November 2018

News from British Overseas

Welcome to our autumn forget to give this to all new volunteers when you newsletter! meet them. It has blank pages for you to Hello everyone, personalise with your local information too. I hope that you all had a The last two months have been busy and as fabulous summer and have always, so enjoyable. In September, Hazel, Emma had great starts to the and Barbara -the County guiding year with your units. Commissioners from In my June message I wrote BeneLux and France and about saying goodbye to BGO Europe, and I attended members who have had to move to different the County Commissioners parts of the world and how upsetting this can be conference held at for both the girls and volunteers. Yarnfield in Staffordshire. In this message I want to say hello to all the new We spent a weekend attending very interesting girls and volunteers who have joined us, or have and worthwhile trainings and meetings. We met moved to a different BGO unit. We hope that you and chatted with Amanda, Chief Guide, Julie, will enjoy your time in your new country and new Deputy Chief Guide, other county commissioners unit and we’re very, very pleased to have you from all parts of the UK as well as members of with us. staff from HQ. As always it is the chatting and Have you all seen the great new volunteer exchanging of ideas between trainings and during the evenings which recruitment campaign videos and posters? They have been created by HQ’s marketing, PR, is so valuable. We all agreed that it membership recruitment and retention teams to name but a few. Girlguiding volunteers star in all had been a very Welcome the posters and films, so if you haven’t seen inspirational weekend. t o B G O ’ s them, please do check them out on the At the end of autumn September, Glen newsletter. This the Chair of TGIFC edition has and her husband news of Compass 19 our Ron popped in on big summer event plus their way home advisers’ reports and lots after visiting as of your news and photos. many TGIFC We are always delighted members in Europe to hear from you and it as they could as a has been great to see way of celebrating people starting to enjoy Girlguiding website. You can download and the Trefoil Guild’s the new programme. personalise the posters for your areas of BGO, ask 75th birthday. As a Don’t forget to keep in parents and people in your communities to watch fellow Trefoil Guild touch by Facebook and the videos to encourage your volunteer member, I had two Tw i t t e r t o o . recruitment campaign if you think it suitable. excellent days Lynne our Growing Guiding adviser has updated catching up with our warm welcome package so please don’t Glen’s news before they headed back to Belgium. I’m sure that you’ll wonderful volunteers who have such a lot of find out a bit more about experience and enthusiasm for the movements. Glen’s trip later in this Thanks and recognition is so important and we newsletter or on the TGIFC don’t always recognise our volunteers, nor our Facebook page. young members, as well as we should. Later in In October I went to visit the newsletter you can read about the new BGO North and South Germany thanks and recognition awards so please think divisions. What a welcome they gave Geraldine about those valuable volunteers and young Costello, operation manager of Safeguarding in members who deserve to be recognised by us for HQ and me as we led Safe Space level 3 and New all that they do and nominate them if you feel Programme trainings in Paderborn on Saturday they meet the criteria. The new awards and in Munich on Sunday. committee will meet for the first time in It was wonderful to meet so many dedicated February 2019. leaders and hear about their units and the Another exciting year has started in BGO! opportunities they offer the girls and young Sleepovers, camps and pack holidays have already women in their care. Their enthusiasm for guiding taken place, later this month a lot of units will be outshone the wonderful sunshine that we had remembering the 100th anniversary of the end of during our stay. While it is very sad to know that the Great War and quite a few units have decided by next summer most of the units in North to move over to the new programme and so are Germany will have closed as the army will have looking to the future. Whatever you are doing marched out, there is a bright side as those with ‘your’ girls I hope that you have a great leaders and girls who will be moving to Cyprus time, have fun, enjoy everything that guiding want to continue their guiding there. Those with our young members brings and I hope that, moving to the UK are equally interested in while you might not always be thanked in words continuing guiding so I am confident that the at every meeting or for the time it takes to volunteers’ and girls’ guiding journeys will prepare them, the smiles on the girls’ faces make continue to be bright. My weekend was made it all so very worthwhile. even more special as I awarded Zoe, Lisa and Dani with their Chief Guide Challenge awards. Hazel