North Yorkshire SouthAnnual Review

2016

Girlguiding

I was delighted and honoured to be asked to be your President early in 2016.

My association with North Yorkshire South County have been my best Guiding years and although I went away for 7 years, it has been lovely re-uniting with so many old friends and also meeting the “next generation” of Leaders.

Guiding has changed, but the message and ethos is still the same – the leaders are inspirational and innovative and they should never under-estimate the work that they do – you are making

memories for a new generation of young people. We in North Yorkshire South are so lucky to have such a good County Team, led by Judith who, I’m sure, will lead you into 2017 with enthusiasm and determination.

You have 5 Vice Presidents who have all been County Commissioners and have a wealth of knowledge between them so please do invite us to your events as we love keeping in touch with the girls.

With my very best wishes to you all.

Chris BulmerCounty President

Welcome

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2016 was the year of the Senior Section Centenary, the Senior Section are the section covering the 14 to 26 year old members.

A diverse and challenging group, all with different expectations and commitments so trying to find events for them to come together to celebrate as one was not an easy task. They kicked off their big year with a trip to Alexandra Palace to a national event showcasing all that Girlguiding had to offer and much more besides. There were times through the year when the whole celebration took on an Alice in Wonderland feel and this started with a giant chair giving some surreal photographs.

The year continued for the SS with a Region event at Fountains Abbey which was truly magical and again with hints of Lewis Carroll with jousting on spacehoppers amongst other entertainments such as a brass band concert. The finale was our own County Ball held at the Hilton at York. If you really want to know what brings such a diverse group together, it’s good food and the dance floor….comparisons to a Mad Hatters tea party only worked on the leaders tables where we were joined by a pink flamingo.

The Senior Section Centenary did not overshadow the many other events that have taken place throughout the County. Camps and holidays took place, sleepovers at The Deep in Hull and an International trip to Ethiopia run jointly with North Yorkshire West County. This

continued the community involvement and service that enriches many Guiding events for our members.

Our St George’s Day celebrations took a different route this year as the Minster was occupied by the Mystery Plays so the Museum Gardens became a venue for many different entertainers and activities before the procession returned to the Eye of York. I think it was a success though I’m glad the plays are only every four years and we can hope that the Minster will continue to support our events for many years to come.

Our membership has remained stable due to the quality of our volunteers providing units with good Guiding, week in week out, sometimes under very trying circumstances. As has been well publicised, parts of York and Tadcaster suffered during the floods at the end of 2015. For them 2016 has been a year of making do until life could return to normal. For Tadcaster units the lack of a road bridge meant that girls and leaders had a long detour to and from their units, they continued just as before, making do, using parent helpers to cover timing issues and making Guiding happen. We would not be such a successful county without the dedicated volunteers that make Guiding happen throughout North Yorkshire South, my thanks to them all and I am proud to be part of such a team.

Judith BellamyCounty Commissioner

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2016 was a spectacular year for Tower Division Senior Section. Rangers, Young Leaders, members from SAGGY and leaders all took advantage of the fantastic opportunities 2016 offered. We attended SPARK at Alexandra Palace, had a Spectacular night at the Abbey, where Rangers had the ooportunity to escort the County Standard and Union Flag and St Hilda’s Guides got a taste for the Senior Section. We danced the night away at the ball and joined the Senior Section contigent for the York Remembrance Day parade.

Being a part of the Senior Section is an encredible journey, no where else can you find such opportunity for adventure, development and friendship. I am always honoured to be able to continue to experience what the Senior Section has to offer.

The rest of the Division enjoyed our annual Thinking Day, swimming sports and christmas disco. Tanghall District

held a camp at Snowball for Brownies and Guides. Never have I seen such excitement about staying in an icelandic tent!

Tower Divison is in a time of change, we have struggled to find Leaders who are able to commit to traditonal roles and have decided its time for a change. Myself and the team are planning to create a new structure for the Division, where the traditional District Commissioner role is no more and will be replaced with more flexible co-ordinator roles - watch this space.

