Pip’s Perspective – a message from the Chief Commissioner
Gill Slocombe, our Chief Guide, last week announced her appointment of the new national Chair of the Trefoil Guild and we are thrilled to learn that Pat Downer will be taking up the reins from Margaret Routley in June of this year. Many of you will know Pat as Girlguiding LaSER’s Chief Commissioner for the period 2001- 2006 and as our current Region Chair of Trefoil Guild.
I'm sure that you will join me in congratulating Pat on her new role; we will of course be sorry to be losing her from the Region but we can rest assured that under Pat's guidance our 'Guiding for Adults' section will continue to go from strength to strength.
Trefoil is open to all women and men over the age of 18 who are interested in fun, friendship and making a difference. Visit their website for more information here.
You can also follow Trefoil on Facebook and Twitter
(Twitter: @ PipMcKerrow)
Fundraising Challenge - Machu Picchu
Want to join our Chief Guide, Gill Slocombe, and LaSER’s Chair of Finance, Tracey Miller, on a once in a lifetime fundraising challenge?
Well if you’ve ever thought about raising funds for Girlguiding while undertaking a personal challenge then this could be the opportunity you have been looking for!
Who can go?
This challenge is for Girlguiding members and supporters aged over 18. You will need to be fit enough to hike long distances by the start of the challenge.
How long is it for?
Ten days
When is it?
18 - 27 October 2015
How much do I need to raise?
A total of ÂŁ3,999 and this is broken down in the following way:
• £399 registration fee upon booking
• The remaining £3,600:
o 80 per cent (ÂŁ2,880) is payable by 31 May 2015
o 20 per cent (ÂŁ720) is payable by 8 August 2015
More details are available on the Girlguiding website.
Who's New?
A very big welcome to a new member of the Region team!
Helen Beecher-Bryant has joined the Region M&C team as Lead Volunteer for Advocacy
Kwibuka20 – engagement opportunity
Our new Lead Volunteer for Advocacy, Helen Beecher Bryant, invites you to take part in an initiative to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda.
“2014 marks the twentieth anniversary of the Rwandan genocide. Rwanda is now a country of hope and a country which has moved on immeasurably from the horrors which took place in 1994. I went to Rwanda in May 2013 to participate in the WAGGGS Fifth World Centre pilot. You can read more about my experience here.
Kwibuka20 is a series of events taking place in Rwanda and worldwide, in the run up to the commemoration of the genocide, and it begins on 7 April 2014, twenty years to the day since the genocide began.”
Visit Kwibuka20 for more information. LaSER members have the opportunity to participate in the commemorations:
- Be part of A Million Voices to remember the lives lost
- Enter the Kwibuka20 Blog Post Competition
More details can be found on the LaSER website here.
Up in the Sky - A Baden Powell Adventure
When? 25 - 26 April or 26 - 27 April
Who for? Guides who have almost completed the Baden Powell Challenge
Where? Chigwell Row Essex IG7 6EN
How much? ÂŁ75
What’s happening? Come prepared for an overnight adventure with an Aerial Theme. Make sure you have a head for heights and expect aircraft, zip line, gliders, kites, stars, bats and loads more!
Interested? Here’s what you do… Contact the Warden at Chigwell Row by email (warden@chigwellrow.org.uk) or by phone: 02085002450. You will be sent further details and a booking form, but please be aware that there are only a few places left for each night.
Funtastic! branded goods
Does your unit need drawstring bags for outings? Looking for novelty pens for gifts perhaps? We have some Funtastic! branded goods looking for a good home. Please email Angela Purser on the Girlguiding Sussex West email address (Girlguidingsussexwest@yahoo.co.uk) to place your order. All stock must go!
Animal pens – approx. 300 @ 80p each
Drawstring bags – approx. 50 in each of yellow, red, sky blue, pink and orange @ 85p each
Octopus keyring – approx. 100 @ 55p each
Water bottle holder – approx. 300 @ 95p each
Lanyards – approx. 150 in each of red and blue @ 75p
Blank (credit card sized) name badges – approx. 150 @ 40p
Fridge magnets – approx. 200 @ 20p
Leather woggles – approx. 150 @ £1.30
The Household Division Beating Retreat Horse Guards Parade, London
Beating Retreat is a summer evening musical event that is performed by over 300 Army bandsmen and women, to the highest standards, usually in the presence of a member of the Royal Family. It is a sunset pageant of precision drill, horses, cannons and fireworks, all accompanied by music.
Each year, the Massed Bands, Pipes and Drums and Corps of Drums of the Household Division, supported by The King’s Troop Royal and visiting military bands from around the world, perform a mix of modern and classical tunes, from James Bond to something more traditional.
This year we welcome the Bands of the Troupes de Marine and the Légion étrangère (French Foreign Legion) to share our WWI and D-Day commemoration.
The 2014 Household Division Beating Retreat will take place at 8.30pm for 75 minutes on Wednesday 11 June and Thursday 12 June. Tickets are priced at ÂŁ10 and can be reserved by e-mailing Liz at Beating Retreat (lizalderson@beatingretreat.org).
Get Outside tips
Are you often stuck for ideas on what to do with your Unit in the great outdoors? Are you always hearing stories of the amazing adventures others are having and wish you could do something similar?
Don’t despair - we are here to provide you with some tips to Get Outside, and the best thing is they’ve been given to us by our Members!
1) Take a torchlight walk in the woods
2) Have a town quiz - could join up with promotion by asking shops if can put local logo in shop windows for girls to support
3) Get Patrols/Sixes to lay trails for each other to follow
Girlguiding Vacancies - Foxlease
General Assistant x2
ÂŁ6.60 per hour (ÂŁ12,012.00 per annum)
Girlguiding have two General Assistant positions (one permanent and one casual) who will report to the Operations Coordinator at Foxlease.
Closing date: 02 April 2014
Cleaner
ÂŁ12,012.00 per annum
Girlguiding is recruiting a Cleaner who will report to the Operations Coordinator at Foxlease.
Closing date: 02 April 2014
Should you wish to apply, please complete an application form and return to Human Resources at Girlguiding HQ (hrvacancies@girlguiding.org.uk).