Pipâs Perspective â a message from the Chief Commissioner
Happy New Year to you all! It seems a long time ago now that I was celebrating the festive season with my family and friends but I am sure that for too many of you affected by the weather and flooding over the Christmas period the memory and reality are still only too present in your lives. If your meeting place or equipment has been damaged by flood water please get in touch as there are funds to support you.
The Big Brownie Birthday celebrations kick off in LaSER this coming weekend (see the âYellow is the new Raspberryâ column below) when over 3,000 Brownies will join us for Funtastic at Butlins in Bognor Regis. Iâm looking forward to all the fun of such a huge event but also to joining many of your local events over the eight months of celebrations. Please contact us via the Region office to let us know what youâll be getting up to!
If youâre wondering what our Guide Unit requested as a new challenge this term⌠it was Winter Camp for 2,500 at Gilwell Park Scout Centre last weekend; great fun but VERY muddy! Theyâre now talking about wanting to go to Wellies and Wristbands in August - donât miss the Earlybird booking if youâre planning to go too.
pipmck@girlguidinglaser.org.uk
Twitter: @ PipMcKerrow
Who's New?
A very big welcome to new members of the Region team
Collette Stone - County Commissioner (Interim) Middlesex North West
Angela Walter - County Commissioner London Over the Border
Liz Smith - Assistant Chair of Guiding Development (Adult Support)
Cherie Sargent - Lead Volunteer for Prospective Trainers or Trainers undertaking Modules for the Trainers Qualification
Yellow is the new Raspberry!
Welcome to our first âYellow is the new Raspberryâ column, to celebrate this special year⌠the Brownie Centenary!
Val Hickmott, Brownie Advisor and BBB Champion, kicks us off by sharing her excitement:
âAt long last what we have all been talking about for months has arrived⌠The BIG BROWNIE BIRTHDAY! You can now go full steam ahead with the BBB challenge where there is something for everyone; from Rainbows all the way up to Senior Section and Adults.
Sandy Kinnersley, the overall Lead Volunteer, would like to encourage Leaders to go that extra mile and give their girls a centenary to remember. Support them as they take on new challenges and check to ensure that the girls are getting the opportunities they have been promised.
Remember the key messages; let the girls choose what they want to do, involve other sections where possible and incorporate the chosen activities into the programme.
I hope youâre all as excited as I am about the year ahead!â
Keep your eyes peeled here for more updates, ideas and celebrations; and for those who are going, enjoy Funtastic this weekend. Pictures and quotes to come!
Lead Volunteer for Marketing
We are looking for a Lead Volunteer in Marketing for the Region. They will work within the Region Marketing & Communications Team. This role would suit someone with a marketing background or education.
The main responsibilities would be:
Promote LaSER externally at events for adults and partners, as appropriate
Devise a strategic external marketing plan
Develop partnerships and ambassadors
Encourage advocacy for young members at Region level.
Vacancy
Directorate Administrator
Guiding Services
Grade 3 (E)
Girlguiding is recruiting a Directorate Administrator, reporting to the Head of Youth Programmes, to work within the Guiding Services Directorate.
Should you wish to apply, please complete an application form and return to Human Resources (hrvacancies@girlguiding.org.uk)
Follow the link for a full job description
Closing date: 19 January 2014
Are you aged 16 â 23?
Do you want to get more involved with Girlguiding?
Girlguiding LaSER is looking to appoint a delegate to the British Youth Council. Applicants should be Senior Section members (aged 16 - 23) who:
⢠are confident public speakers
⢠can be ambassadors for Girlguiding, prepared to represent our views to the British Youth Council and to the Government
⢠have an interest in representing the views of young people
⢠are willing to take on a role in LaSER
⢠are prepared to commit to the role for three years
The delegation meets at least once a year to attend the BYC Annual Council Meeting (location varies) and to hold a delegation meeting. They also attend other events hosted by the BYC across the UK. In addition to their work with the BYC, delegates are invited to represent Girlguiding at other events. These have recently included Parliamentary receptions and events hosted by the BBC and the National Union of Students (NUS). Delegates also have opportunities to travel abroad. Delegates receive media training to enable them to act as spokespeople for Girlguiding and may choose to get involved in media and PR opportunities.