This will be my last Tower Division report as I have almost served my time! Being a Division Commissioner has been one of the most challenging times in my life so far and I would not have been able to achieve anything without my awesome Division team - Thanks ladies

Helen CampbellTower Divison Commissioner

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2016 has seen a number of successes for leaders gaining their Sleepover, Holiday and Camp Qualifications. It has been great for the team to go and visit and assess and share in the excitement of the adventures that all the girls have been enjoying. Congratulations to all the candidates and thanks to their mentors and teams.

In July we held a Bivvy and outdoor skills event that thirteen girls attended, some to complete a clause for their Baden Powell Adventure award and others as their final Adventure. They learnt basic fire-lighting skills and then tried pizzas in cardboard ovens and a cooked breakfast using a Buddy Burner. Their shelters proved a success and they all survived the “outback” of Snowball.

In October, twenty-three leaders attended a Christmas Craft Training. We had a very relaxed and informal day of seasonal activities. Both the above events we hope to repeat in 2017 along with a number of other events that have been in the initial planning stages during this year.

Thank you to my team of advisers for all their continued help and support throughout the year as we look forward to many more adventures to come.

Sally JacksonLead Volunteer for Programme and Adventure

Adventure

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Growing

The County Training Day in the Autumn was very well attended with sectional trainings for Rainbows Brownies and Guides. Feedback from these sessions is that more of the same please. Sectional trainings are going to become more and more important as the new programme for all sections become much clearer. Other trainings such as media training, Go and Join Us, admin in the unit and going away scheme were all on offer.

Safe space, first aid refreshers and full first response have been happening throughout the county and these are all ongoing. Thanks to the Divisions for hosting these events.

Growing Guiding is not all about training – retention and recruitment comes under this banner. More and more girls aged 9 are being lost from girlguiding and not moving on to Guides. The commissioners have been tasked to look at this in their area and understand the reasons why this is happening.

A successful unit is one that can develop the girl to move onto the next section. It is not necessarily the largest unit!

Diane HarrymanLead Volunteer for Growing Guiding

Guiding

Castle Division had another busy and exciting year and we welcome units from Brotherton and Monk Fryston to the Division from 1 January 2017; and not one but two Rainbow units have opened in Tadcaster. We have grown in the number of leaders/young leaders completing qualifications.

More girls than ever before are achieving their Baden Powell award and for the first time in a long time two ladies are working on their Queens Guide Award.

Castle Division events included our annual Rainbow Christmas Party with the Magic Hatter, The Brownie sleepover in Tadcaster that will be remembered in different ways for many years and should be renamed the “no sleep sleepover”. We took part in The Empire Day celebrations and parade at Beamish Museum. We had such a great time we are going again 2017.

In the summer a group of Guides/Senior Section/Leaders travelled to Switzerland and visited Our Chalet. What a fabulous week, the activities

encouraged friendship, teamwork, and an understanding of others needs. There was something for everyone whatever their age or ability; many girls and leaders conquered their uncertainties and achieved far more than they ever expected. A member of the Division worked as a volunteer at Our Chalet over the winter period; what a wonderful opportunity.

All units have organised fantastic programmes for their girls including, trips, sleepovers, camps and holidays, I would like to thank all members of the Division for their hard work and commitment to the girls and to each other.

A couple of personal highlights for me in 2016: the visit to Switzerland; and being invited to celebrate the Queens 90th Birthday with the Brownies/Guides of Copmanthorpe.

Here’s to a great 2017 full of fun, friendship and opportunities for all.

Bev WiseCastle Division Commissioner

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The Ball

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On Saturday 22nd October over 80 members of the Senior Section and adults from our county and beyond joined together at a ball to celebrate the Senior Section Spectacular. The room was decked out with balloons and sparkly confetti, and the centre pieces of giant 100-shaped balloons and the Senior Section Spectacular logo certainly set the scene.

Everyone had dressed in their finery to enjoy a delicious three course meal served in The Hilton ballroom. Following the meal guests enjoyed specially designed mocktails, a selfie photo booth and sweet pick & mix. We all then danced the night away to a mix of classics and modern day hits.

