Spring Updates, Easter Activities, and Summer Term Planning

April marks the start of a busy and exciting period as we prepare for the Easter break and look ahead to the summer term. Across Girlguiding Northamptonshire leaders are planning new activities and opportunities for members, including supporting girls working toward their Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards.

March was a productive month, featuring several residential trips that offered girls the chance to gain confidence, develop new skills, and build friendships. Our Sleep Out to Help Out event was a notable success, with members raising valuable funds and awareness for the Hope Centre. Thanks to generous donations and JustGiving efforts, we were able to make a significant contribution. An official presentation will follow. Our thanks go to Chris and her team for their excellent organisation.

The bell boat helm course, however, saw lower-than-expected attendance, with only two of the eight registered volunteers able to join on the day. While we recognise the many commitments our volunteers balance, we also appreciate the work that goes into planning events of this kind. Anyone still interested in becoming a helm is encouraged to contact Chris at accoutdoors@girlguidingnorthamptonshire.org.uk

Our Meet and Greet Sessions continue to strengthen connections across the County, giving volunteers a space to share feedback and ideas. We look forward to the upcoming session in Kettering and encourage all volunteers—new or experienced—to attend. We are also pleased to welcome Lynsey McIntosh as Chair of Adult Support, and Hannah Griggs and Val Armstrong as County Helpers.

This month, Chris and I had the pleasure of attending the Glendon Gang Show, featuring Guides, Brownies, Cubs, and Scouts. The cast delivered a confident and enthusiastic performance, and we were warmly welcomed by the organisers, including the Mayor of Kettering, Ben, who greeted us on arrival.

We also celebrated outstanding contributions at the Region Awards event. Our congratulations go to Kara Earl, Linda Barber, and Emma Wilson for their well-deserved recognition.



The County team is always happy to visit units or support events. Requests can be sent to office@girlguidingnorthamptonshire.org.uk.

As we head into Easter, we wish everyone a restful break and hope leaders find time to recharge ahead of the new term. Thank you for your ongoing dedication to making Girlguiding possible.

Mandy, Helen, Lesley and Chris

Northamptonshire County Team

Save the Date - County Long Service and Thankyou Awards - 16th July 2026 18.45pm at Jubilee - more information coming soon.

EVENTS

What's happening where and when?

TRAININGS

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

UPCOMING FIRST RESPONSE TRAININGS

All trainings will be held at the County Office, The Unity Centre, Unit 1 Brookfield, Duncan Close, Moulton Park NN3 6WL

Wear uniform or comfortable clothes. Bring a packed lunch and a drink and a paper and pen. This course is FREE

The first response e-learning will also need to be completed on the learning platform

Thinking Day



A big thankyou to Jo Pearce for arranging to light up St. Peter and St Paul's church Kettering. 

To celebrate 100 years of Thinking day.

Dianne Stewart

Congratulations for completing the Becoming a Leader Training

Claire Lunney - Salcey Division

Kim May - Salcey Division

Ciara Black - South Division

Congratulations for completing the Going Away With Scheme

Eva Passmore - North Division

RSVP to office@girlguidingnorthamptonshire.org.uk

Celebrating 80 years of the Queen’s Guide Award! 🎉

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Queen’s Guide Award with Girlguiding, and we would love to celebrate with you. 

We are planning a special event on 21st November, and would love to hear from anyone who is currently working on or has completed the Queen’s Guide Award over the years.

If you’re interested in attending please get in touch on queensguide@girlguidingnorthamptonshire.org.uk

Please share this post so it reaches as many Queen’s Guides as possible! 💙

#QueensGuide #Girlguiding #80YearsOfQueensGuide

Cricket Taster Session - Give Cricket a Go!

Are you interested in trying something new? Curious about cricket? Join us for a fun and friendly taster session open to all ages and abilities.

· Date: Friday 17 April, 5pm – 6pm Rainbows and Brownies

· Date: Monday 20 April, 7pm - 8pm Guides and Rangers

· Venue: Northampton County Cricket Club, Indoor Centre, Abington Avenue, NN1 4NY



Cost: £4 per girl to include a badge

No equipment or experience required.

Coaches will be on hand to guide you.

Perfect for beginners and anyone keen to have a go!

Come along, have some fun, and discover the joy of cricket!

For further information contact programme@girlguidingnorthamptonshire.org.uk 

Sleepover Fun

At the start of March, 106 girls and leaders from Rothwell, Desborough and Barton Seagrave had a wonderful sleepover at Tigers Play, Kettering.

There was not much sleeping but lots of fun, laughter and midnight snacking!

