Girlguiding leaders stand up to speak out!
Volunteers tried something new at the I Love Growing Guiding weekend in February; by taking part in a workshop led by Lynne Parker, the founder and executive producer of ‘Funny Women’, the UK’s leading community for female comedy.
Funny women and Girlguiding LaSER are working in partnership to offer volunteers a unique opportunity to increase their confidence in public speaking and leadership skills. We had a full house of participants keen to explore how they can feel more confident to speak out about Girlguiding and experiment with their funny side to make an impact.
Volunteers explored their proudest guiding moments, discussed the best ways to engage people and make themselves memorable and even created their own sketch pieces.
Divinia Hayes, LaSER Development Worker said, “Everyone got really stuck in and even those who thought there was no way they could do some of the activities found that it was a space they could let their hair down! We had a real rollercoaster of emotions, many laughs but also time for reflection. Volunteers left energised and keen to use their learning to grow guiding.”
Jeannine Monk, one of the participants said, “A perfect workshop to share and grow confidence. Laughter was the key to breaking barriers, Lynne brought out the best in us all.”
If you are interested in finding out more about Funny Women running a workshop in your area please contact Divinia Hayes (divinia.hayes@girlguiding.org.uk) at Girlguiding.
Ready, steady... sow!
Are you interested in helping your local area? Why not register your Guide unit for a free seed-sowing kit?
Grow Wild is gearing up for the UK’s biggest ever spring sowing launch and they need your help.
Guide Leaders can register for exclusive seed kits to help your Guide unit grow beautiful, colourful wildflowers which will be a haven for bees, butterflies and birds.
There are lots of hints and tips and activity ideas on Grow Wild UK. Have a look!
Seed kits include:
- five bumper packs of seeds
- a build-your-own bee house
- 'two for one' entry vouchers for Kew Gardens
- entry in a special prize draw
Please register your Guide unit by 10 March 2014.
Paddlepower Weekend
When? Saturday 10 & Sunday 11 May 2014 9.30am - 4.30pm
Who for? Members of the Guide or Scout Associations aged 12+ wanting to work towards or be assessed for their Paddlepower Discover, BCU One or Two Star awards
Where? Paxmead Riverside Base, Docket Eddy Lane, Shepperton TW17 9NT
How much? £20 per day to include boat hire, hot drinks and lunch
What’s happening? The weekend includes journeys by kayak and/or canoe up the Abbey River and along the Wey navigation. Some elements of the BCU 3 Star Course can also be covered depending on coach availability and the water levels in the weirs.
Interested? Here’s what you do… To book your place please email Paxmead (paxmead@hotmail.co.uk) or telephone: 01932 561435 for an application form.
Places are limited and offered on a first come first served basis
How did you celebrate World Thinking Day?
A National Celebration
Jenny Holmes, Leader with 2nd Preston Brownies, joined with other members of her District to take her Brownies to Girlguiding’s Celebrate! at Alexandra Palace. As a district there were Rainbows, Brownies and Guides.
Lily, aged six and turning seven in April, and Alice who is also six and turning seven in May, loved the golf, because they had never done it before.
The Brownies thought the day was awesome, which is how Mollie, Evie, Sofia and Phoebe described their day to Jenny, when she caught up with them at the end. Ava and Josie, both aged seven, went zorbing, which they said was really fun and Holly, also aged seven, enjoyed winning the cycling in the velodrome! She said that this was the first big thing she had been to as a Brownie and liked seeing lots of Brownies there.
Guides that went on the trip were really pleased with everything from the face packs to the ‘slimey squidgy’ stuff. They also loved the photo booth, but mainly because it was like a hen do!
Jenny said it was a great day, and a very different way of coming together and seeing lots of Brownies, Guides and Rainbows all in one place.
Nearly 500 Centenary Bears were sold over the weekend. They were everywhere we looked!
A Division Celebration
Bev Boakes, Leader with 1st Burwash Brownies and 1st Burwash Guides, was part of a planning committee to hold a Division World Thinking Day event held for all sections within the Division.
A variety of activities were organised with a wish tree, full of wishes from each section that included a wish for every Brownie in the world to be happy. Rainbows and Brownies also got the chance to groom ponies, while Guides got the chance to play football and archery. They also learnt to say hello in different languages and how to write their name in Greek.
Bev said it was excellent to see the whole division come together and enjoy the celebrations for World Thinking Day this year.
A Unit Celebration
Charlotte Cowdell, Leader with 4th Uckfield Guides, will be celebrating World Thinking Day with her Guide Unit this week in her weekly meeting. The Guides have chosen activities that they would like to do from the Big Brownie Birthday Challenge World section.
The girls will be learning about the World Badge through World Badge Beetle, guiding in Canada through a Firefly game and quizzes around the Canadian sections and programme, making mini God’s Eyes and learn about guiding in Mexico, trying some chocolate fondue and what guiding is like in Switzerland.
Charlotte says it is great to think about different cultures through activities in the Guide unit and how guiding happens in other units.
Top tips for Join Us
Use the ‘LOGOUT’ link every time you close down. Using the X is not secure enough. Rather like opening both the front and back doors at home, going out and only locking the front door. There is still access!
Help!
Angela Lewis needs a Camp Assistant at Blackland Farm!
If you have camping experience, a full driving licence, an ability to work independently and plan ahead and a desire to work at Blackland Farm this summer, please contact Angela Lewis on 01342 810493.
Girlguiding Kent Weald invite you to join them for their BP Adventure ‘Murder Mystery Weekend’
Friday 28 March, 7pm
to Sunday 30 March, 12pm
It’s a weekend of surprises, friendship and fun and even includes a murder mystery dinner party!
Venue: Five Oak Green, nr Tonbridge, Kent
Contact Judy Barrett on the Girlguiding Kent Weald admin address (ggkwadmin@virginmedia.com) for further information.
Cost: £55/head for non-Kent Weald Guides; £45/head for Kent Weald
Bookings need to be received by Friday 7 March