It was a truly memorable evening and the perfect way to draw a year of centenary celebrations to a close.

Rebecca KrammThe Senior Section Adviser

YorkPride

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In June 2016 an enthusiastic bunch of volunteers descended on York Racecourse to represent Girlguiding at York Pride. With the help of members of the Senior Section and Leaders (+ a husband!) the stand was set by lunchtime and the sun finally began to shine.

The banners were raised and tables set with goodies, ready to give away to the public. We had whistles, stickers, postcards, nailfiles and rainbow facepaints, as well as placards from Girlguiding HQ with the ‘Girls Attitude’ survey figures and information on them to decorate the stand. We had many visitors to our stand and had some excellent conversations with people who were pleased to see us represented at Pride, as we are for ALL girls!

It was a particularly special event to be at for the first time and would like to thank everyone who made it possible to

be there and be involved on the day. We are aiming to be back in 2017, this time with a shelter, table and more goodies to giveaway!

Hazel Creaghan Marketing & Communications Adviser

2016 has been the Year of the Promise for Trefoil Guild, when 21 new members have joined us. They have made their promise in such diverse places as: Brownsea Island; a campfire at Snowball; and a garden party in Selby. We must continue with our recruitment drive and it is wonderful that we’re now attracting younger members.

Our challenge in 2016 was to host the Region AM at the University of York. This was a great example of teamwork, and we could not have done it without the support of the whole County (both Trefoil Guild and Girlguiding). Special thanks go to Helen Porter and Carole Wilson who gave such tremendous help with the organising.

We have provided stewards for both the National Trefoil Guild AM in Harrogate and the Region Advent service. We also provided part of the entertainment at the AM in Harrogate.

Twiddle muffs, heart comfort cushions, shoulder bags, cardigans, blankets and hats have been made; sanitary packs

have been sewn and put together for women in war-torn countries; and a Thinking Day service was organised for one Guiding Division.

Guilds have been out and about, visiting Foxlease, Cober Hill, Beamish Museum, a Band Concert, the Theatre, practicing archery and meeting a visiting Guild from The Orkneys.

Our County Yorkshire Day Dinner was well attended and the year closed with a County Christmas Party and Carols.

Our Chairmen are the “lynchpins” of the Trefoil Guild, ensuring that each individual Guild is running as best as it possibly can and I thank you all who have carried out this role during 2016.

As this will be my last report as County Chairman, I would like to place on record my thanks to Doris Farley who has very efficiently kept the accounts for us, and to our County PRA – Carole Leech for her help in publicising Trefoil Guild.

Chris BulmerCounty Chairman

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Isn’t it strange how we always feel that we haven’t done anything special and then astound ourselves, when we look back, at just what has been achieved! This is certainly the case in Abbey Division. We have provided fun, excitement and development for our girls and leaders and have embraced organisational change with a positive “can do” attitude that BP would be proud of.

This includes a fantastic turn out at the Selby St Georges’s Day Parade where we were privileged to have the Archbishop of York as part of his pilgrimage around the archdiocese. Selby West organised an amazing sleepover at The Deep and were kind enough to invite units from other Districts to attend inspiring other leaders to organise their own similar events in the future. Then there was a fun day out at Lightwater Valley and a number of pack and unit holidays across

all the Districts.Some of these holidays enabled

leaders to receive their Going Away With qualification and two of our Guide Units (in Ouse and Derwent and Central) have supported their girls in obtaining a record number of Baden Powell Awards. Add to this participation in Farm to Fork visits, numerous interest badges and community service and all in all we have had another successful year.