Plant, Deputy The girls presented an Chief Commissioner and Guiding inspiring account of all the Development Adviser writes challenges, adventures, hard work and fun they It’s been lovely to meet so many had experienced to meet more of you over the last few the criteria for this months and BGO has been prestigous award. Well done girls and thanks to incredibly busy yet again. I want to all the leaders in Munich for supporting the girls thank you all for your enthusiasm and energy in their endeavour! getting to grips with the new programme as well This month has started with a bang as I have just as moving forward with A Safe Space. The got back from attending the ‘Thanks and trainings we were able to offer in HQ in July were Recognition’ ceremony really popular and it was so nice to see so many held at Westminster BGO leaders from such a variety of places Abbey for all together. I hope everyone who was able to come volunteers who have along enjoyed it as much as we did! g i v e n o u t s t a n d i n g Our team of trainers have been working very hard service and 30 years, to help everyone through this exciting time and and more, long service I’d like to say a very big thank you to Ellie Hart to Girlguiding. The and Jo Smith in Cyprus for the trainings they did event is also attended by the Scouts and it is a there back in May as part of their Trainer real honour to meet and to talk to so many Qualifications. They were accompanied throughout their venture by their tutor, Diane Card, and I’d like to say thank you to Diane as whatever technology will work best for you. By well for all her time and the invaluable support letting us know, you will help us to meet your she has given. Many congratulations to Jo for needs and make sure that whatever we plan, we having now successfully completed every part of are able to include as many sessions you have her qualification and getting her portfolio of identified as helpful as possible and do our best evidence submitted! to make it accessible for anyone who might want Congratulations to Lynne Armitage too, as she has to attend. been working hard to become the first of our BGO Last but not least I’d like to encourage you to trainers to be able to deliver Webinar trainings consider taking advantage of our Peer Education and having completed her course, has been funding! We do of course, need to make sure we delivering sessions on the new programme using reach as many girls as possible with this, but if this fantastic new tool. You can sign up for the you and your fellow leaders nearby can plan Webinar sessions via GO and they are a great meetings so that a peer educator can see 60 or opportunity to find out a bit more about all more girls (, Guides or Rangers) in one aspects of the changes. Somehow Lynne managed visit of 2 – 4 days, please get in touch with Emma to fit in supporting local leaders with some at peereducation@british-girlguiding- informal trainings in Spain this September as overseas.org.uk and I know she will do her best to well, so I’d also like to add thanks for everything accommodate you. If you are having a peer involved in doing that to the congratulations! educator to visit, please ensure that you are able The roll out of A Safe Space continues with Adele to help her with transport from and to the airport Steel being kept very busy delivering the or train station at which she will arrive/depart necessary sessions all over the Middle East and and that you are able to provide accommodation HQ Safeguarding staff member, Geraldine for the duration of her stay. Costello, visiting Germany to train there We have been able to get sessions for girls in alongside our Chief Commissioner Diane who, several locations so far and they are a really despite her very full plate, fitted in some training valuable part of the programme. You’ll find as well. As ever there is much to do to arrange a Emma’s first Peer Education summary below to training, so thank you to all who helped arrange see where the sessions have been taking place. events too. I hope you are all enjoying being back with the A Safe Space training is taking place in Cyprus this girls after the summer break, (which I realise coming weekend as I write this, so thanks to seems like forever ago now!), and I look forward everyone involved, we are making extremely to meeting even more of you in the coming good progress towards all BGO leaders meeting the mandatory requirements inside the time months. Hazel allowed. Everyone can help us to meet this goal by completing, or encouraging fellow leaders to New BGO Thanks and Recognition Awards be completing, the e-learnings for levels 1 & 2 Thank you to everyone who voted for the design and alerting commissioners when ready to have the follow up conversation required for level 2 to of the new BGO Good Service brooch. You be recorded as complete on GO. thought, by far, that design ‘C’ was the one you wanted for our new We are very fortunate to have a fantastic team of style award. trainers in BGO and the County Commissioners Design ‘B’ was also very popular and