UKFast helps develop new badge for Girl Guides

Badge will cover basic coding skills and app development, among other things

UK hosting firm UKFast has helped create the content for a new Girl Guides badge around digital technology.

Available to Guide units globally, the 'digital challenge' badge is designed to offer an introduction to hardware and processes underpinning computing and the internet, basic coding skills, app development and knowledge about staying safe online and spotting fake news.

UKFast oversaw the content for the badge is also inviting Guide units to its Manchester HQ to take part in coding workshops.

UKFast MD Gail Jones said: "It's fantastic to see badges move on since my time in Brownies and Guides, when my first badge was Homemaker.

"So I am thrilled we are able to help give the girls a taste of our digital world and to see how exciting a career in tech could be. We've created a practical badge that develops skills that are invaluable to our industry that sadly aren't being taught in schools to the standards that we need. I can't wait to see the girls' feedback."

Girlguiding divisional commissioner Pam Plummer said: "We challenge the girls to get out there and try something different while giving them fantastic opportunities along the way.

"Girlguiding is evolving as the needs of girls have changed and that's why challenge badges like these are so important. We like to tread new ground and dare to do new things and challenge the girls."