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Girlguiding Bedfordshire - who are we?
Girlguiding Bedfordshire is the largest voluntary organisation for girls and young women in Bedfordshire. Across the County, over 900 volunteers give more than 275,000 hours each year to help run a programme providing 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 that our members 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.

Members in Bedfordshire?
Rainbows 5-7 year olds 706
Brownies 7-11 year olds 2914
Guides 10-14 year olds 1334
Senior Section 14-25 year olds 209
Unit Guiders 18-65 year olds 515
Unit helpers 18+ years 131
Commissioners 18+ years 46
Other volunteers 18+ years 31
Total 5256

If you would like to get involved with Girlguiding Bedfordshire please telephone our hotline number 0780 384 5588 or click here to contact us

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Jeanne Wain - County President

In my time as an adult in Girlguiding Bedfordshire, I've seen many girls grown into confident young women. Some come back as adult leaders themselves, but we still need to continually recruit more leaders to enable every girl who wants to to join us. Our adult leaders and volunteers continually juggle home and work commitments so that they can share their knowledge, expertise, enthusiasm and friendship with the girls. My very grateful thanks go out to them and all our supporters - you help to make Guiding the success it is in Bedfordshire today. Thank you. Back to Top

Kathy Carroll - County Commissioner

'Surprise Yourself!' - this was the challenge from the Chief Guide for 2004 and many members of Girlguiding Bedfordshire rose to this call
Painting a canoe store
Sleeping under canvas for the first time
Going overseas on international challenges
Experiencing their first Rainbow sleepover, Brownie pack holiday or Guide camp
Getting involved in Take Our Daughters to Work day
Learning archery, rifle shooting, first aid
Bombarding the local press with Guiding achievements
And much much more…………………….
This report provides a brief summary of some of those activities. It cannot do justice to what goes on in each week in the many meetings across Bedfordshire, to the exciting programme of activities which the Guiders create for the girls or to their many achievements as they work together in fun and friendship. It is only a pity that, despite our successes in recruiting enthusiastic new Guiders we still have more than 800 girls on our waiting lists - girls who could join now if we had the places to meet the demand. To do this we need to recruit over 120 new leaders and helpers and this must be one of the challenges we set ourselves in the year to come.

2005 is the Year of the Volunteer. In Girlguiding Bedfordshire the dedication of our 900 volunteers makes it possible for the 5000 girls and young women to enjoy the rich variety which is Guiding in our County.
To them and all our supporters - parents, funders, ambassadors and those involved in Girlguiding Bedfordshire in whatever way we say
Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you …

Continue to - PASS ON THE PASSION
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Enjoying Exciting Activities

From Rainbow Sleepovers to international opportunities for the older girls, the Guiding programme has never been more exciting or relevant to today's members whether they are 5 or 65.

Many girls were involved in Girlguiding UK's Take Our Daughters to Work Day in March this year, finding out about working in a range of places from The Houses of Parliament to Gossards where the girls learned about how to make a bra.

Rainbows
A new Rainbow programme has opened up a whole new world for our youngest members in which to have fun and make new friends. Activities they have been involved in this year include:
3rd Linleighbridge Rainbows had a pink and fluffy party organised by the 4th Linleighbridge Guides
1st Leighton Heath Rainbows enjoyed an egg hunt at Mead Open Farm

Brownies
742 girls across the county enjoyed residential opportunities in Bedfordshire last year either sleeping in tents or in one of the many Pack Holiday houses in the area. One unit even went to Northern Ireland to enjoy a holiday together! Other exciting activities enjoyed by brownies in Bedfordshire included:
3rd Leighton Buzzard Brownies held a Spooky Evening and enjoyed a treasure hunt by torchlight
25th Luton Brownies put on 'Tomorrow' an impressive musical which had been written especially for the unit
1st Potton Brownies visited the Kiln in Bedford for a night of pottery painting - they also held a Promise Ceremony in the shop to welcome their newest members into Brownies
12th Bedford Brownies has a virtual cluedo evening with girls playing the characters and all the appropriate "murder weapons"
2nd Bromham Brownies had a behind the scenes tour at Tesco.