I are always keen to give leaders as many and so this will be opportunities as possible to learn and share the design of the experiences so if you think there is something new BGO Thank you you’d like to explore more please let your brooch. commissioner - and me - know about it! Our young members have been invited to design the Young Members’ Good Service brooch and as If it isn’t possible for us to run a face-to-face soon as a winner has been decided we will let you session near enough for you to attend then we know. will do our very best to support you using There will also be a Silver Galleon brooch which in Need. will be the highest recognition for BGO leaders. Ella, a lone Brownie in Nepal The design for this is being discussed with has been working on her Out branding at the moment. and About and Swimmer The criteria and nomination forms for all these Badges and has done Skills awards will be sent to you via email in the coming Builder Activities from Have weeks, so please read them and think if there is Adventures (Explore). The someone very special in BGO that you would like photo shows her “out and to see recognised for doing that ‘extra special’ about” at 4200 metre altitude thing or things. in the Annapurna Range of the Himalayas! For the first time BGO will have an awards You may also have seen the Guest blog in which committee. A huge thank you to all those who we featured two sisters Ari and Kana Walsh in the applied for the volunteer place. Jill and I had a USA who tackled the Uncover and Discover very enjoyable but extremely difficult task to section of the new select the volunteer for this task as all those who programme by writing a applied were worthy of the position. blog. As a result and to I’m delighted to say that Adele Steel will be the celebrate the first volunteer to sit on the awards committee International Day of the and Elin Howells, the deputy young member on Girl they were invited to the executive committee, has agreed to be the take part in first young member representative. I will chair #GirlsTakeover and the committee as Chief Commissioner. shadow a senior manager at Esri - a major All three of us are looking forward to considering geospatial company. your nominations when we sit for the first time in February 2019. Peer Education Emma Plant our Peer Educator writes: Lone Brownies, Guides and Rangers I’ve been a member of Girlguiding since I joined Fiona Howells the new commissioner writes: aged 5 and I My name is Fiona and I have just taken over the became a Peer Educator in role as DC for the new Lones District within BGO. 2015. Last year I spent 6 I was previously Division Commissioner for months living and studying in Malaysia and have run all sections in the past. I Singapore and joined a BGO am also a trainer for BGO. Rainbow unit there. I then ran Peer Education I have now left Malaysia and I am back in the area sessions in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur and more where I grew up, Anglesey in North Wales. I am an recently in Romania and France. I’m very much assistant leader at a local Rainbow unit, as well looking forward to developing Peer Education as looking after the Lones. across BGO in the coming years! You can contact me at bgolones@british-girlguiding- This summer we ran a total of 9 Peer Education overseas.org.uk or [email protected] sessions across BGO! These are fantastic sessions Lones Update We have 4 Lone Brownies and 11 Lone Guides run by young Girlguiding members on important topics such as Mental Health and Wellbeing (Think within BGO, in all part of the world, including Resilient) sessions. This summer, sessions were Nepal, Uganda, Thailand, and several locations in Europe. Some girls are more active than others held in: and by it's very nature Lone Guiding is flexible Bucharest,Romania, and very individualized. Toulouse, France Sisters Ariana and Amelia (a Lone Paris, France, Guide and Brownie in Uganda) are Brussels, Belgium very involved in their local community We look forward to more sessions in the near and have started their own Charity to future! raise money for Children and animals Powell Awards by Bath Division BGO Advisers Commissioner. One of the Rangers is taking part in a GOLD trip to Meet Laura Menzies Mexico next summer, and she was very keen to BGO Roving Ambassador hear about BGO. Hi my name is Laura, and I took up a new I have enjoyed some really great evenings Roaming BGO Ambassador role during the meeting the girls and leaders in different regions summer. This followed my return and making connections between BGO and local to the UK after five years living, units. Future invitations and meetings are being working and Girlguiding in Kuwait planned, and next week I have been invited to with BGO. visit Rainbows in Yeo Vale for more fun . . So I am currently taking a ‘gap year’ watch this space for more roaming adventures in to travel around the UK, so I am the future. not in a fixed location to be able to rejoin a Girlguiding unit or county. Instead, I am taking the opportunity to International