News & Views

July 2024

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 45 leaders completing their leadership qualification, 5 leaders who completed going away with qualifications, 63 leaders were presented with long service awards notching up an amazing 850 years of service between them, 2 wonderful Queen’s Guide recipients and 2 special awards. Congratulations to you all.

Earlier in June all sections enjoyed the nature activity day at Stanwick lakes - with the support of the park rangers, girls tried pond dipping, built shelters, discovered what it was like to have a beak and pick up sticks, created crafts from natural materials, listened to the sounds around them and of course had time to play on the adventure playground. In the late afternoon after the girls had gone, it was the leaders turn to chill and relax, try a few activities, picnic and enjoy the beautiful scenery. The brownies had their water day at Northampton active – an opportunity to canoe, kayak, paddleboard, mega paddleboard, bell boat and of course get wet! And the last weekend the Rangers and Young Leaders had a post exam blow out camp – they battled torrential downpours but survived and it will be a camp they won’t forget in a hurry!

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 and outdoor 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 camps and holidays, have a brilliant time.


What's happening where and when?

Click on the Event for further details!



Date changed to 4th Sept

Craft Day at Jubilee Campsite

Saturday 7th - 8th Sep

Leaderfest

Saturday 19th Oct

Guides & Rangers After Dark Adventure From MacQueen House

Thinking Day 2025

Another large county event across 3 venues to celebrate our special

More info to follow watch this space.

June 2025

All section visit to

Whipsnade Zoo

Aug 2025

Hautbois County Holiday

Training Diary

Click on the Training description for further details.

July


Saturday 14th July

LDP 3 Trainings to become a Leader

Thursday 18th July

Mentors & Commissioners Air & Share

Saturday 20th July 1 space left

First Response 1, 2 and 3

August


Sunday 11th August

First Response 1,2 and 3

Wednesday 14th & 21st August

First Response

September


Saturday 14th September

First Response

Tuesday 10th & 17th September

First Response

October


Thursday 10th & 17th October

First Response

Sunday 20th October

First Response

November


Sat 2nd & Sun 3rd November

LDP Weekend

Tuesday 5th & 12th November

First Response

Saturday 16th November

First Response

December


Thursday 5th & 12th December

First Response

Sunday 15th December

First Response

To complete First Response E-learning, Safe Space Level 1 & 2 E-learnings or book Safe Space Level 3 webinar trainings please visit the Learning Platform

Awards & Recognition evening 4th July at Wicksteed


A big shout out to the ladies who attended in person for these big Awards

Ann Johnson 40 years of service

Julie Rowley 40 Years of service

Caroline Wilks 30 Years of service

Julie Harvey 30 Years of service

Wendy Rowell 30 Years of service

Northampton Pride Pack
Stall Set Up Info


·       Morning of 2nd August to teatime of 5th August 2025

·       County holiday at Hautbois near Norwich for Brownies and Guides

·       4 days and 3 nights of fun packed adventurous activities

·       Fully catered – and no washing up needed!

·       Fully equipped – we don’t even need to pitch tents!

·       Buses laid on from County to get there

·       Sleeping in the Reed Cutter Village or hexagonal tents

·       £225 plus travel for girls and £100 plus travel for leaders

ddd(or you can pay full price and fully take part too)

·       County buses will be organised for travel

·       £50 deposit by 28th February and balance by 15th May 2025

·       All you need is your bedding and kit and off we go…….


Expression of interest and full application forms will be available

on the County website soon – don’t miss out!

Come on – let’s go have some fun together!


archery/abseiling/bush craft/canoeing/climbing

crate stacking/kayaking/maze/low ropes/obstacle course

orienteering/rafting/paddle boarding/zip wire

and so much more………

Please complete the Expression of Interest fillable Form


and email or post to the County Office

Hautbois Expression Of Interest Form 

Don’t forget there is the Midlands region Make a Difference Fund for girls and leaders who need a bit of help with funding an adventure. https://www.girlguiding-midlands.org.uk/learning-development/unit-finance/making-a-difference-fund/

Making A Difference Fund

We had a brilliant weekend with our rangers and young leaders.

The changeable weather didn't dampen the spirits as they took part in activities including jewellery making, pyrography, film night, board games, inflatables, mop hockey, football watching, campfire and the inaugural Rangers Olympics!

A fantastic group of young women who have a long future in Girlguiding ahead of them!

Save the date


All section trip to Whipsnade Zoo – date to be confirmed by September either 7th, 8th or 14th June 2025

START COLLECTING YOUR BADGES

NEW NIGHTS AWAY BADGES

We're pleased to introduce two new stages of the county nights away badges which can be given after 3 and 7 nights away with Girlguiding.  


These badges are the first of our newly designed range with updated branding. We are also releasing the new 15 nights away badge at this stage. Two of the redesigns feature our very own MacQueen House and Jubilee campsite to make them extra special! The other numbers will be updated as remaining stock is sold. Record cards can be found on the county website and badges cost £1.


Thinking Day 2025


The Programme team are busy planning ahead for Thinking Day 2025

We want your input, what would you like and what would your units enjoy!

Think County Wide, multiple locations, February time so no water parks!

So far we have


Silent Disco

International Dance (Bollywood/Samba etc

Sports

Crafts

Disco

Email in your ideas to the Programme team below, and watch this space!

Programme Team 
Leaderfest Booking Form

Girlguiding Northamptonshire are celebrating the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics with a brand new challenge badge –


Girlguiding in motion.


The Olympic and Paralympic values of Excellence, Respect, Friendship and Courage, Determination, Inspiration, Equality are closely aligned with the values and promise of Girlguiding so rather than being just about sport, this challenge is about trying new things, working together and doing your best.

