Bedfordshire Guiding - Annual Report 2002 2003


Home Page County News Forward by Jeanne Wain Our Achievements The Year Margaret Johnson Who are We New Friends and Adventures Gaining Confidence Thinking of Others Teamwork and Leadership Long Service Awards Financial Activities	ANNUAL REPORT 2002 - 2003
Thank you - Jeanne Wain, Girlguiding Bedfordshire's President When reading this Annual Report you will realise how active and exciting Guiding is and how much we offer for young people to enjoy. Each year through our programme both in the UK and around the world, girls make new friends, learn new cultures and share new experiences which they will remember forever. My thanks to you for your friendship and support and all you do to keep Guiding alive in Bedfordshire. Back to Top
OUR ACHIEVEMENTS THIS YEAR 5389 girls aged 5 - 25 were members of Girlguiding Bedfordshire 19 girls achieved their Baden Powell award- one of Girlguiding UK's most prestigious awards 6 girls received their Duke of Edinburgh's award - three at Gold level 790 adults and young people volunteered to bring an exciting programme of activities to the girls in Bedfordshire More than 200,000 hours worth of volunteer time were given to support girls and young women in Bedfordshire - equivalent to 110 full-time jobs in youth worth over £1.1million to Bedfordshire County 180 new potential new leaders were recruited 35 women obtained their Guiding qualification to run a unit 1 Rainbow, 2 Guide and 2 new Ranger units were opened 4,500 hits made on our website , which won a Golden Web award Back to Top
What a busy year! Margaret Johnson, Girlguiding Bedfordshire's County Commissioner It has been a busy year for us in Bedfordshire. We have a new name - Girlguiding Bedfordshire - reflecting that young people are our main focus We have concentrated on training, whether it be new leaders - always so important - or current leaders to extend their skills. We have been working hard to spread the Guiding word to a wider audience and to encourage others - whether parents, students or other members of the community - to join us and "surprise themselves!" All this at the same time as running an exciting programme of activities for girls from 5 - 25 so they can have fun and make new friends. GirlGuiding Bedfordshire owes a debt of gratitude to each and every one of you, whether leader, helper, parent or other supporter. Without your constant dedication to the young people, Guiding would not survive and all our lives would be the poorer. Back to Top
Girlguiding Bedfordshire - who are we? Girlguiding Bedfordshire is the largest voluntary organisation for girls and young women in Bedfordshire. Over 700 volunteers give more than 200,000 hours each year to help run a programme which provides opportunities for girls and young women to: be challenged by new adventures and experiences and take pride in their achievements develop self-awareness, self-respect and self-confidence develop a personal faith and values to give life meaning and direction think for themselves, govern themselves and make their own decisions make friends and have fun develop a sense of tolerance, justice, kindness and honour learn about teamwork and gain leadership skills appreciate the environment understand about the world, its people and cultures
We provide these opportunities in ways that ensure they achieve their personal best. We would like all girls and young women in Bedfordshire to have the opportunity to experience the magic of Guiding for themselves - the fun, the friendship and the experiences that will be remembered for a lifetime. Back to Top

		Surprise Yourself by Making New Friends Ask any member of Girlguiding Bedfordshire - whatever age - why they are involved and you are likely to get one of two answers - FUN and FRIENDSHIP. The range of activities we offer today is as great at the girls' imaginations and this year have ranged from grass sledging to beach parties in winter (complete with grass skirts!) to sleeping in survival bags under the stars. * 1st Luton Guides and girls from Caddington enjoyed an activity day * 5th Stopsley Guides gave an excellent performance of Aladdin * Rainbows from Wardown held a girls and grandmas evening * Girls in Stopsley North held a sleepover and also ran a Jubilee street party. * The Buzzard Rangers held a Burns Night Supper Evening in Bedford * Girls from across the County went to the Guiding Big Gig concert at Wembley to listen to stars such as Blue, Darius and Atomic Kitten. There were many camps and pack holidays run for the girls over the whole of last year to places as varied as Chigwell Row, The North York Moors, the Isle of Man and even Disneyland Paris. Luton Rangers even had a pyjama party sleepover! Back to Top