Adviser promote BGO as an Ambassador. A BGO patrol led by Bethan Howells attended I have received some lovely invitations, and met Roverway this summer and you can read a report some really friendly girls and leaders on my below. I think this was the first time we had travels. In early September I joined Shropshire managed to send a Patrol to this event and it was County for their new programme training session. very successful. I met a lovely group of leaders from Church There is also a BGO patrol attending the World Stretton, and the Shropshire County 2019 in West Virginia next Commissioner. It turned out I was staying in my summer. In preparation this patrol joined the 3 caravan almost at the bottom of her garden! A scouts patrols from BSO to form the whole WSJ great night was enjoyed by over 30 leaders and unit and we all went young leaders all keen to understand what the camping in Cheshire new programme involves. I had the opportunity at Chamboree for a during the evening to introduce myself and BGO. week. This was the A number of the leaders had heard of BGO, two first time most of the had met a BGO leader on camp and completed 40 participants and 4 the Galleon Challenge badge, and one had grown leaders had met. It up as a member of BGO based in Germany. was a great success In Derbyshire, I had the opportunity to meet 1st and we are Ashbourne Guides and Rangers. One Guide had continuing to work recently moved there from Dubai, so she knew together virtually leading up to the event next about BGO and it gave her the opportunity to tell summer. of her experience as a Guide in Dubai. I also Eurojam 2020 is a WAGGGS/WOSM Europe visited 1st Mickleover Brownies who used a world joint event to be held in Gdansk in Poland and atlas to understand where the BGO regions are hosted by ZHP (Polish Guide and Scout located and ate food from the different regions. Association). Next I headed over to the National Trust's It will be a camp for members Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood to meet aged 14-18 and Girlguiding will Hilton Guides and Rangers, who were enjoying have our own contingent at a great evening including a ‘behind the scenes’ the camp. tour of the cellars . . a bit spooky! The event will be 27th July - In early October we were staying near to my 6th August 2020. BGO are ‘old’ District in Bath, so I popped along to visit St. hoping to send a patrol to this event. Luke’s Brownies, Guides and South-East District Anyone that would like any further information Rangers. The Brownies had the opportunity to use please contact me inflatable globes to understand where BGO [email protected] regions are located, and I had the privilege of Caroline Coleman joining the Guides during a presentation of Baden Roverway was an amazing experience! As my decision to go on this camp. We each brought our first big international camp, I can honestly say own strengths and used them to help each other. I that it was a outstanding 10 days I will not be couldn't have asked for a better group of kind- quick in forgetting. Learning new cultures, camp hearted and supportive Rangers. songs, and languages were just some of the many Our path, as one of the biggest paths, had reasons I would strongly different sessions discussing mental health, and suggest to anyone who social issues. It was great to be apart of such an loves Girlguiding to go next understanding and accepting group despite time. differences in opinion. Through such a diverse We bonded very well and path, we were able to make international quickly as a patrol, and connections and experience their country through made some precious food and culture as if we were there ourselves. memories and are sure to These long lasting bonds have given us a place to keep in touch for a long stay if we ever choose to visit; Portugal, Ireland, time. As this was my last event as an official BGO Germany, Poland, Denmark, Holland and many member, I can say with ease it was the best more. Cerys Howells

Lynne Armitage our Growth and Retention Adviser has sent us a useful guide. BGO Advisers

Outdoor Activities Announcing Compass ‘19

Don’t miss out on our next exciting BGO event. Compass ’19 is taking place from 2nd August – 8th August, 2019 at Whitemoor Lakes, Lichfield, Staffordshire. The event welcomes Brownies, Guides and Rangers to take part in a full programme of adventurous activities together with our good old BGO favourites – Opening and Closing ceremonies, campfire, disco and much more. If you require assessment for the GAW licence or Whitemoor Lakes Activity Centre is registered additional GAW modules, the 12 weeks advance with The Adventure Activities Licensing Service notice gives your District Commissioner time to and is licensed to provide specified activities assign a mentor for the GAW qualification and under the following headings: Rock Climbing/ ensure that the venue has been approved – if not, Abseiling/Open Canoeing/Improvised Raft it will need to be visited and checked. Building. You can see for yourselves at http:// The REN and Risk Assessment