April 2020 blogging memo

Welcome to your April blogging memo.

It's quite a different world since our last blogging memo, and our content has adapted to help support our members in the best way possible during these uncertain times. Now more than ever we need online content from you all to let us know how you're carrying on guiding, how you're supporting both other volunteers and girls, and how we're adapting to new ways of guiding.

We know that lots of units have started taking meetings online - if you're doing this we'd love to hear from you. Although some volunteers are well used to video calls and have loads of ideas for activities that can work online, we know that there are a lot of our volunteers who aren't. If you've already run meetings online and have some advice to share, please let us know. We'd love you to write a blog post about your experiences, so we can help all our members #CarryOnGuiding.

We also know that there are units who aren't taking their meetings online and are instead helping to #CarryOnGuiding by pointing to activities in badge books as well as other resources that girls can take part in at home, until we're all able to meet again. Is this you? Let us know as we'd like to feature these ideas in a blog post as well.

What have we been blogging about?

Since our last memo we've had some great blogs posted.

• Bethany has written a very helpful blog on adapting badges while units can't meet.
• The Hive have written about their March and April badges of the month - Entrepreneur and Genealogy.
• For International Women's Day, the LaSER Champions asked: 'What does guiding do for us?'
• 10th Surbiton Brownies wrote about their experience at Google's Digital Adventure Live.
• Kirsty wrote a lovely blog about her Guiding family.
• Alice wrote about their Guide unit's Shrove Tuesday with a twist!
• Anna wrote about her amazing Commonwealth Service experience.
• Madison has written a great blog about Wellies & Wristbands.

You can read these blog posts on the news page on the Girlguiding LaSER website, along with recent copies of Raspberry Ripple and previous Blogging Memos. You can also find links to the latest Coronavirus / COVID-19 advice.

Want to blog but not sure where to start? We've got just the thing. We've created some handy hints and tips for how to write a blog for the website, with some links to previous blogs that have been popular with readers. You can access this on the Resources section of the Girlguiding LaSER website.

We really want to make this the year we share your stories - no matter how big or small. We know that reading about guiding activities encourages girls and young women to sign up, and volunteers to offer their time, so let us know what you've been up to and help us to let everyone know about the fantastic opportunities available.

Know someone else who wants to receive this memo? Just let us know and we can add them to the list.