Congratulations Sally!
On Sunday 1 June friends, colleagues and family joined together to see Sally Christmas, Girlguiding Kent Weald’s County Commissioner, receive the Laurel Award for outstanding contributions to Girlguiding.
Seventy of us gathered at the Kent Life Museum near Maidstone on a beautiful Sunday for afternoon tea.
Members of the County talked about Sally’s life in guiding at Unit, County and Region level and her unit team gave her a photo album full of her guiding history. Her niece and nephew presented a bouquet of flowers.
Pip McKerrow, Region Chief Commissioner spoke about Sally’s achievements in all aspects of Girlguiding and presented the prestigious Laurel award to her.
Fancy Training?
My name is Clare and I am a Brownie Leader in Surrey. Last summer I was delighted to complete my Training Qualification. I wanted to become a Trainer so that I could inspire others, share my passion for Girlguiding and leave Leaders enthused and motivated to deliver exciting girl-led activities in their units.
That all felt quite a mission as I first started out, but two years down the line and with superb support from my Tutor and other Trainers in the Region, I know that I can now confidently lead sessions on a whole range of topics and across many different Counties.
I don’t like to be the one doing all the talking in my trainings and so as much as possible, I get the other Leaders sharing ideas, with my role to be there to facilitate discussion and clarify queries. And Guiding should be fun for adults too, so there is always a mix of methods, pace, activities and groupings. During weekly meetings I can provide opportunities for my Brownies, but as a Trainer I can hopefully have a much wider impact on more units.
A particularly memorable moment came when I met a Leader a few weeks after she had been in one of my training sessions. After hearing me talk about some of the national Big Brownie Birthday events she had booked places for her Brownies on a Eurohop trip.
Now I have my Qualification I am looking forward to more training opportunities and the sense of achievement that they bring.
Clare Grout - Trainer
Want to make change happen for The Senior Section?
Girlguiding is reviewing its programme for 14 to 25 year olds, and you can be a part of the second stage of the review that is about to begin.
They want to find out what members and non-members think of the current 14 to 25 year old programme – via focus groups and online questionnaires.
Questionnaires
There will be two questionnaires.
Focus groups
There will be a number of focus groups held to find out more about the experience you have had with programme.
| Date | Location | Times |
| 21 June | Hautbois, Anglia | 2pm to 3:30pm |
| 28 June | Girlguiding Headquarters, London | 10:30am to 12 noon |
| 26 July | Lorne, Co Down | TBC |
| 26 July | Waddow, Lancashire | 11:30am to 1pm |
| 28 July | Blackland Farm, Sussex | 11:30am to 1pm |
Reasonable travel expenses will be covered.
Those who attend sessions at Waddow and Blackland Farm can take part in an onsite activity.
Please email programme@girlguiding.org.uk
Include the focus group you would like to attend, your name and membership number. You can either sign up individually or as a small group.
This is an opportunity for you to have your say in changes. It is always great to hear what our members think.
New Look Young Leader Qualification (YLQ)
Have you seen or heard about the new look YLQ?
Well, it has now been launched following a review in 2013, the syllabus for the YLQ has been re-written and support put in place for Leaders who have Young Leaders within their units, whether or not they are completing the YLQ.
The syllabus breaks down the themes into six succinct sections:
1. Go! and sectional training
2. Leadership
3. Planning
4. Working with girls
5. Local guiding
6. Your role in guiding.
Go and take a look and see what you can get up to.
Brussels Christmas Market
Friday, 12 to Monday, 15 December 2014
Cost: £330
Why not join with LaSER Trefoil members for a fun-filled weekend on a package prepared by Venture Abroad. Partners and friends welcome too.
Return travel by coach through the Channel Tunnel
3 nights half board accommodation (bed, breakfast and 3-course evening meal) in a centrally located hotel
Services of a Venture Abroad representative
For a booking form or further information, please contact Val Hewitt
e-mail: info@girlguidinglaser.org.uk
Closing date for applications: 27 June
Opinions Wanted
What do you think about the Girlguiding website? Do you have any ideas to improve it? Girlguiding is holding a feedback session for members at Girlguiding HQ on Sunday 29 June.
This is a great way to have your say on your website, and help create a new one.
There’s going to be sessions for Guides, members of The Senior Section aged 14-17 and parents of Rainbows/ Brownies. Why not bring your unit along or encourage parents to come?
The sessions take place from 11am-2pm at Girlguiding HQ, Egginton House, 25-28 Buckingham Gate, SW1E 6LD.
Girlguiding Vacancies
Front Office Manager - Foxlease
Girlguiding is currently recruiting a Front Office Manager to be based at Foxlease, reporting to the Centre Manager.
Should you wish to apply, please complete an application form and return to Human Resources at hrvacancies@girlguiding.org.uk
Funny Women Workshop!