Girl Guide leader in Rugby is told she is 'too old'

A Girl Guide leader says she has been told to stop running a group because she is too old.

Margaret Stapley, from Rugby in Warwickshire, is 65 and said she had been the leader of the Rainbows section at Rugby Girl Guides for five years.

She said letters had been sent to parents informing them she must stop running the group.

GirlGuiding UK confirmed its age limit was 65 but said the results of a policy review will be announced in January.

Ms Stapley said: "How many people who are in full-time work are able to be there at 4.30 in the afternoon to run a Rainbow group for an hour-and-a-quarter and give lots of time and effort to that group?

'New policy'

"If you are in Scouting, you can continue. There isn't an age limit.

"It's not just because of me.

"I think we should stand up and say that we are still able to carry being leaders in Girlguiding UK and they should not be an age limit."

In a statement Girlguiding UK said: "The detail of the new policy will be communicated to members in early January 2011 and will be implemented with effect from April 2011.

"Girlguiding UK cannot release details of the changes until these are known to our membership.

"In the meantime we will be working with our volunteer network to ensure that any individual interim concerns are addressed."