Coming soon to a (small) town near you!
‘Isolation is an issue that’s more than geographical for young rural woman,’ says Jane Levicki. Jane is the SWITCH development worker charged with developing the first rural SWITCH groups in the small villages of the Cambridgeshire Fenlands.
‘As much as they are geographically isolated, there’s also an isolation of experience and meeting new people. That’s what I’m hoping to combat by bringing other experiences and role models into their lives,’ she says.
Lack of public transport remains a key disadvantage for young rural woman, which is why SWITCH has decided to set up the village-based groups.
‘They completely rely on their parents driving them to neighbouring towns to access facilities. And even if their parents are willing to do so, it’s not always ideal. Young girls want to have some independence.’
But Jane also pointed out that in some ways the isolation could even prove to be a bonus.
‘If you can introduce a group to the village it can be something quite special. As long as you’re giving them what they want, rather than what you think they need, groups can be very successful.’
It's not just girls that will benefit from SWITCH. Adults who volunteer with the SWITCH groups will develop new skills and broaden their horizons too.
‘There are often limited opportunities in village settings to get relevant experience without having to bear the cost of travel, so bringing the groups to the volunteers is a worthwhile aim!’
For more information, email switch@girlguiding.org.uk .
