How to offer Guiding in a different
format: advice on setting up alternative
ways of offering Guiding
Why do we need to do this?
Guiding has traditionally been provided in a Unit setting, which involves having
sufficient leaders to open and run units. We have significant numbers on our
waiting-to-join lists, and it is no longer acceptable simply to respond by saying we
have no space, or that some girls will not get into Guiding. The birth rate has
increased by 20% in the last eight years. If half of those children are girls, we will
have even more trying to join us. Having large numbers on our waiting-to-join lists
is not a good measure of our success if they can’t get in – the only acceptable
measure of success is enabling them to join, and giving them Good Quality Guiding.
We have been working on the basis of ‘more leaders, more units’ for more than 60
years (there is a poster from the 1950’s aimed at this so it’s not a new theme) and
it isn’t working. We are not succeeding in making sure that every girl who wants to
join can do so.
It is the aim of Girlguiding South West England:
that every girl should be offered the chance to participate in the Guiding
Programme as soon as they reach the minimum age for the relevant section. If
this cannot be delivered in a Unit setting, then it should be offered in a
different format.
What different formats might there be?
The common one being considered is monthly or half-termly meetings, at the
weekend, for larger groups of girls. These could be:
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Feeder sessions – everyone is invited to attend until such time there is a
space in the unit they wish to go to
Permanent sessions – effectively new units but with larger membership
There are also projects offering Guiding only in school holidays.
What about registering the groups?
The groups can be registered as units in the normal way. If organised at district or
division level, they can be named as district or division units in the same way
Senior Section units are now. All that is required is that at least one leader takes
responsibility as Unit Guider. If you have Division section leaders, they could be
registered as the Unit leader, or a Commissioner, or you may find a leader (or
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leaders) who no longer wants to run a meeting during the week who would be
happy to be the lead adult. Holiday units can also be registered as exactly that.
And joint section units can be registered as one unit – it is not necessary to register
as separate section units.
Can we have joint section groups and meetings?
Yes. This is already happening throughout the country for various reasons. The only
requirement is that Rainbows get the Rainbow Jigsaw, Brownies get Brownie
Adventure, and Guides get Go-For-Its.
In fact the arrangement of holding ‘family’ meetings (all sections at the same
time) is strongly recommended. There are lots of good reasons to do so, including
the fact that the sessions can continue in the long term even if the numbers in one
section reduce below the level where a normal meeting would not be viable. It
makes best use of venues, time and leadership teams.
Resources such as ‘Rustle, Bustle and Squeak’ are ideal for this kind of session, as
each girl can participate at her own level, and using the appropriate programme
for her age group.
Will the girls be members?
Yes, as soon as they are registered on GO. The usual joining arrangements apply. It
is recommended that girls are invited to one meeting (as many units do already
with new members) and are put onto GO as from their second meeting. They wear
appropriate Guide wear (ask the local depot to attend a session so they can sell to
parents!).
If you run these sessions as feeder sessions, the usual transfer arrangements apply.
The girls can attend district, division, joint unit, County and Region events, just
like other members. They should get invitations to all such events.
What about numbers and ratios?
There is no maximum number for any section (see Guiding Manual for section on
ratios), so there is no need to limit the numbers. The only requirement is that for
Rainbows, there must be two adults present.
The idea is that everyone can join as soon as they reach the minimum age for the
section – the only restriction being the size of the venue. You will need to think
about the venue you use, the cost and whether it has extra rooms or facilities.
Community centres, especially those in local shopping centres, usually have lots of
car parking for leaders and parents.
How do we organise the adults?
There needs to be a core team: at least registered Unit Guider (whoever that
happens to be but she does not have to attend every session), plus people to do the
administration (accounts, GO, programme records, communication with parents,
etc – this need not be a Guider, it could be a TG or FOG member, or retired
Guider, or another helper).
The rest of the adult team do not have to be the same leaders every week. Some
ideas:
 Ask each existing unit to provide a team and a programme for one session.
They could use resources they have used already in their own unit.
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Organise a rota – say you might run 10 sessions a year and you have 20 units
in your Division, that would mean two units providing leaders once a year.
Use TG and FOG members to provide activities. Many TG members might
prefer doing a weekend session once a year rather than doing evening
sessions.
