Something from the commissioner...

A New Chapter Begins

Before we share anything else this month, we must begin with a heartfelt THANK YOU to Adele, Mel, and Sharon. Their dedication and leadership have brought us through the challenges of the Covid years, guiding the County with wisdom and kindness. As Adele and her team pass the baton, they leave Girlguiding Northamptonshire in a strong and positive position. Their legacy is one we are all deeply grateful for, and on behalf of everyone, I extend our warmest thanks for everything they have given.

Now, as a new era begins, I am both excited and honoured to take on the role of County Commissioner, alongside a dedicated and growing team. I am delighted to announce that Helen (Hayward) has agreed to be my Deputy. If I am ever unable to attend an event, Helen will represent me, though you are quite likely to spot us both out and about together!

I am also pleased to share that Lesley (Ingle) will be joining us as Assistant County Commissioner, with responsibility for overseeing Programme, Leadership, Training, and Mentoring across the County and Chris (Trasler) as Assistant County Commissioner responsible for Outdoors including Archery, Shooting and Water. Lesley will also step in to deputise for Helen and myself when needed, ensuring there’s always support available.

As we settle into our new roles, we are truly looking forward to meeting more of you at upcoming events. If you have any special occasions or gatherings you’d like us to attend, or maybe just a unit meeting please do get in touch by emailing cc@girlguidingnorthamptonshire.org.uk. We are here to support you and celebrate all that makes Girlguiding Northamptonshire special.

We are, after all, a new team, and your suggestions and ideas for the County are not only welcome but encouraged. Please share your thoughts either by email or, if you prefer, by telephone 07483 274093. Let’s work together to make this next chapter one of growth, fun, and continued friendship.

Wishing you all a happy and inspiring November!

With best wishes

Mandy

County Commissioner

NEWS AND VIEWS DECEMBER DEADLINE

Just a quick reminder that the deadline for submitting items for the December issue of News and Views is Monday 24th November. Please send all contributions to News@girlguidingnorthamptonshire.org.uk. We’d love to hear what your Unit, District or Division has been up to, or if you’re part of a team, please send us an update. Don’t forget your pictures too. We look forward to hearing from you!

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

Congratulations to all in the county who attended GirlGuiding Celebrates in Manchester

It was a lovely afternoon! The invite said to sparkle so Joanna Poole and I did! Oh that’s Freda, our unit mascot from the unofficial Crazy Moose badge Joanna did as part of her Queens Guide. Helen Hayward

3rd Desborough Brownies celebrated their 50th birthday with games, a party and of course cake!

We were visited by some former brownie leaders too! Carol Rowsell

Both 1st Harpole Guides and 1st Harpole Rangers had a visit from South Northants Community Responders this week for ‘Restart a heart week’

I would recommend units to invite them along, they were so good with the girls, very patient and made it a fun informative evening.

The girls asked lots of questions, learnt CPR and are now more confident if they are asked to help in an emergency. Helen Cordingley

Celebrating 20 Years of Service: A Special Afternoon with Colin Armstrong

Marking Colin’s Two Decades of Dedication to Girlguiding Northamptonshire

Many of you reading this may not recognise the name Colin Armstrong straight away, but chances are, if you’ve ever enjoyed a peaceful meander down the canal aboard Tuptonia, you’ve crossed paths with him. Colin is one of our steadfast skippers, quietly steering countless adventures for our members. Beyond the waterways, Colin also contributes as Treasurer for a local Brownie unit, ensuring everything keeps turning smoothly. Latterly, he had the role of County Duke of Edinburgh Adviser, supporting young people as they challenged themselves and grew through the DofE programme.

This year, 2025, marks an incredible milestone: Colin has completed 20 years of dedicated service with Girlguiding Northamptonshire. It’s an achievement that certainly deserves recognition, even if Colin himself is not one for fuss or fanfare. In fact, he made it quite clear he’d rather not be the centre of attention or have a grand presentation.

However, some moments are too important to slip quietly through a letterbox. A long service award is much more than a certificate – it’s a heartfelt thank you from all of us, a gesture that should be given in person.

