guides.

"I started off as a Brownie at St Hildeburgh's nearby and then became a guide here. My mum ran the unit, I was a young leader and now my daughter is about to start as a leader-in-training here, so there is a real family ethos of guiding.

"The unit has a very small number of spaces left to fill, so if you would like your daughter to join our unit or if you would like to volunteer go onto the Girlguiding website and someone will contact you soon."