Guides
The Guide programme continues to flourish and more and more older Guides are staying and gaining their Baden Powell Challenge. This award - the highest Guiding award a girl can work towards - is completed by taking part in a county wide weekend organised by the County Guide Adviser. The girls are also taking advantage of the increasing variety of Go For Its - themed projects - which now include Go For It Construction & Go For It Glamour. Activities enjoyed by Guides at a local level this year included:
Guides from across Bedfordshire went to Girlguiding UK's exclusive 'Big Gig' concert which this year was held in Manchester. There they enjoyed bands like Girls Aloud, Rachel Stevens, Phixx, MisTeeq, Rooster, V, Lemar, 411, VS and The Noise Next Door and had an amazing time with other Guides from across the country
601 Guides - one in two - went to camp
1st Linslade Guides attended their own Oscars ceremony - complete with awards - for their participation in the film they had made
1st Flitwick Guides enjoyed a variety of different activities including rock climbing, skating and a sleepover

Senior Section
At 14+ the girls can choose to become Rangers or Young Leaders when they help run a unit and can begin training as future leaders if they want. If they have time, they can even become both! In Bedfordshire we have over 200 girls in the Senior Section. Examples of the kinds of activities they have been doing over the past year include:
Helping out at Girlguiding UK's National Football Festival
Going to Switzerland where three of them were invested at the top of the Jungfrau
Organising a swimming party for all the Rainbows, Brownies and Guides in their area
Undertaking seven expeditions to four National Parks as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Award
Running a murder mystery weekend
Going narrowboating,
Going to Belarus on an GOLD (Guiding Overseas Linked to Development) project

Guiding in Bedfordshire has never been more exciting! Back to Top

All across the country this year, the Brownies celebrated their 90th birthday and throughout Bedfordshire girls blew out thousands of candles as they held parties for this special anniversary. They danced, sang, walked, juggled, swam and of course ate to celebrate their 90th birthday. Some of the ways in which the brownies celebrated their special year included:
Flitwick District held a massive birthday party in the Rufus Centre, supported by Flitwick Town Council
Linslade District also held a birthday party sponsored by the Tesco Store in Leighton Buzzard after they had sent them a poem asking for their support. Tescos provided everything including food and party bags for the 80 girls who danced the afternoon away at a disco
Brownies in Toddington and Harlington held a Brownie Sing a Long and also a football match and sent £2 per brownie to support Sport Relief
South Bedfordshire Division held a Magical Day out for the girls who played games, did craft activities and even went for a ride on the narrow gauge railway - suitably decorated of course
Leighton Heath District held a good old fashioned birthday party for the girls
Barton District held a 90th birthday sleepover
The 2nd Flitwick Brownies did a 90th Birthday Challenge - planting 90 bulbs at Hetley House to commemorate their celebration Back to Top

New Developments in Girlguiding Bedfordshire

Guiding in Bedfordshire is always developing fresh new ideas to challenge and develop the girls and this year has been no exception.

In 2004, the Rainbows, our youngest members, got a new uniform - a red tracksuit and a blue polo shirt - and very smart they look too! The Rainbow programme was updated with the chance to earn badges under the themes of Look, Learn, Listen and Love and the girls got their first opportunity to have a Sleepover. In the words of one Rainbow " It's amazing!"

Our older girls have been busy as well with the introduction of the In4mers programme within the Senior Section (girls aged 14+). Girls can take advantage of a free weekend training organised nationally. This prepares them to visit units from all sections and opens up discussions/role play on issues such as bullying and eating habits. Back to Top

There is an active international element in our Guiding programme as we promote a greater understanding of other cultures and foster active partnerships with other countries. This year, both girlsand adult members visited a variety of countries, including Japan, Canada and Mexico.

World Thinking Day is an important day throughout Guiding. On 22nd February those involved in Guiding and Scouting throughout the world think of others and join together to celebrate the richness of our world culture. This year, we ran our second County Thinking Day Postcard challenge where girls from across the county filled in a special Thinking Day postcard asking for a request or mention on local radio. BBC Three Counties Radio was inundated with postcards and we were featured on their breakfast show which has x listeners. As there were too many cards to be read out, Three Counties also gave us a page on their website where they put the requests.

