Putting the Annua201l Rev5iew Pieces Together Irish Girl Guides Journey Programme in numbers... Hundreds of volunteers helped make the Journey Programme what it is. Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time over the last five years. 2015 Launch The Journey Programme has three elements in each Branch programme 2014 Pilot - Compulsory Challenges, Choice Challenges and Interest Badges. 2013 Reinvent 10 new core Journey badges for the 2012 Reflect Ladybirds, Brownies and Guides 2011 Review 3 overall awards and 18 Specialised 8 new publications Area Pins for Senior Branch 26,835 copies of the various publications were printed and distributed or are in stock to be sold via the Distribution There are 318 Choice Challenges throughout the Centres. Journey Programme. 36 for Ladybirds, 48 for Brownies, 84 for Guides and 150 for Senior Branch. With so much choice there’s something to suit everyone! 2,256 Ladybird Tickets sold 19 new interest badges for Ladybirds 6,012 Brownie Passports sold 42 new interest badges for Brownies 2,354 Guide new interest badges for Guides Travel Folders 57 sold Most popular new interest badges September - December 2015: 661 Senior Branch Brownie Healthy Friendship (722 earned) Travel Journals Ladybird Healthy Friendship (464 earned) sold Guide Guiding Traditions (336 earned) 48 Units opted to receive the Journey The role of the Leader is to mentor, support and empower the Programme on a special Journey Programme girls throughout their Journey. You bring the programme USB key instead of a hard copy print version. to life with your imagination and ideas. Thank You! Find us online at www.irishgirlguides.ie or 1 Chief’s Address When I look back over 2015, it seems to have been a busy and exciting year. One of the biggest milestones that showed how Irish Girl Guides (IGG) is a responsive and innovative organisation was the new Journey Programme for all Branches, which not only meets the needs of today’s girl but is also broad enough to challenge the girls of tomorrow. There was an incredible amount of work done to develop the outcomes, structure, activities, badges, resources and to organise the wonderful launch of the Journey Programme. There are no words to fully express our gratitude to all who contributed so, instead, we hope those involved will take great satisfaction in the knowledge that 12,000 girls and women are enjoying the fruits of your labour every week across Ireland! In 2015, IGG continued to evolve as a movement. In the past we have had the skills, the dedication and the commitment of many committee members and staff, but never before in history have we had the resources, technologies and innovation to solve the challenges that we do now. In an effort to solve the ever-increasing paperwork and administrative work of record-keeping and compliance that is required of Leaders, we embraced Online Guide Manager in 2015 for more than just our national census. The staggering fact that 9,000 meetings were planned online by 285 Units in the first year on OGM is hugely encouraging. It shows that providing innovative ways to be more efficient can help us be more effective with our time. IGG was very fortunate to have a very efficient Amanda O’Sullivan leading our OGM development and I thank her for her commitment and dedication to the project. We are involved in IGG because we believe in the value of Guiding, we believe we are helping to develop responsible citizens, and it is that individual and shared sense of responsibility to help the next generation that is so important. In all the technicalities and formalities that are an inherent part of an organisation our size, our ability to be practical, down-to-earth and never to lose our sense of humour or sense of reality is what keeps us together. This positive atmosphere of togetherness was evident at TWIGG - our Leaders’ conference last year. A highlight of the weekend was listening to Nicola Grinstead, the Chair of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) as she spoke with such infectious enthusiasm and passion for growing Guiding around the world. She commented on the wonderful atmosphere we had created and how relevant our trainings on mental health, good governance and future planning were. Throughout the year, starting at TWIGG, consultations were held with our members and stakeholders about the IGG that is needed in the future. Our 2012-2015 Strategic Plan was evaluated and reviewed and the whole experience was shaped into the next Strategic Plan #IGG2020. I have no doubt that the workload and time commitment of this new outcomes-focused plan will be challenging. However, I believe with collaboration, we can overcome those challenges. With the support of our volunteers and staff working to achieve our common goal, we will be able to succeed and it will be of great benefit to the girls and women of Ireland. Confident girls and women bring value to every community and group in which they are a part. Together, we can continue to make a difference through our membership of IGG. Yours in the spirit of Guiding, Helen Concannon Chief