forms can be found www.acuk.net/whitemoor-lakes on the website and downloaded for use. All adults attending any residential event need to be registered on GO and should have completed Levels 1 & 2 of our Safe Space e-learning modules. One leader at the event will need to hold Level 3 A Safe Space. Once you complete the Going Away With Licence, Modules 1-4, don’t stop there! Have a look at We were delighted to welcome nearly over 250 other modules on the scheme and try them at Brownies, Guides and Senior Section members at your next residential event. our Challenge ’17 event and we look forward to Remember – you will still need to be assigned a as many girls and leaders joining us for this mentor for each additional module. exciting event next August. You can book at Well done and thank you to so many of you who Girls - https:// have given our BGO girls and leaders the chance bgocompass19participantapplication.eventbrite.co. to take part in a residential experience, whether uk indoors or outdoors. Adults -https:// Keep checking our BGO and Girlguiding websites bgocompass19adultregistration.eventbrite.co.uk for the latest information about residentials and Other OAA business all things ‘adventurous’. Lastly, thank you for giving our girls these Important things to remember…. amazing opportunities. Hope to see you at Residential Event Notification (REN) form – the Compass ’19 – get your application in quickly and see you at Whitemoor Lakes. REN form needs to be completed and submitted to your District Commissioner 12 weeks prior to the planned event. It should be accompanied with Amanda Weldon an initial Risk Assessment form and an outline of the proposed programme. A home contact also needs to be in place for the event. Around the World of BGO

They made the tallest pyramid in Egypt, henna BeneLux designs in India, reconstructed and France County London Bridge from Pringles, Congratulations to girls across the county on wrapped up to play the chocolate their Baden Powell Challenge Awards. game in Russia, did cheerleading Four Guides from Brussels and four from The in the USA and a marshmallow Hague have all been presented with their awards. relay with chopsticks in China. Next stop: the 2nd Brussels Guides World Traveller Badge! 1st SHAPE Brownies had fun celebrating the Royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle by renewing their own promise as Brownies as the couple made their promises and by having a Royal Wedding Promise tea party. The Brownies were joined by 1st The Hague and 3rd The Hague Guides their DC and by a new Rainbow Leader. They wore royal clothes or Brownie uniform and welcomed four new Brownies to make their promise for the first time. They finished with lessons from a fellow Brownie on how to curtsey! Europe County Northern Europe Scouts and Guides District 1st Bucharest, Romania Camp 2018. We are proudly wearing our Bucharest District Brussels and Waterloo Guides were invited to this badge! It’s a hexagon weekend camp in Wegberg, because: Rainbows are 6 Germany. The theme was Pirates of years old, Brownies are the Rhine and they enjoyed sixers and Guides are in Explorer led games, swimming, Year 6. campfire and a treasure hunt. They We have started the Know also had a fantastic time meeting Myself section with all our up with Guides and leaders from girls, in order to get a feel BGO Germany. for the new programme. The girls found it difficult to choose which path to follow, so we gave them a couple of weeks to decide. In Rainbows some girls produced a sketch in a supermarket, having been very open about their feelings. Others have considered the values that are important to them. In Brownies, we have explored the 1st Vesinet-Le-Pecq Guides people who make up our school This term Guides enjoyed a great community. We have benefited activity day at the Parc de Marly from having a school nurse to including a wide game - around support the girls. the world in 48 hours to Our Guides have planned out the celebrate the anniversary of sessions for the term and Sonia has Abraham Ortelius who 448 years particularly shown leadership skills. ago made the first atlas. Around the World of BGO

1st Hamburg Brownies 6th September saw the first meeting of a brand The 1st Munich Rangers new unit! 1st Hamburg Brownies. put together a superb wide 12 girls with Snowy Owl and Barbie Owl have game of zombies, spiders been learning all about Guiding as only one and witches which kept all Brownie had previous experience. They have also the Rangers on their toes been getting to know each other and have chasing ghouls and fighting through giant webs! The Brownies and Rainbows enjoyed chasing away their evil spirits with their Mexican Eyes, all expertly woven despite the witches wigs and zombie bandages! After a trick or treat lunch and a thoroughly enjoyed new games, new songs and spider piñata the girls were new activities from the new programme! treated to an expert dance lesson by our resident zumba teacher ‘vampire Kerry’ to learn the Favourites have been Trash Fashion, Guiding in a