Siobhan

Did you know, every day in May, 240 people will wake up to the life-changing impact of a stroke? People tend to think it's a condition that just affects older people, however 400 children every year will have a stroke and 1 in 4 working age people. Therefore, we are inviting you to be part of our Make May Purple campaign. It’s dedicated to raising awareness of stroke and fundraising to help stroke survivors find strength through support.

Stroke is one of the leading causes of disability, and your support can change lives. Your support to the Stroke Association, could help us provide personalised care and vital resources to tens of thousands of stroke survivors annually. If fuels cutting-edge research and strengthens our campaigns to ensure everyone affected get the best possible care.

Did you know we have a Stroke Association challenge pack? It has activities that you can run in your unit to give the members an understanding of what strokes are and how we can help. Drop us an email at teamstroke@stroke.org.uk if you would like a copy of the challenge pack. Even better, there is a badge to go with the challenge pack for £1.50 per badge. These can also be obtained by emailing teamstroke@stroke.org.uk 

To get hold of your free fundraising pack for Make May Purple, sign up here. For units that raise over £50, we will send you out a Stroke Association skipping rope (whilst stocks last) per unit member as a thank you. If you are raising the funds on JustGiving, we will know when you've hit that amount. If you raise the funds offline, the money needs to be banked into our account for us to know you have raised over the £50.

1st Harpole Guides ran a fundraiser last month, working towards their Take Action theme award.

They invited friends, family and local people to join them for a coffee evening.

They made bracelets, key fobs and cakes - lots of cakes! Sold raffle tickets and ran a ‘Name the bear’ game. 

They raised an amazing £588.67 for Huntingtons Disease Association.

We look forward to seeing what this unit will decide to next.

27th Fuller brownies (Kettering) had a fun packed evening at Asda.

They learnt about how much every day items cost, did a product hunt round the store and encountered every day problems that would either add money to their money pot or take it away!

They then did some shopping for items that are being handed over to Kettering Food bank when they come visit us next week.

Julie Vintner - Brown Owl

The new online going away with scheme was launched in October 2025. This scheme lets you take girls on overnight trips, like sleepovers and camps. You can do it if you’ve finished the leader development programme and are currently a leader, commissioner or adviser.

32nd St Matthews Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and leaders enjoying a bowling night before the Easter break

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.

Training Record Cards are available to print from the county website

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. Buy from the local shops or use the form below to purchase from the county office (you will need to add on postage unless collecting)

Leaders can now order and present Young Leader badges and certificates. Buy them from the shop. For every 4 modules completed a certificate and badge is achieved and can be presented in the unit.

We have two properties in the county that you can book for days, evenings or overnights.....

MacQueen House  

Information and availability for MacQueen HERE

Cleaning Day Monday 13 April 10.00-12.00

AGM - Thursday 21 May 7pm at MacQueen

Jubilee Campsite



Information and availability for campsite HERE

Tent sorting at Jubilee

Come along on Sunday 12th April from 10am to our lovely site and help us sort and prepare the tents for the summer season.

Tea, coffee and cake provided. All very welcome

Jubilee 90th birthday

Come and celebrate on Thursday July 9th at our Quiz , AGM and Ploughmans

7pm Cost £8 . Numbers to Jennie Lewell or email Jubilee@girlguidingnorthamptonshire.org.uk

This year at Jubilee there will be a Special 90th challenge and a badge of course. Look out for it. Copies will be sent out with all bookers of Jubilee and will also be available at the site. We are looking for all your memories of camping or visiting the site. Make sure you record them in the book at Jubilee.

How to contact the HQ safeguarding team

If you have a safeguarding concern, report it. If it’s an emergency and there’s an immediate risk of harm, you must call the emergency services first, and then report to the HQ safeguarding team.

Get in touch during office hours on +44(0)207 834 6242 ext. 3037 or email safeguarding@girlguiding.org.uk

For out of hours emergencies, call +44(0)7508 032997 (5-10pm Monday to Friday; 9am-10pm Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays).

The Queen's Guide

award

The Queen's Guide Award is the highest award you can work towards in Girlguiding. This award is open to members aged 16 to 30. You have 3 years to complete it or up until your 31st Birthday.

There are 5 sections; Personal Development Challenge, Guiding Challenge, Community Action Challenge, Lead the Way Challenge and Social Experience Challenge.

For more information and to get started, email Rachael and Joanna at queensguide@girlguidingnorthamptonshire.org.uk

Midlands Region Grants – free money

Apply now using the current forms available HERE if your unit or an individual member would benefit from the support.

County Office - The Unity Centre

Do some photocopying or get help with your DBS or any other aspect of Go!

EASTER - Lynda not in the office 7-10 April due to annual leave, Katie (treasurer)is in on 7 and 9 April

We are open 9.30am-12.30pm Weekdays in term-time. During school holidays it is always best to call 01604 648740 or email office@girlguidingnorthamptonshire.org.uk

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