Something from the commissioner...

As the year comes towards the end Mel, Sharon and myself would like to say Thank you for volunteering. 



2024 has been an action-packed year for Northamptonshire.

The year started with guides, rangers and young leaders enjoying an evening at Ninja Warrior, the rainbows and brownies went to Willows Activity Farm, we’ve held cinema screenings, archery, water and county training days, all sections came together to enjoy the beautiful surroundings of Stanwick lakes, lots of units tried the County Girlguiding in Motion challenge badge, young leaders and rangers had their own camp, the leaders joined leaderfest camp and the guides and rangers had an after dark adventure and backwoods skills day.

Thank you to all the volunteers who made these events happen and leaders for supporting the county and bringing their girls. There have also been lots of opportunities at district and division levels, alongside all the fun and adventure you give your girls at their weekly meetings.

Thank you for being an amazing volunteer.

Plans are already underway for events in 2025 the first being the leader pack holiday overnight in Northampton – your chance to try new activities, earn badges, and have lots of laughter over the weekend. Then we have the county Thinking Day event, a trip to the zoo and a holiday in Norfolk to look forward to. 

More information below on how to book. 

Enjoy your break from guiding and we look forward to having a fun filled 2025.

EVENTS

What's happening where and when? Click on the Event for further details

TRAININGS

Click on the Training description for further details

To complete First Response, or Safer Guiding e-learnings (which replace Safe Space Levels 1, 2 and 3) please visit the Learning Platform

External First Response - All recognised prior learning or external courses will need to be verified through the external first aid area of the learning platform. This will be verified by your region first aid verifier team. You'll be asked to complete your 1st response e-learning (if you haven't already done so) before you're able to upload your external course for verification. You'll be asked to provide your certificate as well as information regarding how your external course has covered the 1st response syllabus

Northampton Guiding at All Saints Remembrance Parade 2024

Rothwell Rainbows had a lovely day out with midlands at the Black Country museum. Sitting at the top of the old fashioned bus was a favourite - Sian

1st Spratton Brownies - 50 year milestone

2024 marks 50 years of 1st Spratton Brownies, after the Unit opened in 1974. 

We held a celebration on 5th October 2024 to mark this golden anniversary, looking back on the past 50 years and celebrating the Unit as it is today. 

It was a day filled with fun and friendship, with a variety of crafts and games to get involved with. There was also was much cake to be had, all generous contributions by the current Brownies and their parents.

Celebrating this significant milestone gave the opportunity to meet and catch up with previous leaders, looking back on photographs from over the years and sharing memories of time spent with the unit. 

We proudly showcased the achievements of the current group of Brownies, inspiring each other and future Brownies with the various Interest badges that they had completed over the past year. 

We have started a Memory Book for those involved in the Unit, both past and present, as a lasting keepsake of this occasion for the Unit to treasure. 

We have special 50th anniversary badges available for £2 each. If you would like a badge, please contact us via 1stsprattonbrownies@gmail.com

Katherine Rose on behalf of 1st Spratton Brownies 

2nd Higham Guides are organising a trip, to watch Northampton town Women's play Boldmere St Michaels on Sunday 5th January.

Kick Off is at 2pm with the game being held at Fernie Fields

Both 2nd Higham Guides and Northampton town would like to extend the invitation to come and watch, to all our fellow Guiding units and their families in Northamptonshire.

Girlguiding members are welcome to get there for 1pm, to watch the players warming up on one of the side pitches.

We will have Girlguiding members perform a Guard of Honour when the players walk onto the pitch as well as have the opportunity to be a Ball Girl during the match.

After the game, Girlguiding members will get the opportunity to do a meet and greet with the players.

For those 16 and over, it will be £5

For those between 7 and 15, it will be £3

For those under 7, it will be free

Leaders will be free

We will need the numbers of Girlguiding members attendees plus payment by end of December to secure our tickets and help Northampton Town work out how many staff they are going to need.

Other family members can get tickets on the day (cost is exactly the same)

There are no assigned seats so families can enjoy the match together.

Please contact Lou Winter at HighamGuides@gmail.com to confirm numbers and for any other questions.

We hope many units from all sections will join in the fun celebrating Thinking Day as a county. Three large venues with good capacity.

