CC Team Update: Six Months On



As of 1 May, the CC team has now been in post for six months and are still finding their feet. We are grateful for your support as we continue to shape our plans for the County’s future.

Over the past months, we have hosted three Meet and Greet events for volunteers. These gatherings have proved not only successful but also highly informative, giving everyone the chance to share what they liked, what they did not, and their hopes for the County going forward. Your feedback is helping us set the direction for the coming months, and there is much for Helen, Lesley, Chris, and myself to discuss and consider.

Although it might appear that not much is happening, please rest assured that groundwork is being laid behind the scenes to ensure we get it right. Progress sometimes takes time, but we are committed to making meaningful changes.

Events are coming through fast and thick! Please keep an eye out for emails, Facebook posts, and updates in News and Views for details and sign-up information. We know that fitting everything in is not always easy—especially on weekends, with family and work commitments—but we value your dedication to Guiding.

With half term just around the corner, we encourage all volunteers to take some time for themselves and recharge for the final busy part of the academic year—whether that is organising a residential, heading out on the river with Chris and the bellboats, enjoying an evening at Jubilee, or simply your unit’s favourite summer activity.

A special thank you goes to Lynda in the office for all her hardwork ensuring volunteers are DBS and Saferguiding compliant—truly no mean feat!

Thank you for everything you do, and for making Northamptonshire Girlguiding so vibrant and welcoming. 

Mandy, Helen, Lesley and Chris

Northamptonshire County Team

Save the Date - 16 July 2026 18.45

County Awards Change of Venue

Due to the large number of awards to be celebrated, Jubilee camp site would be unable to accommodate everyone comfortably.

It has therefore been decided that the event will be held at Barton Seagrave Village Hall, this will be an informal event. Please RSVP your numbers to office@girlguidingnorthamptonshire.org.uk

A further formal event will take place early in the new year at a venue to be confirmed.

Those receiving awards will be invited to the formal event and are very welcome to attend both events.

We hope that this change of venue will not inconvenience those invited, please will you let the office know of your intentions.

Apologies for the short notice and thank you for your understanding.

The Awards Committee

EVENTS

What's happening where and when?

TRAININGS

IMPORTANT - If you do not complete your required safer guiding training in the 40 day period given, your role will be ended by HQ. Please book on to the face to face training below or complete online ASAP

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

Calling all volunteers. Join us at Northampton Active for The Big Paddle Cleanup.

We’ll be taking our bell boats out for a paddle to clean up the river in our local area. Come for as long or as little as you're able, a great opportunity to see the bell boats in action if you're thinking of taking your unit out on the water this summer.

Saturday 30^th May 10am-12pm and 2pm-4pm

Please email accoutdoors@girlguidingnorthamptonshire.org.uk if you can help

The Big Sleepout 2026

Well done to Guides, Rangers YL & Adults from 1st Moulton Guides, 1st Crick Guides, 1st Higham Guides, 1st Irthlingborough Guides, 1st Irthlingborough Rangers, 1st Welford Guides, 23rd Northampton, 71st Northampton, 87th Northampton and 99th Northampton Guides

Fab shelters and and amazing amount of donations going to support Northampton Hope Centre. 

Wicksteed Park holds fond memories for many of us, both personally and from day trips and events with our units. In 2010 we celebrated the Girlguiding centenary with a county sleepover in the Pavillion and a day on the rides.

This memory meant we were invited to join BBC Northamptonshire radio's 100 people to ride the Wicksteed Park waterchute as part of the centenary celebrations this morning. We were in the 4th waterchute ride of the day and got to speak to radio presenter Tom Percival just before our ride.

Sitting on the back seat, it was clear we weren't getting out of this dry, but it was fantastic to be part of the celebrations and have the opportunity to represent Girlguiding Northamptonshire. Sharon and Mia

Northampton Nene Valley Guide Outdoor Fun Day

On Saturday 18th April, a group of Guides took part in an ‘Outdoor Fun Day’ at Jubilee. The day began with the girls making wind socks so they could determine the direction of the wind. There were lots of discussions on safety around fires and the best way to build a fire and knowing what type of sticks are good for which parts of the fire. The girls then set about finding the right types of sticks and making their own wood pile. The girls worked together to make their fire and keep it burning long enough to cook their lunch. Luckily, nobody went hungry and they all had a delicious pasta lunch. Dessert was cooked in the embers and involved bananas, apples and lots of chocolate! After some strenuous scrubbing of pans to ensure they were once again gleaming the girls all took part in a variety of outdoor games on the field, making the most of the glorious sunshine.