Money raised from sales of the badge will be going towards our county properties so they can host new experiences and adventures for our young members long into the future.

There are 5 parts to the challenge with a range of different activities and suggested UMA connections. The badge is aimed at all sections and can be adapted to the needs of your unit. There are no specific requirements to earn the badge, the most important thing is to have fun, but we suggest that you undertake at least one activity from each part.


Guiding In Motion Challenge


Guiding In Motion Badge Order Form



Girlguiding Midlands have a range of international trips available to book onto for both girls and leaders.

ICE channel islands 2025 for Guides  HERE


Denmark Dash for Guides, Rangers and YLs with their leaders or Inspire/adult teams - MORE DETAILS


Magnificent Mexico for adults -  FIND OUT MORE


More information can also be found on the Girlguiding Midlands International Facebook page

Training Brooches


Well done to all our members who have been working hard and already achieved their Training Brooches!

Do You have yours!


These brooches are to thank leaders who give up even more of their time to make sure they keep up to date for their volunteer role. This includes both e-learning, virtual training and face to face training - so doing your safe space, first response or simply attending our county day will give you hours towards your first brooch.

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. 

Girlguiding Walking Courses 2024



Saturday 19 – Friday 25 October 2024

The Chamois Mountaineering Centre, Snowdonia



Are you interested in attending a Walking Scheme training course to extend your existing walking skills?

Have you previously completed a training course and are now ready for assessment?

Details  2024-national-walking-courses-booking-information


 BOOKING FORM 

MacQueen House




More information on booking a visit to the house can be found HERE






Jubilee Campsite


Information and availability HERE




Trefoil House


Northampton Trefoil House has a room upstairs that can be held for meetings and small gatherings, up to 50 people. If you would like to enquire on cost and availability please email:

trefoilhousebooking1910@gmail.com 

Our jointly owned narrowboat Tuptonia can be booked for evening, daytime, weekend or longer trips.

Bookings can be made at tuptonia@girlguidingnorthamptonshire.org.uk or for general information contact tuptonia@gmail.com

1st Harpole Guides


We were all really looking forward to a trip on Tuptonia, a 12 berth narrowboat owned by the Guide and counties of Birmingham and Northamptonshire. It was a pretty summers evening as we set off along the Grand Union Canal.

Half of us started on the boat, and the others walked along the tow path, we then swapped on the way back.

Colin, the captain demonstrated how to steer, which was quite tricky because you had to turn the tiller opposite of where you wanted to turn.

Our aim on the narrowboat was to cook sausages to have as hotdogs for us all however, as none of us had much experience frying sausages, we burnt them and set the fire alarm off – twice! But they still tasted good.

Maybe next time we could travel further down the canal and sleep over.

Are you interested in a Level 1 Walking Scheme Training Day?


A training in Shropshire for those interested in becoming more confident in taking Guiding groups out walking in easy or lowland countryside. Places are available for Guiders from other counties too.


Date and Time: Saturday 17th August 2024 9.30a.m. to 4 p.m.

Venue: The Shropshire Guiding County Office, St Georges Court, Conwy House, Donnington, Telford, ShropshireTF2 7BF

Cost: £5 per person for Guiders outside Shropshire.


Information & Booking details

Following on from our successful first 

Glendon Gang Show 

in March 2024, we are pleased to announce the dates for our 2025 Show which will be held at:

The Core at Corby Cube, with a total of 5 Performances:  

Weds 12th, Thurs 13th, Fri 14th, Sat. 15th March 2025 (Matinee/ Eve.)

                  

Registration for Glendon Gang Show 2025 will take place at:

                                             (only need to attend one location)


              1st Corby Scout Hall, St John the Baptist Church, Church Walk,

                          Corby Old Village NN17 1XF

             Sunday 15th September 2024   2:00 - 3:30 pm



              Woodcroft Scout Centre, London Road, Kettering, NN15 6NQ

             Sunday 22nd September 2024   2:00 - 3:30 pm


The Show will be open to all members of the Scout and Girlguiding Movement, regardless of their skills, ability and confidence level. Any young person listed below is able to register their interest to be in the Show.


        Scouting:                               Girlguiding: 

        Cub                                        Brownie (Aged over 8 years on 1st Sept 2024)

        Scout                                      Guide

        Explorer                                  Ranger

        Young Leader                       Young Leader

 Network / Leader                  Leader (Aged under 25 on 15th March 2025)

Our catchment area for Guiding is Kettering, Rothwell, Desborough, Mawsley, Broughton, Burton Latimer, Barton Seagrave, Geddington, Isham, Gretton, Corby.


Young people should attend in Full Uniform, along with their Parents / Guardian.

Further information will be provided at the Registration Day, regarding the Show, and the commitment expectation. Rehearsals will alternate between Woodcroft Scout Centre, Kettering and a Corby location, - which is awaiting confirmation.

The whole registration event, should last no longer than 1-1½ Hrs

Should you be unable to attend on the day, please contact: 

Catriona Eaton – Cast Administrator       

Email: gangshow@glendonscouts.org.uk      Tel: 07766 555060

If you can help in any way towards the Show, or would like further information, please get in touch with us. Yours in Scouting

Mark Phipps            /     Chris Curchin

Tel: 07505 131046          Tel: 07971 817454

Our County Office - The Unity Centre


The County Office is open every weekday morning from 9.30am to 12.30pm during school term time.


During school holidays it is always best to phone (01604) 648740 or email Allison on office@girlguidingnorthamptonshire.org.uk for general matters or Lynda on go@girlguidingnorthamptonshire.org.uk to talk about DBS/GO!                      

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