<p>GFS Branch Development Worker - Supplementary Information </p><p>GFS has 30 branches which run youth club-style activities for girls and young women. Although GFS Platform sees the primary focus of its work as being with the 11-19 year olds, many of the girls who attend GFS groups in branches are younger, with some branches working with girls as young as 6. There are branches in city and village settings.</p><p>GFS groups are generally run in Church premises, with support of some kind from a church, though what that support looks like in practice can differ widely and it is not necessary to have any Church involvement to start a GFS group. Some branches will say the GFS prayer, some don’t. Preparedness and ability to engage sensitively with this faith element is necessary for the role. Branch work will usually happen in the early evening, though there are residential trips at weekends and occasional activities at other times. Typically a group will run for 1.5-2 hours and have a range of activities throughout the evening.</p><p>While some GFS groups need to work to recruit members, many others run with high demand and even waiting lists. Our Branch Leaders have enormous commitment and affection for GFS, and many have been involved with GFS since they were girls themselves. This commitment and goodwill is one of the most important resources GFS has behind it. A number of Branch Leaders are active in GFS beyond leading groups.</p><p>Our branches are most strongly represented in the Midlands and the North of England, with branches in Wales, East Anglia and the West Country too. Some groups have other groups near them and benefit from support and interaction between leaders. Others are more geographically dispersed and there can be a risk of some isolation from support structures.</p><p>Our branch work faces a number of challenges: </p><p> Recruiting enough of the right volunteers for the future – ensuring that we are making the most of existing networks and avenues for active recruitment.</p><p> Maintaining high standards in the service we offer to girls and young women. This involves how we continue to learn and to implement evolving best practice, as leaders and as an organisation.</p><p> Supporting branches which are more distant from other GFS groups. </p><p> Exploring different formats, settings and stuctures that GFS groups could work in, in addition to expanding our current structure.</p><p>Author: C.Comfort Updated Jan 2015 From recruitment pack - Branches Development Workers</p>