At a local level, the girls celebrated World Thinking Day in a variety of ways:
Bedford Division held a Thinking Day service organised by a group of new adult leaders as part of their leadership qualification and attended by more than 300 girls and adults.
Girls in South Bedfordshire held a Division celebration with games and refreshments followed by an exciting pageant showing 90 years of Brownie Uniforms.
Luton North Division held a celebration of Guiding where each Disctict chose a decade and, together, through acting, singing, dressing in period costumes and computerised slide shows, they told the story of Guiding.
Girls in the 4th Linslade Brownies went 'around the world' in their unit meetin, making things, trying food and plauying games from other countries. Back to Top

Central to our Guiding ethos is the importance of reaching out into our local community to support other people, promote understanding of the world and different cultures and care for the environment. In Girlguiding Bedfordshire we take great pride in what the girls achieve in this area - often through their own ideas and volition - to show young people at their best as active citizens of Bedfordshire's community.

In 2003, we chose Keech Cottage Children's Hospice as our Charity of the Year. This hospice supports over 100 families from across Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire who are facing the loss of their child. From September 2003 - July 2004 dice rolled across the County as units held beetle drives of ever shape and description. The enthusiasm of the girls and volunteers enabled us to raise over £4,000 for this worthy cause.

In 2004, the girls chose KidsOut to be our charity of the year. KidsOut is a national charity based in Leighton Buzzard which works with disadvantaged children. We will be working in partnership until July 2005 on a range of exciting ideas both to raise money to support KidOut's work and to promote the fun and friendship for children and young people which is at the heart of both organisations' ethos.

One element of this partnership which units have been taking part in is the Make a Child Smile Challenge.This Challenge involves carrying out a range of fun activities with balloons (KidsOut's logo).

But these aren't the only ways in which our members have been involved in their local communities. Other examples include:
Leighton Heath District collected 107 shoe boxes full of gifts for Romanian children as part of Operation Christmas Child
The Strathmore Rainbows, 26th Luton Brownies and 1st Luton Guides held an activity day and brought friends to join in the fun. Cakes they made during the day were sold to parents and the proceeds donated to the Samaritan's Purse
Girls and adults from across Bedfordshire planted bulbs at Woburn Abbey for the Marie Curie Cancer Appeal
1st Potton Brownies made bird boxes and put them up at the RSPB reserve in Sandy
8th Linleighbridge Brownies held a sponsored silence for children with Leukaemia
Girls in the 4th Linslade Brownies collected secondhand clothes to help with the Blue Peter Appeal
The 5th Leighton Buzzard brownies held an open evening for parents and friends and entertained them with songs from 'Grease' to raise money for the RSPCA
The 3rd Flitwick Brownies held a bring and buy sale and an Autumn Fair for Wood Green animal shelter
The 1st Westoning Brownies collected food and made up harvest parcels for people in their local community
2nd Toddington Brownies held a sponsored silence for Hearing Dogs for the Deaf
26th Luton Brownies and 1st Luton Guides sang Christmas carols at 'The Mount' home for the elderly in Luton
Over 100 Brownies, Guides, Guiders, volunteers and parents from Sandy and surrounding villages raised £900 by walking from Willington to Potton as they took part in Girlguiding UK's Walks for the World Challenge Back to Top

Girls of every age surprised themselves by what they could do in Guiding

A group of Brownies from South Bedfordshire appeared on the reality show "The Salon", earning badges for cleaning, washing up and serving customers on national television
17 girls from the 1st Leighton Buzzard Guides took part in an overnight hike
The Buzzard Rangers wrote, acted out and cooked a superb three course meal for 100 guests taking part in their murder mystery evening
Our County Secretary, Wendy Rider, also "surprised herself" by being awarded an MBE for services to the community

But Guiding is not just about the girls having fun. It is also a place where adults can let their hair down, make friends and do things they never thought they could.

One such opportunity was Kathy's Camp - a weekend to promote the outdoors to both new and experienced Guiders. Tents of every shape, both modern and traditional were erected. Guiders took advantage of networking to meet new faces and team up to allow Guiders to gain experience with those who have camped many times before. All participants were able to enjoy
Canoeing
Archery
Crafts
Climbing
Abseiling
Camp cooking and much more.