moves to Thriller, which they performed for the Bubble and a particularly confusing game “This is a witch”! parents at the closing ceremony. The 2nd Munich Guides put on a superb Monster Mash disco They are looking forward to a visit from the North complete with 100 balloons! Even the littlest Germany Division Commissioner, the arrival of Rainbow boogied away happily and came away their uniforms and hopefully their Promise singing to the Adams Family! ceremony in early November. It has been a particular privilege for the leaders Victoria Ryan to introduce Guiding to these very enthusiastic District Commissioner Munich little girls! …. and a poem from a Guide in Munich Barbara Ferris We’re Guides we’re having fun Munich District Fun Day We are all shining like the sun It was a ‘thriller’ of a Fun Day We are creative that is great for over 70 of the Munich There’s nothing at Guides that we hate District Rainbows, Brownies, We like to be together Guides and Rangers as they Let’s hope it’s gonna be forever celebrated with a spooky We like to smile the whole day Halloween theme this year! That is what we love to say Fortunately the warm Camping in the nature and look up to the stars Bavarian weather allowed for If we look closely we can maybe see Mars our skeleton relay races and We are Guides that is true Cluedo styled wide game to We always have fun things to do be held outside in the I love Guides that’s what I do beautiful surroundings of And I hope you love it too Munich International School. Complete with ‘wicked witch’ leaders

the girls few on Sara S. broomsticks, raced like 1st Munich Guides witches cats and jumped like frogs (complete with sound effects!) to put together a scary skeleton - fun and educational! Cyprus Division Over 20 leaders attended the training for level 3 Congratulations and well done to Olivia and with the two Cyprus DCs completing level 4. Alexia of 1st Nicosia Rangers for a brilliant job It is always interesting to hear leaders’ representing us at the NSGSO. experiences and concerns and as you would expect, they are not dissimilar to any other leader in any other area in BGO. We also were able to spend some time discussing queries about the new programme. It was a privilege to present a 5 year long service award to Janine Newstead, congratulations to her! It was also great to explain to leaders the structure of GGUK, BGO and Europe County as well as highlight the challenges we have in our County, A large number of our leaders got together in considering the area it covers. August for a new programme day. Luckily the Thanks to them all for participating so shipment arrived the day before!! Our leaders enthusiastically in the training and for making spent a day discussing how we would implement both Hazel and me very welcome. It was fabulous the new material based on to hear what their units are doing and what they the ages in our units and plan to do. mocking up a term plan. A special thanks to the Division Commissioner Thank you to District Amanda Eliades for taking such great care of us Commissioner of South & whilst there! It is great to know that the girls in West Gwyneth Green for Cyprus have such an enthusiastic group of pulling it all together and leaders! keeping her nerve waiting for the shipment to arrive! Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Senior Section, a Malaysia Young Leader and leaders 6th Kuala Lumpur Guides from our Paphos units did Breast Cancer Awareness Month the Breast cancer fun run At what age do you broach the subject of breast recently in Paphos. Our cancer with your own daughters or with your ladies contributed to the Guiding unit? With the roll out of skills builders phenomenal amount of over ‘Take Action’ and ‘Express Yourself’, we decided €3000 raised. Well done to on an activity to introduce the October global awareness everyone who took part. campaign. Meanwhile - Happy 60th It took FOREVER and a great Birthday to 1st Episkopi deal of eye-rolling to get their Guides and 2nd Episkopi hands into formation with only Brownies! verbal instructions. The initial reaction to their handiwork (no Barbara Ferris writes: pun intended) ranged from Over the weekend from “have a heart” to “be my valentine”. 19th October, leaving the cold skies of Western It was an eye opener for them to associate the Europe behind, I travelled to Cyprus with Hazel simplicity of the picture to the significance of Plant to meet the Cypriot leaders and facilitate a Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It then dawned Safe Space training. on them why heart emojis were being shared We arrived to the yellow skies of a sand storm, generously on social media! had thunder and lightning, rain and sun and The conversation was kept very light. gladly missed the whirlwind. A mixed bag of Understanding breast cancer and the importance Cypriot weather in 2 days! of getting regular checks was thankfully tempered with good questions, lots of giggling Around the World of BGO and eye-rolling over “man-boob” comments! It 37 of our Guides crossed the was a revelation to them to learn that breast border into Malaysia to enjoy cancer can even develop in men. a weekend camp of archery, We agreed to share this picture with parents so tree climbing, mountain bike that their questions would give our girls the riding, camp fire, and the platform to discuss and remind their mums, highlight - waking at 5.00am aunties, grandmothers and dads to get checked to trek to the top of a regularly. pineapple plantation to watch the sunrise. Guides visited Google and Rolls Singapore Royce Engines and have been familiarising Hello from Singapore themselves with the new programme and the unit This term we welcomed a new Guide Unit to our meeting activity cards. District. 