easyJet and Girlguiding unveil details of new Aviation badge for Brownies

• easyJet-sponsored Aviation badge for Brownies is unveiled for the first time.
• Partnership with Girlguiding set to tackle gender stereotypes and encourage more girls to pursue a pilot career.
• easyJet aims for 20 per cent of its new entrant pilots to be female by 2020.

LUTON, England, 2018-Aug-03 — /Travel PR News/ — easyJet and Girlguiding have unveiled the details of the new easyJet-sponsored Aviation badge for Brownies as part of Girlguiding’s overhauled new programme of badges and activities. To earn the badge, girls will challenge themselves to think of 40 things that fly and put their aeronautical skills to the test, creating their own aircraft experiments with different building materials, structures and launch techniques.

The badge reveal comes after the airline announced earlier this year that it was teaming up with Girlguiding to encourage more girls to become pilots. The partnership has the potential to introduce 200,000 girls aged seven to ten to aviation and it is estimated that tens of thousands of girls will undertake the Aviation badge in its first year.

Beyond the badge, easyJet’s partnership with Girlguiding will extend the outreach work the airline already does as part of its Amy Johnson Flying Initiative to encourage more girls and women to become pilots. The partnership opens up a community of nearly half a million girls and young women, with the intention of matching local Girlguiding units with pilot speakers.

Since launching its Amy Johnson Initiative launching in 2015, easyJet pilots have visited over 150 schools and colleges in the UK and in Europe to raise the profile of the career.

Captain Marnie Munns, lead pilot for easyJet’s Amy Johnson Flying Initiative commented:

“As part of our Amy Johnson Initiative, we have always believed in the importance of female role models to encourage girls to see a pilot career as a real option available to them, which is why we are really excited to be unveiling the new Aviation badge for Brownies as part of our partnership with Girlguiding. Together we will engage with even more young people to inspire and educate them about aviation and becoming a pilot.”

Captain Kate McWilliams, easyJet pilot and former Brownie commented:

“I never thought that being a pilot as a job was an option for me until I was nearly an adult. Growing up I didn’t know any commercial pilots who I could ask for advice and didn’t see anyone doing the job that I could relate to.

“Having been a Brownie myself I am delighted that this new Aviation badge will engage girls in a pilot career from an early age. I love being a commercial pilot for easyJet, it’s a fantastic career and anyone with an interest should consider it.”

The Aviation badge features among the 800 new Girlguiding activities and badge challenges designed to equip over 400,000 girls and young women in guiding with the skills and experiences they will need to thrive, succeed, make change and be happy in the modern world.1

Jess Bond, Lead Volunteer for Programme Renewal, said:

“This is a hugely exciting time for Girlguiding – it’s revolutionary. We’ve really listened to what girls have told us they’d like to see and incorporated their suggestions, creating new badges and activities and updating others so they’re relevant now and in the future. It’s also been fantastic to have the expertise and input from so many partners.

“Our ambition is to give girls the opportunity to discover and develop their interests, skills and confidence, take on new challenges and have fun and adventure with their friends. We want girls to feel equipped to take on the world.”

Liddy Buswell, a member of Girlguiding’s Advocate Panel, said:

“This is such an exciting time to be part of Girlguiding. Where else would girls have the opportunity to be introduced to such a wide range of topics from tech and STEM, aviation and archaeology to voting or surviving in the wild? Girlguiding is all about providing a supportive space where girls are encouraged to give activities a go so they discover what it is they want to pursue and don’t worry about failing or being judged. It could even lead them to their future career.”

Brownie Emma, 9 said: 

“I’m so excited for the new Aviation badge and to learn more about flying and being a pilot. It’s really great that we get to find out about exciting jobs we could do in the future.”

Alternatively, for further information, images or interview requests please contact the Girlguiding Press Office pressoffice@girlguiding.org.uk / 020 7592 1733

Notes to Editors

About easyJet

easyJet is Europe’s leading airline offering a unique and winning combination of the best route network connecting Europe’s primary airports, with great value fares and friendly service.

easyJet flies on more of Europe’s most popular routes than any other airline. easyJet carries over 83 million passengers annually, of which more than 13 million are travelling on business. easyJet flies 308 aircraft on more than 1000 routes to 154 airports across 33 countries. More than 300 million Europeans live within one hour’s drive of an easyJet airport.

easyJet aims to be a good corporate citizen, employing people on local contracts in eight countries across Europe in full compliance with national laws and recognising their trade unions. The airline supports a number of local charities and also has a corporate partnership with UNICEF which has raised over £10m for the most vulnerable children since it was established in 2012.

The airline takes sustainability seriously. easyJet invests in the latest technology, operates efficiently and fills most of its seats which means that an easyJet passenger’s carbon footprint is 22% less than a passenger on a traditional airline, flying the same aircraft on the same route.

Innovation is in easyJet’s DNA – from our launch over 20 years ago when we changed the way people fly to the present day where we lead the industry in digital, web, engineering and operational innovations to make travel more easy and affordable for our passengers.

About Girlguiding

Girlguiding is the leading charity for girls and young women in the UK, with over half a million members. Thanks to the dedication and support of 100,000 amazing volunteers, we are active in every part of the UK, giving girls and young women a space where they can be themselves, have fun, build brilliant friendships, gain valuable life skills and make a positive difference to their lives and their communities. We build girls’ confidence and raise their aspirations. We give them the chance to discover their full potential and encourage them to be a powerful force for good. We give them a space to have fun. We run Rainbows (5–7 years (4-7 in Ulster)), Brownies (7–10 years), Guides (10–14 years) and Rangers (14–18 years). Registered Charity No 306016. www.girlguiding.org.uk

1 The revamp and modernisation of Girlguiding’s programme of activities and badges is the biggest ever overhaul in the charity’s history and covers all that girls and young women do in Girlguiding from the ages of five to 18.

The new programme of activities is divided into interest badges, skills builders, group activities and awards, all developed around six themes: Skills for my Future, Have Adventures, Be Well, Know Myself, Express Myself and Take Action.

To find out more about the Aviation badge and other new badges and activities visit https://bit.ly/2Kz3wBH.

For further information, please contact the easyJet press office on 01582 525252, log on to easyJet.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @easyJet

Source: easyJet

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