Use your YLs – they don’t all have Saturday jobs and they will get more
experience.
Think about how you run district and division events with different groups
of helpers, and replicate this arrangement.
Use leaders from all sections, not just from the programme for whom the
session is planned. This will give leaders more experience as well as making
best use of all your resources (see the note above on ‘family’ groups).
Use retired leaders – those over 65 might be very happy to come back and
help as assistants, plan events, do admin, or demonstrate skills.
Someone needs to be in charge of organising the sessions and adult rota, making
sure there are sufficient adults at each session. This need not be the lead adult – it
could be someone who is happy to do this kind of admin.
Remember you will need sufficient adults for outdoor activities, according to the
age range and ratios in the Guiding Manual, but they do not have to be Guiders.
What about LQ Modules?
The best solution is to start with lead adults who already have Module 1 for each
section. However if this is not possible, then, for each section, at least one adult
leader who has some experience with that section. The key message is that the
core team should have sufficient experience to ensure that the programme for
each section is being run properly. As time goes on, these leaders may wish to add
another Module 1 to their LQ.
What do we do about funds and Annual Subscriptions?
These groups are likely to be run at district or division level, but it is strongly
advised that a separate district or division account is opened for such groups.
Accounts should be managed the same way as unit/district/division accounts, and
Gift Aid can be registered for and claimed.
New unit grants will be available for such groups; applications can be made in the
usual way.
A girl pays a subscription which can either be per session, or per month or per
term, plus the Annual Subscription. For example, you may decide to charge £5 per
monthly session, in which case the girl brings that amount each time she comes.
However, after the second session attended, she is registered on GO so she is a
member and liable for the Annual Subscription. Alternatively, she pays in advance
per term regardless of how many sessions she attends.
A good idea would be to ask for the Annual Subscription upfront, and hold this in
the group account. If the girl subsequently transfers to an existing unit, the Annual
Subscription (if not already paid to Girlguiding for that year) can go with her. If she
stays in the group, the Annual Subscription is paid in the usual way each February.
How long should each session be?
Weekend/day sessions run on a monthly basis will have to be longer than 60 or 90
minutes. You might need at least two hours for a Rainbow session or three hours
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for Brownies and Guides (with drinks break). If you are running a ‘family group’
session, it might be better for everyone to have three hours, or to start at the
same time but have Rainbows leave earlier.
Starting early in the day might be a good choice: 9am or 9.30am to 11.30am or
12noon, gives time for a good programme, and leaves time for family activities the
rest of the day (for girls and adults). One County has suggested having one group
session for 2 hours before lunch, and another group session for 2 hours after lunch,
with a one hour leader meeting in-between (with lunch!).
How we do organise the programme?
Like all new units, it might take a while to get into the idea of Girl-led Guiding but
there is absolutely no reason why this cannot take place as in other units. However
one idea is to give each session a theme, and ask girls and leaders to contribute,
for example:
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January – winter activities
February – Thinking Day
March/April – Easter
December – Christmas
Region and national resources can be fitted in as programme themes (eg. Rustle,
Bustle and Squeak, or A Night at the Museum).
If other units have done or planned activities, try asking them to make enough for
the group meeting as well as for their own unit, and refund their costs.
How do we sell this to parents?
Parents of girls on waiting-to-join lists need to be told about this new venture. The
only way to do this is positively – this is not second-class Guiding!!
The positive message is that we have lots of girls who want to join and we want to
have them experience Guiding, so to make sure everyone gets that opportunity, we
have created a new way of providing Guiding.
Tell parents how it will be organised. Tell them that this is a choice – they can stay
on the waiting-to-join list if they wish. Be clear about funds and Annual
Subscription, and that the girls will be members with the same membership
obligations as everyone else. Tell them they will get other opportunities, such as
residential events, outdoor events, visits etc with other units. (We have attached
some examples of letters to parents).
A good idea would be to welcome parents to the first session. Give them coffee,
explain about Guiding (someone can do this while the girls are enjoying activities)
and let them join in later in the session. You might get some new helpers!!
Any more questions?
If you think of something we have not thought of, please let us know. You can
contact Jacqui or Clair, and we will try to help.
For information about a successful holiday Guiding project, contact the County
Commissioner for Girlguiding Gloucestershire.
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