Worcestershire Girl Guides meet MEP before embarking on summer challenge

2.30.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 4th Jul 2008

Girl Guides Lizzie Watson from Droitwich and Marty Perry from Worcester met local Euro-MP Liz Lynne today, as the first part of her 2008 'Jailbreak Challenge'.

The 'Jailbreak' is a series of educational tasks and visits, which will see Lizzie and Marty travel abroad as part of a group of six Worcestershire Guides aged 15-17, with two leaders, competing with teams from other counties. The groups will travel to five European countries in just fifteen days, on what is a 'rite of passage' for older members of the movement. Lizzie and Marty are studying at college and hope to go to university next year.

The Guides have to raise their own funding for the trip, but Droitwich-based Lizzie recently won the prestigious Olive Baden-Powell bursary, awarded to just one Guide each year.

Liz Lynne MEP said:

"The challenges the girls have to fulfil this summer will be a fantastic experience and I wish them well.

"They will be visiting different places of worship, trying local foods and visiting recycling projects I am sure they will learn a lot from their trip. It was great to talk to them about their plans for the summer and hopes for the future.

"The Girl Guiding Movement has been a huge part of many girls' lives since it started in 1910, providing education, survival skills and career preparation. I am happy to see that it is still thriving as a positive influence in peoples' lives today."

ENDS