Something from the commissioner...

As our thoughts turn towards a break from Guiding for the school holidays it was wonderful to celebrate with leaders from across the county their amazing achievements at the recent awards night. We celebrated 6 leaders who completed going away with qualifications, 90 leaders were presented with long service awards notching up an amazing 1605 years of service between them, 3 leaders with County thanks and recognition awards and 6 Girlguiding good service awards.



The Whipsnade zoo trip on 8^th June was amazing – 21 coaches, 1053 members all over the zoo sharing an event together – showing our young members that they are part of a large guiding family. The day ran so smoothly 21 coaches arriving and leaving at the same time, a smooth booking in process - a testament the meticulous planning of the small team who put the event together thank you Jane, Mel, Stacy and Kacey. Thank you also to all the leaders who invested their Sunday to give girls the chance to enjoy the event. 

At the awards and review evening we also looked back over all the county events in the last year, none of the events would have been possible without all the hard work of the programme, outdoor and adult support teams and support of unit leaders – offering to take their girls and help at events. So a huge thank you to you all and I hope you enjoy a summer break from guiding and those going on Hop to Hautbois or their own unit camps and holidays, have a brilliant time. 

Northamptonshire Awards 2025

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

What a wild day out! We had a fabulous trip to Whipsnade Zoo last month. Over 1000 of us boarded our coaches bright and early to enjoy an animal-adventure packed day! We spotted big cats, posed with the penguins, rode the train, got up high and up close to the giraffes and much more besides. It was great to see so many smiling faces around the zoo, creating unforgettable memories. Thank you to the staff and volunteers at the zoo for looking after us so well, to our super organising team - coordinating that many coaches is quite a feat! - and of course everyone who joined us!

Some information from external organisations that would like to work with units in Girlguiding Northamptonshire;

North Northants First Responders-Basic Life Support Workshops: (note just for North Northants (Finedon upwards and across up to Corby, Oundle etc.) but they can help put into contact for other areas). CPR, defib, recovery position

Contact James Spencer - james.spencer@northnorthantscfr.co.uk

Mind Kettering - Contact Callum Sanderson - callum@ketteringmind.co.uk

07917 351907

1st Orlingbury Guides welcomed North Northants First Responders to their meeting to learn basic life support and first aid Including bandaging and bleed control. 

Thank you from Stacey, Matt and Tina

I am working towards my Queen's Guide Award which includes raising funds and awareness for a charity. My chosen charity is the David Nott Foundation which provides medical training and equipment in places with conflict or natural disaster. Please sponsor me using the QR code below - thank you Hazel Copping

We've teamed up with Northampton Saints Community to put on some taster sessions for our members at Franklin Gardens training pitch. The sessions will give girls the chance to try rugby in a Girlguiding environment for £3 each which includes a badge. There is also the opportunity for match tickets to the first Loughborough Lightning home game of the season at Franklins Gardens for girls to attend with a parent at the additional cost of £8.00 - this fixture will either be 24,25,26 or 31 October or 1 or 2 November - we can add them later once date and time known if required (just send another form with details and payment). Leaders are free but can pay £1 for a badge of they want one.

2nd Moulton Brownies

We would thoroughly recommend both activities and hopefully the contacts above might be useful for other units - Leader Julie Ashby

Subscription 2026



The county trustees wanted to let you know how much county will be charging for their annual subscription in 2026 before the summer to enable you to plan your unit finances from September.

County benefitted from two very generous legacies in 2023, some of this money has been spent improving the facilities at MacQueen house – a shed for the go-carts to replace the stone store which can’t be used, improving the heating to a more efficient system and installing loft insulation to reduce the running costs are in progress. The coaches for Whipsnade were also paid from the legacy money. However not every member goes to MacQueen house or went to Whipsnade Zoo, to ensure every member of Girlguiding Northamptonshire benefits from these legacies consistently and fairly county reduced our annual subscription for 2025 by £1 to £12, and the trustees have decided to maintain the 2026 levy at £12 for another year.



HQ and region have announced their 2026 levies: 

HQ                £36

Region           £8

County         £12

Total            £56  

This is before anything for division or district is added, however the figures above should enable you to plan your finances for the next academic year. 

New storage shed at MacQueen house

The new storage shed for the go-carts is nearly ready to be used! Thank you to Tricia who has worked with the MacQueen House committee to get it installed

Poacher 2026 International Jamboree



Bookings have opened for the adventure of a lifetime in Lincolnshire! Your group can join 5,000 Scouts and Guides from across the world for a huge range of adventurous activities, exciting entertainments and lasting friendships 1 - 8 August 2026. 

Participant fee: £300

Leader fee: £30

More details can be found at www.poacher.org.uk - bookings are open until 31st October 2025, or until the event is full - whichever comes sooner.

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.  These 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. 

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

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

Summer Buffet Thursday 10 July 2025 at 12.00 for 12.30pm 

Beetle Drive Saturday 20 September 2025 5-7pm at St Giles Church NN 2BN £10pp email Macqueen@girlguidingnorthamptonshire.org.uk

Information and availability for MacQueen HERE

Jubilee Campsite

Tuesday 8 July 2025 Cleaning Day join us between 10.00-12.00 and help us to maintain our site



Information and availability for campsite HERE

County Office - The Unity Centre - Opening times

9.30am-12.30pm Weekdays in term-time

During school holidays it is always best to email office@girlguidingnorthamptonshire.org.uk

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