Hundreds of members of Girlguiding Isle of Wight have celebrated World Thinking Day 2026 by attending a special event at Newport Minster.
Organised by Wendy Macklin, Island Commissioner for Girlguiding and her team of leaders, this was the first all county event since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Special guests
Special guests included Didi Nicholson DL representing the Lord Lieutenant, Jacque Gazzard (High Sheriff), Isle of Wight West Labour MP, Richard Quigley, and South West England Region Chief Commissioner Racheal Tatham, and her team from the Region Office in Salisbury.
Displays and collection
All the girls and leaders attending had taken up the challenge to select and research a country where girls can become members of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.
Displays were placed in the Minster and girls waved flags and some were dressed in the uniforms of their chosen country. Collections were made for the “Thinking Day Fund”.
As part of the Island’s celebration a new County President was welcomed with Sue Biss being presented with her badge of office.
Wendy said,
“It is wonderful to welcome you all here. We are here to think about all our fellow 11.5 million Guides around the World.”
Celebrated by millions
World Thinking Day is a celebration by millions of girls worldwide. It has taken place on every 22nd February since 1926. It remains a day for all Girl Guides and Girl Scouts to think of each other and celebrate their sisters all around the World.
In 1926, delegates from Guide and Girl Scout organisations across the world met in the USA for the 4th World conference. They decided to create a day for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts to think about others around the world and celebrate being part of an international movement.
Importance of the date
The 22nd February was chosen because it was the joint birthdays of Robert and his wife Olave Baden-Powell, who were both instrumental in establishing Girlguiding and shaping its formative years.
At the 7th World conference in 1932, a Belgian delegate highlighted that birthdays typically involved gifts, and perhaps girls could show their thanks on Thinking Day by raising funds for the organisation.
In response, Olave Baden-Powell wrote a letter to all Girl Guides and Girl Scouts asking them to donate just a penny – enough to buy a loaf of bread in those days – to help fund Guiding around the world. This is now known as The World Thinking Day Fund
New theme each year
World Thinking Day remains one of the most important dates in the Guiding calendar, and every year there’s a different theme to encourage members to think about the big issues affecting us and our global community.
The theme for 2026 was “Our Friendship”. Previous World Thinking Days have tackled the subjects of poverty, environmental sustainability and access to education.
World Thinking Day is a chance for members to connect with others across the globe and to shout about the amazing things they do.
News shared by Suzanne on behalf of Girlguiding Isle of Wight. Ed
