Something from the commissioner...

Wow what an amazing time we had at Hop to Hautbois – an action packed 4 days the girls were busy from the minute they woke up. Lots of new and challenging activities for them to do and new friendships made.  A huge thank you to Janita and her organising team their meticulous planning ensured the event ran smoothly and to all the leaders who brought their girls.

I hope at some point everyone had a chance to have a break and feel refreshed and ready for more fun and adventures with your units this term.  September is a good time to do a little bit of housekeeping moving your girls onto the next section and adding your new members and don’t forget – every volunteer needs to have a current DBS, saferguiding or the correct level of safe space training and at least 1 leader per unit needs to have a valid first response qualification to meet. Check out the training diary below if you need to update any training.  If you’re working on the leader development programme County has a whole weekend of trainings to support you, and the opportunity to attend a saferguiding training in person. 

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

Earlier in the summer there was a People’s postcode lottery win in Northampton which then also gives £1,000,000 to the Postcode community trust to donate to local community groups in the area. Girlguiding Northamptonshire is the lucky recipient of £30,000 to spend supporting our members!

We need ideas on how to spend the money – special events, trips, activities, facilities, do you have an ‘if only we had more money we could do this’ thought? Please email cc@girlguidingnorthamptonshire.org.uk with your suggestions. We look forward to hearing them. 

Hautbois 2025 what a great county camp!

160 of us home and recovered from our 4-day frog-themed Hop to Hautbois camp in Norfolk at Hautbois Activity Centre, Girlguiding Anglia.

Non-stop laughter, fun and friendship, as well as challenging ourselves on new adventurous activities such as abseiling, climbing, kayaking, bridge building, fencing, tomahawk throwing, paddle boarding, ziplining and so many more ….

It didn’t just stop there as we had a silent disco, campfire and crafts for the evenings.



Lots of happy faces and memories made amongst our Girlguiding family. Looking forward to the next one already. Well done team

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 is confirmed as 2 November 2025. Leaders are free but can pay £1 for a badge of they want one.

Closing Date 15 September 2025

INSPIRE

Two fabulous events for our 18-30 Section. They are great fun. Book now!

19^th Northampton St. Giles Guides will be 100 years and to celebrate they are holding a service, tea and campfire for all past members and leaders

When:   Saturday 4^th October 2025

Where:  St. Giles Church at 3pm followed by tea and campfire in the church centre over the road.

Email: stgilesgirlguiding@gmail.com to let us know you are joining the celebration.

Please share this information with any past members of St. Giles Guides 

15th Wellingborough Guides had fun making Tie Dye tops with marbles and elastic bands. Here are the results! Ruth Dickerson-Leader

Subscription 2026



The county trustees wanted to let you know how much county will be charging for their annual subscription in 2026 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. 

Sue Hall – Chair of Awards

Helen Hayward – Brownie holiday adviser

Kate Chaplin – Guide holiday adviser   

Helga Ruff and Sarah Woodhams – Joint South Division Commissioners

Rachel Wheeler – Warden Hill and Kingthorn District Commissioner 

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. 

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  

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



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

You are being sent this email because you are part of Girlguiding in Northamptonshire. If you decide to unsubscribe you will no longer receive event or booking information from us.