Without our many adult volunteers there would simply be no Guide Association.

There are several ways in which we can support our leaders to ensure that they provide the highest quality programme of activities for our members, including:

• A Training and support programme to enable them to qualify as leaders
• On going skills training and opportunities for personal development

The New Leadership Programme

One of the main challenges we have had this year has been in getting to grips with the Guide Association's new leadership programme. This offers a modular framework for supporting volunteers who are training to be leaders. Central to this is the provision of mentors who can take the individual through their training. In recognition of the importance of this work, in Bedfordshire we created the new post of County Leadership Co-ordinator. Her job is to set up the whole qualification process including identifying candidates, recruiting and training mentors and implementing the qualification.

Ongoing Training

Bedfordshire's training team offer a customised programme of training's which help ensure that the skills and potential of all leaders is maximised to the full. This training is delivered in a variety of ways including:

• Fireside training's in people's homes
• Briefing evenings
• Basic skills and personal development training
• A training day for the whole county

Volunteers are also encouraged to attend training courses external to the Guide Association. Most popular courses include First Aid and Basic Hygiene.