What followed was a delightful afternoon spent with Colin and Val, a lot of you will know Val either as a Brownie Leader with 43^rd Weston Favell Brownies, previous County Walking Adviser, part of the Division team or at Trefoil Guild. Over cups of tea and delicious homemade biscuits, we shared stories and laughter. It was the perfect setting to present Colin with his 20-year long service award – not with pomp and circumstance, but with warmth, gratitude, and genuine appreciation.

Colin’s quiet commitment has made a real difference to our Guiding family in Northamptonshire. Whether he’s navigating the waterways, balancing the books, or previously when giving guidance to our DofE participants, Colin embodies the Guiding values of service and dedication. On behalf of all who have sailed with him, worked alongside him, or benefited from his guidance over the past two decades: thank you, Colin.

Safer Guiding and DBS valid to and deadline dates explained.

On your GO record – under your safe practice summary tab found in your profile you will see a Safer guiding valid to date. This is the date your current qualification expires. There is then a 40-day grace period for you to complete your training - the safer guiding deadline date. 

For DBS renewals on GO there is a valid until date and you will see a disclosure deadline date 40 days after the valid until date this is the grace period.

For both Safer guiding and DBS - as soon as the valid to date is reached and the qualification or DBS has not been completed your role will become active pending and you won’t be able to log onto GO and will need to be supervised at all times when with the young members.



At the end of the 40-day grace period – deadline date - if the safer guiding training hasn’t been renewed or your DBS hasn’t been started Girlguiding will start procedures to withdraw your membership and you will need to appeal. GO does send email reminders but a lot of these end up in spam to if in doubt please check your records. 

Subscription 2026



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. 

Midlands Region Grants – free money

Region has 3 different grants available. During 2025 fewer grants have been applied for and there is still plenty of money available.  Some of the money has come from Girlguiding and if Region hasn’t distributed it all by the end of the year they will have to give it back to London. Start applying now using the current forms available HERE if your unit or an individual member would benefit from the support.

To make it easier for leaders to apply Region will be updating the application process to just one form in 2026. Look out in the Region newsletter and on the region website for the updated form.  

Autumn Soup and Cheese Evening: A Night of Fun, Friendship, and Bingo

Northampton Nene Valley’s Seasonal Social Brings Together Girlguiding Friends

On the Tuesday evening of half term, the spirit of camaraderie was alive and well at Northampton Nene Valley’s Autumn Soup and Cheese evening. Building on the success of our Spring Social, members, volunteers, and friends gathered once again for an evening brimming with laughter, and just a hint of friendly competition.

The evening began with a game of poundshop bingo followed by a supper featuring hearty homemade soups, bread and cheeses—perfect fare for an autumn gathering. The comforting food soon gave way to another game of bingo! Next up and it was time for pudding, those present being tempted with cheesecake, blackberry and apple crumble or chocolate cake with raspberries. Puddings finished and there was time for more games of bingo. Our thanks go to Karen Clark, who took the reins as bingo caller for the night. With her cheerful enthusiasm and steady hand, Karen kept spirits high and the games running smoothly—ensuring everyone was on the edge of their seats as the numbers were called.

It was a lovely to be joined not only by our enthusiastic Girlguiding members but also ladies from Trefoil Guild and the dedicated volunteers who keep our Division Shop thriving. The room was soon filled with the sound of chatter and laughter as old friends caught up and new friendships blossomed. As the bingo games heated up, there was anticipation—especially for those with just one number to go. The competitiveness was all in good fun, with plenty of cheers, groans, and encouragement as lines and houses were completed.

Evenings like these remind us of the strong bonds that tie our Girlguiding community together. Whether it’s sharing stories over supper or cheering on a friend in bingo, events like this bring people together.

A huge thank you goes to everyone who made the night possible, especially Helen, Val, Karen, and Jennie, whose hard work and dedication ensured everything ran smoothly. And, of course, thank you to all who attended—your company made the evening a success.

We’re already looking forward to our next gathering.

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; guideholiday@girlguidingnorthamptonshire.org.uk or 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 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  

Information and availability for MacQueen HERE

Jubilee Campsite



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 or call 01604 648740

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