Surprise Yourself by gaining confidence and achieving your personal best In Girlguiding Bedfordshire, our aim is to encourage every individual to learn and grow. We do this in a variety of ways - the challenges and activities we set in the unit, the many opportunities we can offer both in the UK and overseas and through the whole ethos of Guiding. And that doesn't just apply to the girls! How many times have the adults achieved something they "never thought they could do"? One of the 1st Woburn brownies won an all expenses paid trip to London for her and her pack through Brownie Magazine Stopsley North entered an international cookery competition, Caddington Brownies did their fire safety badge * 5th Leighton Buzzard Brownies went to Hazard Alley to learn about safety issues 1st Kempston and Wooton Guides went to the Science Museum in London, 4th Linslade Brownies and 3rd Linslade Rainbows held a concert for their parents. * Rainbows in Biggleswade and Sandy Districts enjoyed a Rainbow Romp to learn all about wild birds at Shuttleworth Falconry Centre. Brownies in the same District went 'On Safari' at Boyd Field. On the international scene, we had an exciting year, with girls from Bedfordshire chosen to represent Guiding in Russia, Denmark, Monserrat, Southern Ireland, Belarus,Thailand and South Korea. In addition, Leighton Buzzard Rangers went to Switzerland and Guides from Dunstable went to Disneyland Paris. What a lot to look forward to if you have just joined Rainbows!! Back to Top			Surprise Yourself through active citizenship and thinking of others At the core of the Guiding ethos is active citizenship. Through our programme, we encourage the girls to actively get involved in their local community, to help preserve the environment, its people and culture for the benefit of future generations. The different issues with which we have been involved in Bedfordshire this year are as wide as ever, including: * Strathmore Rainbows put on a carol concert and put on a play to raise money for Keech Cottage Hospice * Strathmore Brownies held a summer disco and raised money for African Food Crisis and Luton Schools Education Trust * 1st Luton District held a sponsored silence for MacMillan nurses
			* Girls in South Bedfordshire went on a sponsored walk to raise money for WWF. * Stopsley North District went on the Rotary Club sponsored walk for MacMillan Nurses * 5th Stopsley Guides put money raised through selling sweets and programmes at their pantomime to the Leprosy Mission * Girls in Leighton/Linslade cleared litter along the railway tracks as part of Chiltern Radio's 'Clean up Britain' day * 12th Luton Pack made gifts of calendars and chocolate that they delivered to the residents of sheltered accommodation in Mary Brash Court * Woodside Brownies in Stockwood held a Jubilee party for the elderly community. Back to Top
	Surprise Yourself by developing teamwork and leadership skills Guiding develops teamwork and leadership skills amongst all those involved-from the youngest Rainbow to the oldest volunteer. We can see it in many ways - a group of Rainbows working together on a unit picture, Brownies deciding how they will get involved in the community, Guides and Rangers putting together their own programme and adults working together to put on activities for the girls. Ongoing training is essential if our adults are to keep their skills up to date. Over the course of the year, the training team ran x trainings in Bedfordshire in subjects ranging from x to y. Over z people attended these trainings which all helped to ensure a quality programme was run for the girls in Bedfordshire Two years ago we started our County mentoring scheme. This provides a framework for new leaders to be supported whilst they train for the leadership qualification. This year, we have 60 volunteer mentors. This has enabled us to support 180 new leaders coming into Girlguiding Bedfordshire. Of these, 35 have now obtained their qualification - we wish them well in the future. Back to Top
Long Service Bars - 2002 30yrs South Beds Division Mrs Jan Fuller Woburn District Miss June Shaw Linslade District Mrs Chris Daniels Linleighbridge District Mrs Pam Andrews Bromham District 20yrs Bedford Division Mrs Julia Routlegde Polhill District Miss Ann Cox South Ouse District Mrs Kay Lightbody Polhill District Mrs Rosemary Clarke Polhill District Luton North Division Mrs Gena Turland Lewsey Farm District Mrs Ettie Tooke Sundon & Leagrave District Luton South Mrs Barbara Ray Stockwood District East Beds Division Mrs Pat Warren Shefford District North Beds Division Mrs Patricia Keeble Ouse Meadows District South Beds Mrs Carol Hart Leighton Heath District Mrs Debbie Smith Linleighbridge District 10yrs Bedford Division Mrs Aileen Grindley Polhill District Mrs Elizabeth Rix Polhill District Mrs Ruth Ryder South Ouse District Luton South Division Mrs Gloria Hart Stopsley South District Luton North Division Mrs Dianne Dancer Sundon & Leagrave District Miss Kerry Stewart Lewsey Farm District Mrs Helen Sarkar Bramingham & Warden Hill Good Service Brooch Miss Brenda Hawkes County Brooches Ambassador Badge Mrs Margaret Chalmers Mrs Shirley Bell Mrs Anne Maynard Ambassador Badge Miss Wendy Thompson Back to Top		Bedfordshire Guide Association Statement of Financial Activities for the year ending 31/12/2002
		The above information was extracted from the independently examined financial statements of the Guide Association of Bedfordshire which are reported on without qualification by Mr A. Slack, Chartered Accountant. Copies of the full financial statements may be obtained from Girlguiding Bedfordshire via the contact details provided in this review. Back to Top

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