Dance Activities (Bhangra, Clubacise or Zumba) Promise Renewal and campfire singing at all

First come first served!! Closing Date 31 January 2025 or when full

Morning of 2nd August to teatime of 5th August 2025

County holiday at Hautbois near Norwich for Brownies and Guides

•          4 days and 3 nights of fun packed adventurous activities

•          Fully catered – and no washing up needed!

•          Fully equipped – we don’t even need to pitch tents!

•          Buses laid on from County to get there

•          Sleeping in the Reed Cutter Village or hexagonal tents

•          £225 plus travel for girls and £100 plus travel for leaders

           (or you can pay full price and fully take part too)

•          £50 deposit by 28th February and balance by 15th May 2025

•         All you need is your bedding and kit and off we go….

Come on – let’s go have some fun together!

archery/abseiling/bushcraft/canoeing/climbing

crate stacking/kayaking/maze/low ropes

obstacle course/orienteering/rafting/paddle boarding/zip wire

and so much more….

LIMITED places so send you form as soon as you can to secure this great trip

Don’t forget there is the Midlands region Make a Difference Fund for girls and

leaders who need a bit of help with funding an adventure 

County is paying for the coaches and badges. ZSL Members are Free (must bring membership card on the day or will have to pay at the gate)

Closing Date 3 May 2025

International opportunities

Thursday 9th January 2025 (evening) 7.30pm at Unity Centre, Moulton Park Adult members. Information related to international event and a chance to register your interest in being part of a Leader team for trips abroad. Any adults interested in finding out about international Girlguiding opportunities are welcome to join us on this date

Sunday 9th February 2025 (daytime) at Unity Centre, Moulton Park Young members aged 12 yrs and over (Guides, Young Leaders and Rangers) information and activities with an international theme relating to international opportunities. Any young members 13-18 interested in learning about international Girlguiding are welcome to join us on this date. A consent form will need to be returned when confirming your attendance.

Any young members who have secured places on Midland Region international trips who would like to be involved in the Thinking Day event to raise funds for their trip please get in touch.

Please share and save the above dates. For more information and to confirm attendance to any of the above dates please

Email Jane at international@girlguidingnorthamptonshire.org.uk

Nights Away Badges

Every time you spend one or more nights away on a Girlguiding event keep track using the record card below. 

When you reach 1,3,5,7,10,15,25,50,75,100,150 and 200 nights you can celebrate with a Northamptonshire nights away badge.

If you make your purchase from the county office you will need to add on postage unless collecting - order form for that below or purchase via the guiding shops in the usual way.

Girlguiding Northamptonshire are celebrating the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics with a challenge badge

Girlguiding in motion

The Olympic and Paralympic values of Excellence, Respect, Friendship and Courage, Determination, Inspiration, Equality are closely aligned with the values and promise of Girlguiding so rather than being just about sport, this challenge is about trying new things, working together and doing your best.

Money raised from sales of the badge will be going towards our county properties so they can host new experiences and adventures for our young members long into the future.

There are 5 parts to the challenge with a range of different activities and suggested UMA connections. The badge is aimed at all sections and can be adapted to the needs of your unit. There are no specific requirements to earn the badge, the most important thing is to have fun but we suggest that you undertake at least one activity from each part. ONLY 100 BADGES LEFT!

Well done to all our members who have been working hard and already achieved their Training Brooches! Do YOU have yours?



All the time you spend keeping up to date in your Guiding roles can help work towards a training pin.                        

This includes both e-learnings and face to face trainings - so attending a safe space, first response or county training day will give you hours towards a pin.  

Training Record Cards are available to print from the county website, so you can record what you do and then apply to the office for your hard-earned brooches. It also explains how to count your hours and what can be included. 

MacQueen House

Christmas Dinners 

Thursday 5^th December 12.00 for 12.30pm £20pp

Tickets from; macqueen@girlguidingnorthamptonshire.org.uk

Coffee Mornings at Northampton Trefoil House,

The Division Guide Shop

Saturday 7th December 10 - 12 noon 

Proceeds from coffee and cake to MacQueen House. 

Information and availability for MacQueen HERE

Jubilee Campsite

Information and availability HERE

County Office - The Unity Centre - Christmas times

The office will close for the Christmas break from 12.30pm 20 Dec 2024 and re-open 9.30am 2 January 2025

During school holidays it is always best to phone 01604 648740 or email office@girlguidingnorthamptonshire.org.uk

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