Something from the commissioner...

Happy New Year, I hope you had a relaxing break from Guiding and are looking forward to more fun, challenges and adventures in 2025.



Our first County all section event is our Thinking Day afternoon in Kettering, Northampton or Brackley on 23^rd February it will be a fun afternoon for leaders and girls with dancing, camp fire singing and renewing of our promises. More details are in this newsletter Sharon, Mel and Myself will be at a venue each - we look forward to seeing your there.

January is also a time for a bit of a spring clean and some housekeeping, subscriptions are due in February so now is the perfect time to tidy up GO, add new girls and move old girls to the next section, complete the 2024 unit accounts and ask your commissioner to make any adult changes. Lynda in the office is also able to help with GO queries. 

EVENTS

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

TRAININGS - More trainings in next months news and views

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

1st Harpole Guides decided not to have a Secret Santa this year, but to donate to those less fortunate instead.

This is a photo of the items we sent to the Food bank Daventry for children who wouldn’t otherwise be having gifts at Christmas

Jubilee Fun-nights

We have booked adventure venues around the county for you to attend and enjoy, all profits help to maintain our Jubilee Campsite. Cost £7.00 for each girl at all venues



• Monday 24 March at Tigers in Kettering (R, B & G) 5.30-7.30pm

• Tuesday 25 March at Zoomania in Northampton (R&B)6.00-8.00pm

• Wednesday 26 March at Tigers in Kettering (R, B & G) 6.30-8.30pm

• Friday 28 March at Tigers in Daventry (R, B & G) 6.30pm-8.30pm

Please note the times at each venue

Zoomania is for Rainbows & Brownies, Tigers is for Rainbows, Brownies & Guides

Come and join in the fun celebrating Thinking Day as a county. Three large venues with different 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- Closing Date 28 February 2025

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

Information For Leaders HERE

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.

For more information and to confirm attendance to any of the above dates

Email Jane at international@girlguidingnorthamptonshire.org.uk

Did you know you don’t have to be a commissioner to nominate someone in your unit, district or division for an award? We have County, Region and National awards for girls and adults the application form is on the county website.

Do you know someone who is always ready to help with an extra event, does amazing activities with her unit, or supports girls and new volunteers to progress through guiding, or a young member who has done something extra special?



If so why don’t you nominate them? You don’t need to decide which award to nominate them for, the committee will do that. The next committee meeting is in March so please email your nominations to the office office@girlguidingnorthamptonshire.org.uk and awards@girlguidingnorthamptonshire.org.uk by 16^th February 2025, thank you. 

Calling all Ranger Units📣📣📣

Why not try out this great new Inspire Challenge Badge?

This challenge badge is aimed at Rangers and young leaders to show them what Inspire is and what it has to offer them once they turn 18. Inspire members can also complete the activities to earn the badge as an introduction to Inspire.

The Badge is split into 7 sections to follow the 7 pathways that form Inspire. People need to complete at least 1 clause from each section. This can be adapted depending on the needs of the individual.

Inspire members

Make sure you all join (if you haven’t already) the Midlands Inspire Group Hub! For all Inspire events put on by Midland

We also have our own Northamptonshire Inspire Facebook Group that can be joined

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

Information and availability for MacQueen HERE

Jubilee Campsite

Information and availability HERE

County Office - The Unity Centre - Opening times

9.30am-12.30pm Weekdays and term-time

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

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