Being a delegate provides a unique opportunity to represent the views of Girlguidingâs membership to help the BYC shape its campaigns. The BYC then works to influence the Government to ensure that it is listening to the views of young people today.
To apply to represent LaSER on the British Youth Council, email Cleo (cleod@girlguidinglaser.org.uk) at Region Office and request an application form. These should be e-mailed back to Cleo by Friday 7 February 2014.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview at Region Office, on Sunday 16 February 2014.
There are also other ways to get involved with BYC; visit either their own website or Girlguidingâs for information about the current campaigns and to see what you can do.
Expedition Supervisor Course
When? 15 March 2014 9.30am â 5pm
Who for? Adults wanting to Supervise DofE expeditions
Where? LaSER Region Office
How much? ÂŁ10
The Expedition Supervisor course provides a pathway for both existing and new Expedition Supervisors. The course has been designed to provide Expedition Supervisors with an understanding and consistent interpretation of their role and responsibilities within the DofE and is likely to become compulsory within Girlguiding.
What will you cover during the course?
â What a Supervisor needs to do prior to, during and after an expedition
â Safety and emergency procedures and how they relate to expeditions
â The duty of care for a Supervisor
If you are interested please contact Andrea (andrear@girlguidinglaser.org.uk) at Region Office as soon as possible so you can be sent the detailed application form. This will need to be signed by your County Commissioner and returned before Friday 7 March. You will also need to have completed the online e-induction module.
WAGGGS Europe Voluntary Roles â Long-Term
WAGGGS Europe is looking to recruit volunteers for opportunities which fall into three categories; Core Group Volunteers, a position on the Council of Europe Advisory Council and Resource Pool Volunteers.
They are looking for adult members who can commit to the responsibilities required for the roles and who will be outstanding ambassadors for Girlguiding on an international platform. There are clear person specifications for these opportunities and all applicants must be able to demonstrate that they match all the criteria in order for their application to be considered.
All of the roles involve supporting the development of WAGGGS Europe over the forthcoming triennium (2014 -16). For an overview of the opportunities please see the LaSER Region website.
Girlguiding will undertake a shortlisting process and seek references for all candidates before submitting applications to WAGGGS. In order to conduct this process, applications for the Core Groups and Advisory Council must be submitted by midday on Thursday 23 January. All applications must be sent to Girlguidingâs International Commissioner (international.commissioner@girlguiding.org.uk).
If you have any questions, please contact Carly Walker-Dawson (carly.walker-dawson@girlguiding.org.uk) at National Office.
A shining example
Isobel Farquharson, Sixer of the Elves and aged 10, of the 25th Fulham (All Saints) Brownie Pack has notched up a new attendance record for the pack. Isobel has attended 114 out of 115 consecutive meetings in the three years since she joined in September 2010.
Isobel says:
âBrownies has been a great experience for me and over the last three years I have enjoyed working for my badges; I have so many that I have to have two sashes! I have loved going on the trips with my Brownie friends especially the recent Disney Makeover Experience and I am really looking forward to the Big Brownie Birthday at Butlins. I am sad that my Brownie Adventure has come to an end but I am ready to move up to Guides.â
Claire Shirley, Brown Owl, remarks:
"Such dedication is remarkable when children lead such busy lives. It is what makes Girlguiding worthwhile."
This is a great story about girl involvement and being a role model. Do you have any? Please send them in!
To submit copy, please check the guidelines at Guidelines and send to jackief@girlguidinglaser.org.uk for the next issue on for the next issue on 23 January 2014 to arrive by 8am on 20 January 2014