Something from the commissioner...

What a great celebration Thinking Day was this year – with over 1000 members across the county celebrating together at 3 different venues, I was lucky to be at the Saints in Northampton and Clubercise went down a storm with girls and leaders alike, followed by renewing our promises and an indoor campfire, with songs being lead by girls, teaching younger girls not to be shy in front of so many strangers and teach their peers new songs.

A huge thank you to Jane and her team of organisers especially Mel, Sarah and Eloise who each led a venue.

As our thoughts turn towards Spring and hopefully warmer lighter evenings, our next county events are the Jubilee Fun nights – in aid of Jubilee, followed by a have a go at Archery day in May and the all section trip to Whipsnade Zoo on June 8^th, bookings close on 3^rd May, right at the beginning of the summer term so make sure you get your Whipsnade booking form in soon.



Don’t forget to pay your annual subscription by 28^th March and send your 2024-unit accounts to your commissioner by mid-March – a huge thank you to those who have completed their accounts and paid subscription already. 

Sadly, Rita Grinham who was a wonderful team member at Unity has recently passed away. Rita helped us in the office every Thursday without fail folding News and Views, stamping envelopes and franking post. We missed her terribly when we moved to email news. 



Rita was Brown Owl with Moulton Brownies for many years and a Trefoil Guild member. Rita was such a lovely person and she will be sorely missed by us all.

EVENTS

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

TRAININGS - click on the training for further information

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

50 year Celebration

On January 30th it was 50 years since Helen Asbery ran her first Guide meeting. 

She spent 10 years with a Guide unit in Lincolnshire, 30 years as Bugbrooke guide leader and now 10 years with Bugbrooke Rainbows. 

Past and present guides and leaders joined the celebration.

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

Thinking Day Fun 2025



Over 1,000 attendees participated in Bhangra dancing at Wicksteed Park, Clubbercise at The Saints Rugby Ground and Zumba at Brackley Town Football Club. They renewed their promise with a mini ‘campfire’ and sing-song, creating happy memories.

A special thanks to the volunteers that make these events happen, the lead singers and all volunteers who brought their units along!

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

Accounts for the year ending 2024 need to be completed and verified now by an independent reviewer. A reviewer is someone who is financially confident (doesn’t need to have a formal qualification) and must not related to anyone in the unit leadership team or a signatory on the accounts or a member of the leadership team. Please speak to your local commissioner if you need support finding a reviewer.

Your commissioner has been sent the bank form you need to send to them along with the final accounts summary. The bank form is also available as a PDF Here

Please send the information to your commissioner by mid March 2025 as county needs all the information from commissioners by the end of March. Katie the county treasurer is able to help answer any finance questions you may have treasurer@girlguidingnorthamptonshire.org.uk

The Going Away With Scheme is a resource for all adults within guiding who have completed the Leadership Qualification and wish to gain a qualification to be able to take their girls away on residential's.

Going away on a residential this year?

Don’t forget to check that your venue is approved for staying overnight in.

A list of national venues is on the Girlguiding website and Northampton County approved properties are on our website

 

If it isn’t on the list please contact the advisers to arrange a visit to approve it;

Kate – guideholiday@girlguidingnorthamptonshire.org.uk or

Helen – brownieholiday@girlguidingnorthamptonshire.org.uk

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.

  

Well done to those that have been achieved this month;

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. 

Nights Away Badges

Keep track of your nights away 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

MacQueen House

Coffee Morning Thursday 27 March 10.00-12.00

Coffee, tea, cakes bring & buy and raffle

AGM Thursday 8 May 7pm - All welcome

Information and availability for MacQueen HERE

Jubilee Campsite

Quiz & AGM 12th June 2025 

Information and availability for campsite HERE

Adult Campfire on the 13th May 19.00-21.00 All Welcome

A tour of the site for first timers from 18.00 and a good old fashioned campfire with drinks and light refreshments. No charge but donations always welcome!

Email go@girlguidingnorthamptonshire.org.uk with your attendance numbers.

County Office - The Unity Centre - Opening times

9.30am-12.30pm Weekdays in term-time

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

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