4th Singapore Guides inaugural meeting Rangers have been looking at the new programme took place on 3rd September and have tackled Period Poverty, enjoyed pilates, with 19 Guides. We wish you and are busy organising a cookout which will take many years of happy guiding. place in a couple of weeks. Our Rainbow units have been working towards their Bahrain Roundabout badge – Global Adele Steel was in Bahrain recently conducting Adventure. With their newly Safespace and First Response Training for leaders. created passports, they have Whilst she was here we held a session just for our ‘travelled,’ to Scotland and Young Leaders. They started learnt how to weave, made with team building sporrans and tablet. Whilst visiting activities, learnt Native America they made dream about the 5 catchers and explored the essentials and then equator. In New Zealand they were made a bracelet to taught the Hakka, experienced Poi remind them. We discussed dancing and in Russia they opportunities open to them as decorated matryoshka dolls, looked members of guiding including Rangers at Russian cuisine and tried and the young leadership different greetings. scheme, they tried a Our Brownie units have enjoyed VOTE 100 UMA and finished with making Challenge. The colours of purple, white and green mini smores :) 5 very happy were prominent across the activities including Young Leaders went away designing Suffragette badges, why the enthused and more informed. Suffragette’s were taught ju-jitsu and learnt a 2nd Bahrain Brownies have been busy few moves, took part in Equaliteas –a debate with w o r k i n g t o w a r d s cake. Brownies also worked towards their skills builders and Computer Skills they created Junk badge, learning Robots and built a how a computer good turn chain. works, working with circuits, Meanwhile 1st Bahrain Brownies tried the taking them apart discover and build a dream machine activities. and putting it back together again, visited Apple and Danielle Payne did World Guiding badge. Archives TGIFC Report I was lucky enough to meet up with a Trefoil Benelux and France Guild recently had their final Guild member whilst on a Trefoil weekend and celebration by she passed on to me several albums full of photos s p e n d i n g t h e from when she was guiding in the middle east weekend at quite a while ago. Warners Holiday The albums contain photos, pictures drawn by C o m p l e x i n brownies and items they wrote to tell about their Hayling Island activities. Hampshire. We There were also some photos in an envelope and were joined by a these were taken at in the 1990s. Can member from you recognise anyone? Cyprus as well as husbands and family of some members. 21 of us spent the weekend doing various activities including meeting up with the local Guild in Hayling Island. They showed us their lovely headquarters, built by a former Guide’s father as well as taking us to see a w o n d e r f u l p o p p y display outside a local church. This was followed by lunch at the local golf club where we had a view across as far as Portsmouth. In the afternoon we had our actual ‘party’ with everyone bringing cake, drinks, including prosecco, banners, party hats and noisy blowers. We had ‘hellos’ sent from around our guild from members who could not join us; and then we sang ‘Happy Birthday to the Trefoil Guild’ very loudly And here are a couple of other photos that may and with much gusto. be of interest if you were ever in Dubai in the Luckily we found a 1980s. covered pergola and didn’t disturb anyone else. The rest of the If your unit has scrap weekend had us dancing to Abba music and a books with interesting Shawaddywaddy Tribute Band as well as archery photos in, please let and rifle shooting, swimming and walking. After me have them for the a ‘full English’ on Monday morning we all made archives. You can scan our way home. Thanks to Sue who organised the them and email them whole thing. It was perfect. to me, no need to send I wonder how many of us will be around for the a parcel! 100th birthday celebrations? I can’t imagine we can do more than we managed this year for the 75th. It has been a fabulous year. Glen Aston If anyone would like to find out more about TGIFC or join a Guild please get in touch with Glen Glen Aston [email protected]. She Archivist would love to hear from you.

Deadline for Spring Newsletter 15 February 2019