Over the year 500 adult volunteers participated in y training sessions learning everything from archery and rifle shooting to first aid, craft activities and cooking. Guiding provides a marvellous opportunity to learn new skills all of which are paid for by Girlguiding Bedfordshire.

Perhaps the people who 'surprised themselves' the most were the 76 new guiders who were recruited this year. By agreeing to train and qualify as an adult leader, they have will have enabled at least 380 more girls to get involved in Guiding and we are very grateful to them for "surprising themselves". Back to Top

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Long Service Bars - 2004 and Awards

Good Service Brooch -
Mrs Debbie Docherty Leadership Co-ordinator
Miss Gillian Henley Assistant County Secretary - References

County Brooches -
Miss Marion Prior Affiliate Member
Mrs Sylvia James Affiliate Member
Mrs Gill Lake Treasurer
Mrs Pam Andrews Affiliate Member
Mrs Sue Tyler County Training Adviser
Ms Denise Yates County Membership Development Adviser
Mrs Gena Turland
Mrs Fred Mayne
Mrs Mary Martin
Mrs Carina Wallace Affiliate Member

40 yrs
Mrs Ann Denman Sundon & Leagrave

30yrs
East Beds Division
Mrs Adrienne Gordon Shefford
Mrs Barbara Mitchell Shefford

Luton North
Mrs Jan Cochrane Sundon & Leagrave
Mrs Jenny Woodham Wardown

Luton South
Mrs Brenda Ballantine Stockwood

South Beds
Mrs Pat Peat Woburn

Bedford Division
Mrs Carol Warden Bedford Park

East Beds
Mrs Kate Briscoe Henlow
Mrs Celia Dawson-Anderson Biggleswade
Mrs Sue Tyler Sandy

Luton South
Mrs Jan Bavister Stopsley South
Mrs Lorraine England Stockwood

Luton North
Mrs Rosemary Stipta Wardown
Miss Linda Payne Wardown
Mrs Beryl Rook Sundon & Leagrave
Miss Jan Mackenzie Sundon & Leagrave
Mrs Patricia Meadows Sundon & Leagrave
Mrs Sue Jeans Sundon & Leagrave

Mid Beds
Mrs Janet Murphy Flitwick
Mrs Deborah Redding Barton

North Beds
Mrs Brenda Stafford Ouse Meadows

South Beds
Mrs Sheelagh Barnbrook Leighton Heath

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10 yrs
Dunstable
Miss Heather Stillie
Mrs Debbie Gibbons
East Beds Division
Mrs Jackie Williams
Mrs Nicola James
Mrs Alison Barker
Mrs Madeleine Trotter
Mrs Linda Butler Henlow
Mid Beds
Mrs Kathleen Wilson
Mrs Tina Tringham
Mrs Sara Andrews
Luton North
Miss Jackie Miller
Mrs Linda Oliver
Mrs Patricia Meadows
Mrs Jennifer Ilgunas
Luton South
Miss Heather Latimer
Mrs Vicky Miller
Mrs Jenny Wells
Mrs Samantha Dalton
Mrs Hilary Robertson
Mrs Elspeth Brady
Mrs Elizabeth Smith
Mrs Wendy Dungate
Mrs Christine Griggs
South Beds
Mrs Mandy Jovic
Miss Julia Chetwynd

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Finances

1 Badges (7k)
2 Interest (2k)
3 Baden Powell Adventure (1k)
4 County training Day (3k)
5 Hautbois Weekend (2k)
6 International (2k)
7 Outdoor Activities (2k)
8 Sundry Income (2k)

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1 Badges (7k)
2 Annual reports (5k)
3 County Training Day (3k)
4 Baden Powell Adventure (1k)
5 Outdoor Activities (2k)
6 Expenses - County Exec (4k)
7 Grants and Donations (2k)
8 Printing and Stationery (3k)
9 International (2k)
10 Hautbois (2k)
11 Depreciation (4k)
12 Rainbow Roll-out (1k)
13 Sundry expenses (2k)