A huge thank you to all the leaders involved in making the day run smoothly and giving up their time to ensure our girls can have these wonderful experiences

Bring the Battle of Naseby to Your Meeting Place

Discover the story of Naseby 1645 by welcoming a member of our team to your meeting place.

You’ll learn: why the battle took place, what happened on the day, what the aftermath meant for the Civil War

There’s also the chance to handle replica weapons and uniforms used at the battle — a hands-on experience that really brings history to life.

Leaders:

Naseby 1645 is a ready-made programme for Scouts, Girl Guides and Cadets meetings. The team will run most of the session — you simply open and close the meeting and help keep everyone focused during the presentation.

For those of the Scouts and Girl Guides movement the visit makes a significant contribution towards young people earning a History badge.

Best of all, it’s free! Contact us at enquiries@naseby.com

West Division held an alpaca experience at Hideaway Wood Farm. 150 Rainbows, Brownies and Guides attended, throughout the Division and had a lovely time toasting marshmallows over a campfire, scavenger hunt in the woods, crafting with alpaca fleece, axe throwing and meeting the alpacas in an alpaca encounter. A great time was had by all

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

We’re excited to offer you the chance to win 4 FREE tickets to Loughborough Lightning’s final home match of the season!

Loughborough Lightning vs Saracens

Sunday 31 May | 12:00 kick-off

cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens

An unmissable opportunity to see our international stars back in action following the Women’s Six Nations.

There’s plenty happening off the pitch too:

• Hair plaiting with Eleanor’s Beauty
• Brand-new Lightning temporary tattoos
• Face painting and bracelet making
• Test your skills in the passing cage
• Treat yourselves to a pizza and ice cream

Entries close Sunday 17 May

This exclusive giveaway is being shared with our invited network. You’re very welcome to pass it on within your organisation or to friends and family who would love a great day out. To help keep this opportunity special, we kindly ask that it isn’t shared on social media or public channels.

Don’t miss your chance to enjoy top-flight rugby and a brilliant day out—we’d love to see you there!

How to enter 

To be in with a chance of winning, simply fill out the form below

Join the Big Bases Appeal – Buy a Brick Challenge

The Air Ambulance Service is inviting schools and youth groups to join an exciting challenge that turns small actions into big impact.

The Air Ambulance Service is building two brand new, state of the art air bases that will support our crews as they save lives in our communities for generations to come. And your girls can help build them, one brick at a time.

How to take part

Sign up for a free challenge pack which includes a large base themed poster and colourful brick stickers. Girls simply make a suggested £1 donation to buy a ‘brick’, and add it to your Units’s base poster and watch your base grow!

Why not make a day of it? Add non-uniform, a mini fundraiser, or any fun activity to help your units hit their target and complete their base. We have included a handy hints and tips sheet in the pack to spark ideas!

From your Unit to a real airbase

Once your fundraising/poster is complete, your can use your donated funds to buy:

• A virtual brick on our digital wall of recognition (minimum £50), or
• A physical engraved brick at our new air ambulance base (minimum £250)

Your girls’ bricks won’t just fill a poster, they will help build the future bases our crews will rely on when responding to emergencies, day and night.

Be part of the build. Request your free pack today and start building your units’s base. We’d be delighted to have you involved.

Together, you can help us build the future for our vital services

Come and be part of the parade in Northampton Town Centre. Open to Brownies 7 years and up, Guides, Rangers/Young Leaders, Trefoil - Everyone welcome!

Dress in your best uniform and show the town what Girlguiding in Northamptonshire looks like as part of a parade.

There will be a static event on the Market Square and parade on Abington Street

The event will be from 10.00 – 15.00 featuring entertainment for the whole family to enjoy, including musical stage performances and speeches/interviews, vehicle display and AFD charity/community stalls, plus face-painting and balloon modelling for the little ones.   

The parade muster point for 2026 is the top of Abington Street from approx. 09.00; step off will be at 10.00 marching down Abington Street, across Wood Hill, past the Guildhall via St Gilles Square, onto St Giles Street, returning to Abington Street via Fish Street to fall out.

Register below to provide us with your numbers so we can co-ordinate with the council before the event.

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.

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)

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

MacQueen House  

Information and availability for MacQueen HERE

AGM - Thursday 21 May 7pm

Summer Buffet Thursday 16 July

Jubilee Campsite



Information and availability for campsite HERE

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!

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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