Commissioner Membership Figures 2015 YEAR Eastern Mid West North East North West South East South West WCM Overall Totals 2014 3495 1382 1486 587 650 2491 1272 11363 2015 3450 1393 1515 516 598 2692 1386 11550 2 IGG National Volunteers and Staff National President Maureen Dillon Chief Commissioner Helen Concannon Assistant Chief Commissioners Amanda O’Sullivan/Jenna Goodwin and Claire Colfer National Programme and Training Commissioner Evelyn Hayes Assistant Programme and Training Commissioner Carina Egan National Treasurer Cathy Thewlis/Julie Stephens Grant Secretary Sylvia Richardson Regional Commissioners North West Region Geraldine Kiely/Jacqueline Lavelle North East Region Elizabeth Lynch West and Central Midlands Region Anne Marie Slevin Mid West Region Pauline Kennedy Eastern Region Anne McPartland South West Region Rosemary O’Driscoll/Deirdre Henley South East Region Adele Mealey Chairman National Committee Finance Thérèse Joyce International Lorna Finnegan Communications Jillian Glancy Ladybirds Sharon Flynn/Monica McDonnell Brownies Martina Fox/Margaret O’Connor Guides Pat O’Brien/Carol O’Brady Senior Branch Jenny Gannon/Clare Sheridan Adult Training and Outdoors Margaret Patterson Equality Diversity and Inclusion Ruth Hughes Membership Sinéad Crilly Constitution Síle Rooney/Gillian Finan Trust Corporation Nuala Cooke/Claire Colfer National Memorial Cottage Kay Gallagher Representatives National Women’s Council of Ireland Kay Gallagher National Youth Council of Ireland Mary T. Hally Irish Trefoil Guild National Council Hazel Convery Staff Chief Executive Officer Linda Peters Receptionist Egle Kaloudis Distribution Centre Manager Mandy Swanwick Distribution Centre Assistant Caitríona Kelly Support Officer Jemma Lee Communications Officer Fiona Murdoch Publications and Technology Officer Katherine Ryan Accounts Administrator Karen Lynch/Naomi Levins Membership Administrator Vivienne Walsh Safeguarding Membership Officer Lisa Challoner Eastern Regional Development Officer Mary Clarke Eastern Regional Development Officer Gillian Finan/Emer Maher North East Regional Development Officer Michelle Cahalan North West Regional Development Officer Karina Dingerkus Mid West Regional Development Officer Margaret Corr WCM Regional Development Officer Marie Mulhall South West Regional Development Officer Deirdre Henley South West Regional Development Officer Christine Cronin South East Regional Development Officer Fiona Condron 3 Overview of our Strategic Plan 2015 was a very exciting year for IGG - the highlights Almost 200 IGG Leaders attended this event in March 2015 being the introduction of the Journey Programme and new and were enthused and envigorated by the “big reveal”. interest badges for each of the Branches, together with the launch of a new data management system – Online Guide The Journey Programme is a cohesive one with a common Manager (OGM). framework for all four IGG Branches. It is designed to help IGG Leaders understand and support the girls’ Throughout the year, the focus continued on the six developmental stages. Fifteen National Outcomes are strategic aims in IGG’s Strategic Plan. seamlessly integrated into the Journey Programme so that girls taking part will gain specific knowledge, skills, To Recruit New Members to IGG attitudes, behaviours and values, thereby achieving IGG’s mission “to enable girls and young women to develop to IGG’s total membership numbers increased from 11,363 in their fullest potential as responsible citizens of the world”. 2014 to 11,550 in 2015 i.e. an increase of 187 members overall. There was also an increase in the number of IGG A range of new Units over the year with 38 new Units opened. It is hoped resources for both that IGG’s overall membership will increase again next year girls and Leaders as a result of this trend combined with the impetus of the was produced, Journey Programme. all based on the Journey theme. In conjunction with the Catholic Guides of Ireland and Age-appropriate four other European Guide associations, IGG took part in resources were a project on the growth of members. This Growth Project produced for the involved expert advice on research from a consultancy firm girls in each of followed by interviews, roundtables and online surveying the four Branches between March and September 2015. The results were – a Ticket for analysed and the main findings of the Irish online survey Ladybirds, Passport and round tables showed that we need to pay attention for Brownies, Travel to four areas i.e. technology, word of mouth sharing, Folder for Guides accreditation and support. These findings have been taken and Travel Journal into account in IGG’s new Strategic Plan for 2016 – 2020 in for Senior Branch an effort to recruit new members. members. Leaders were provided with To retain members and encourage progression within an overall Travel the organisation Planner outlining the Programme The framework of the Journey Programme is such that it across all the encourages an easy progression from Ladybirds through Branches together Brownies to Guides and on to Senior Branch.