A NEW civil engineering badge is being made available to Guides and Rangers across West Somerset and Exmoor for free.

The partnership between Girlguiding South West England and the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) aims to encourage more girls to consider careers in infrastructure.

Real life engineers are available to help units run activities such as bridge building and water challenges.

Girlguiding South West England hopes the partnership will inspire young women and girls to explore the world of infrastructure and a career as a civil engineer.

Youngsters who complete at least two of the activities in the civil engineering challenge for Guides and Rangers will earn the new badge.

The activities bring civil engineering to life, from building chocolate bar bridges and a tower on jelly, to responding to a simulated emergency by creating water systems and shelters for vulnerable communities.

Girlguiding leaders can run the activities themselves, but the programme also aims to connect local units with practicing civil engineers who volunteer for ICE to promote science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) careers.

ICE South West regional director Miranda Housden said: “Weare looking for the very best problem solvers to join our profession, people who want to tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges.

“Through this programme with Girlguiding, we hope to show girls and young women the meaningful, rewarding, impact they can make as engineers.

“Civil engineers are at the heart of creating infrastructure that makes a real difference, and we want them to see themselves in that future.”

The Westcountry’s adoption of the new badge follows a successful pilot in the other parts of the UK, which resulted in 15,000 badges being awarded.

Girlguiding leaders, Guides, and Rangers praised the badge activities, rating them 4.5 out of five stars.

Feedback surveys from participants showed a significant increase in their interest in civil engineering careers, rising from 17 per cent before the activities to 83 per cent after completion.

Girlguiding South West England chief commissioner Racheal Tattum said: “We are excited to be working with ICE to empower our young members.

“This partnership will help girls explore the incredible impact they can have as engineers, innovators, and leaders.

“Through this collaboration, members will take part in hands on civil engineering and infrastructure-focused activities designed to spark curiosity, build confidence, and inspire future career pathways.”

Girlguiding units looking to take part in the civil engineering challenge should visit www.girlguidingsouthwest.org.uk/about-us/partners for more information.

The Girl Guides is a leading youth organisation for girls and young women with 47,000 members and 11,500 volunteers in Rainbow, Brownie, Guide, and Ranger units who come together to ‘laugh, learn, explore and have adventures’ in communities across the UK and virtually.

A spokesperson said: “We help all girls know they can do anything.

“We help them know that, whether they are four or 18 or in between, all girls have a home at Girlguiding, whoever they are, and wherever they are.

“We show them a world of possibilities, big and small.

“We help them think big and be bold in a space where they can be themselves, get creative, explore, and have fun.

“We are a powerful collective voice, with girls, led by girls, changing the world for the better.”

AN evening of live music is being held from 7 pm on April 3 in the Lion Inn, Timberscombe, as Brad Anderson continues his fund-raising for a London Marathon run in aid of the charity Make-A-Wish UK.

Mr Anderson said: “I am delighted to be running in this year's London Marathon in April.

“A true bucket-list experience and I will be running the iconic race in aid of Make-A-Wish UK.

“Right now, over 134,000 children in the UK are eligible for a wish because they are dealing with the gruelling daily reality of life with a critical illness.

“When it comes to their dreams, they deserve to wish for more than a life defined by their illness.

“Critical illness brings a child’s joy to an abrupt end, but Make-A-Wish UK is part of a global movement that grants life-changing wishes that have the power to turn tears into cheers, rescuing the magic of childhood even in their toughest times, and providing a lifeline for families to spend precious time together.”

A spokesperson for the charity said: “Make-A-Wish UK is part of a global movement creating life-changing wishes

“Our only goal is to turn tears into cheers by giving children facing critical illness the chance to dream big even when they might not have long to live.

“No matter what the future holds, we create lasting memories families will treasure forever.”

A raffle will, also be held during the music evening and among the prizes is 500 litres of heating oil from Exmoor Heating Fuels, which should prove attractive with the recent sharp spike in prices as a result of the US war in Iran.

Mr Anderson’s fund-raising page can be found online.

This year’s London Marathon takes place on Sunday, April 26, with a spectacular finish in front of Buckingham Palace, and is the world’s largest annual one-day fund-raising event.

More than a million people have completed the 26.2-mile course since it was first run in 1981, cumulatively raising more than a billion pounds for charity.

A COMMUNITY afternoon with tea and cakes is being offered as Porlock Information Centre and Abbeyfield Wessex’s Laurels come together at The Laurels.

Villagers are being invited to pop in on Thursday, March 26, from 3 pm onward for cakes with a spring theme and a cup of tea.

Everybody is welcome to go along and meet up with friends and make new ones.

The event is free, with any donations welcomed to support The Laurels.

SPRING has arrived, and one way being suggested to celebrate it is to join a walk along Minehead beach, and a dog-themed bring and buy to raise money for The Cinnamon Trust, which is being held on Sunday, March 29.

The walk will start at 9.30 am from the Jubilee Café, on The Esplanade, and will go along the beach and seafront to Minehead Golf Club, and back to the Jubilee Café.

Everybody is welcome to join, with or without a dog, and they can walk as far, or as short a distance as they choose.

Breakfasts will be available in the Jubilee Café on returning from the walk, and the dog-themed bring and buy will be in the café from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm.

Anybody not able to join the walk can still go along for the breakfast and the bring and buy event.

The Cinnamon Trust is the only national charity for elderly and terminally ill people and their pets, and information will be available all morning, for people to learn more about the charity and how it works.

Any dog-related items which people would like to donate to raise money for the charity would be welcomed and arrangements can be made by calling Karen on 07896 259462.

THE Minehead and District Choral Society is breaking with tradition for its Easter concert on Saturday, March 28, and is presenting 'The Magic of the Musicals', a pot-pourri of music from some of the most popular - mainly post-war - shows.

Featuring popular soprano Stephanie Berner, the programme will include medleys of some of the most popular songs from from Andrew Lloyd Webber, Les Misérables, South Pacific, and West Side Story, but there will also be pieces from Porgy and Bess, Fiddler on the Roof, Wicked, The Secret Garden, and A Little Night Music.

Admission is £12 either by advance ticket from The Regal, or on the door.

The concert is in the Methodist Hall, The Avenue, Minehead, with doors opening at 7 pm and the concert starting at 7.30 pm.

A NEW gate has been fitted to the football ground for Timberscombe First School thanks to villagers Andy and Lynne Cooper, who provided and fitted it.

The couple have been thanked by parish councillors, who are now appealing for some earth to build up the bank at the sides of the gate.

Parish clerk Lesley Webb said: “If you have any soil you are able to donate please contact me at [email protected].”

Also in Timberscombe, a village hall jumble sale raised a much-needed £560 toward the running costs of the hall.

The left over clothes, bags, and shoes were given to the school for its bags2school collection.

All the children’s items will go to Poppins, some books to charity outlets, and any decent bric-a-bracket to the St Margaret’s Hospice Shop.

Thanks were expressed to everybody who donated items or who went along to spend their money.