From Community Correspondent Steve Wicks: The London Living Room was a splash of pink recently when the Chair of the London Assembly, Darren Johnson invited representatives of Guiding to a reception to celebrate their centenary. Members from all boroughs of Greater London together with the Region Chief Commissioner of London and the South East England, Anne Hudson and Chief Guide’s representative, Lesley Knighton enjoyed the hospitality, the views over London and meeting and talking to members of the Assembly.

Today, Girlguiding UK is the United Kingdom’s largest voluntary organisation for girls and young women, with over 550,000 members, offering girls and young women aged between 5 and 25 a unique girl-only space where they can fulfil their potential. Their programme is relevant to today’s girls, offering a range of opportunities from adventure to community projects, meeting their ambitions and needs of their members.

The centenary launched in September 2009 marked 100 years since the first groups of determined girls ‘gate crashed’ the first Boy Scout Rally at Crystal Palace and demanded ‘something for the girls. Just months later, the Guide movement was formed.

Some surprising facts: • One in four eight year old girls is a Brownie • Almost half of all women in the UK have been involved in Guiding at some stage in their lives • Girlguiding UK is part of a worldwide organisation that has over 10 million members in 145 countries • Girlguiding UK’s current membership would fill Wembley Stadium more than 6 times over and would need 9,000 double decker buses to get them there!