We concluded the year by saying farewell to Selby Rural as a District, moving some units to Selby West and some to Castle Division. We wish them well in their new “home” as we look to a future that will always do our best (as our Promise demands) for the girls we have the privilege to lead so that every year we can continue to say “wow look what we have achieved”

Alison CunninghamAbbey Division Commissioner

AbbeyDivision

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On the 18th August, a County coach embarked upon Fountain’s Abbey for the Spectacular night at the Abbey to celebrate the Senior Section’s centenary. Upon our arrival, there was an array of excitement as we journeyed through the history of the Senior Section down the path to the Abbey. Before the main ceremony of the evening, there was a bundle of activities to take part in, including space hopper jousting and a medieval themed photobooth. There was also opportunity to watch acts by skilled performers and take photos of each other in the stocks; we didn’t miss the chance to put our Division Commissioner or Chief Guide in the stocks!

The main celebration of the evening was held down the naïve of the Abbey as the sun began to set. It began by each of the County Standards being paraded through the Abbey before we heard a performance from a Senior

Section member who sang a song she had written about the centenary and a speech from the Chief Guide. The Rastrick Brass band ended the celebrations with a memorable concert of songs which was a wonderful end to the evening.

Laura HarrymanSocial Media Adviser

SpectacularNight

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ManorDivision

2016 seemed to be a year of celebration in Manor Division…

Members of Foss Rangers marked the Senior Section centenary year with a summertime trip to Disneyland Paris. Those who are slightly too old for Senior Section joined the celebrations later in the year at Spectacular Night and the Centenary ball.

Units across the Division invited visitors such as Peer Educators and real scientists to support STEM activities. Climbing and high ropes sessions proved that it is more fun off the ground than on it. Visiting York Chocolate Story, Pets at Home and Tesco also proved popular. Haxby Moor District had a trip to the Yorkshire Wildlife Park - ask them about the bear.

Residential trips this year have included PGL, Wellies & Wristbands as well as our first Division “Deepover”. 170 Brownies and leaders spent the night sleeping (or not) with the fishes at

The Deep. It was a very enjoyable night and one that everyone wanted to repeat soon.

We were delighted in the Division to celebrate Rebecca Cook receiving the Laurel Award in recognition of her exceptional service to Girlguiding. Rebecca’s unit, 1st Rawcliffe Brownies, showed that they have excellent potential as MI5 agents managing to keep her surprise party a secret for two whole weeks! The girls were partying again in December when they celebrated their unit’s 50th birthday. Fortunately, no secrecy was required this time.

Congratulations to everyone who achieved awards and completed qualifications this year and many thanks to all members for everything they do for the Division.

Emma FieldManor Division Commissioner

On the 3rd of August we set off on the Euro Star to Amis in France, where the opening ceremony was to be held. We met the rest of our ‘Road’, a Road was a group made up of 6 or 7 other contingents. Each Road had a main aim; culture, peace, solidarity or environment. We picked environment, we called our journey ‘Back in Time’. The other contingents were from Ireland, Italy, Portugal, France, Slovakia and Slovenia. Everyone was very friendly. The campsite that we would call home for the first week of Roverway was in Clermont. On two of the days we cycled to sites that needed preservation and land management help. We cut down trees and cleared small areas, we also managed to eat through 210 baguettes! Each night we would have a campfire and took turns to play games and sing traditional songs.

For the second week we made our way to the main camp, which was in Jambville. Where the Jamboree was also being held. We met up with the other

5000 people from the many other Roads, you could chose between hundreds of activities; stone carving to traditional dances, finding out about your senses or becoming your own superhero! On an evening there was lots of music, food and drinks tents to spend the evening and even early morning in!

The closing ceremony was spectacular, with a fire works show, sketches from some of the Rovers and the Roverway band. Who made everyone cheerful even though it was very emotional to say goodbye and leave great friendships behind.

This has been one of the best experiences I have ever had and I will never forget it. I have learned so much about myself. I have also learned how united Guides and Scouts are, all over the world.

Abigail WoodliffeHeworth Ranger and Leader at Dunnington Rainbows.

Roverway

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St George’sDay

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In 2016 I was invited to join the St Georges’s Day committee an opportunity that is presented to every Division Commissioner eventually. 2016 however was going to be a very different year.

For the first time in living memory The Minster was unable to accomodate the celebration service and we had to put our thinking caps on.

Luckily all the members of the committee approached this problem as a challenge and an opportunity to try something new.

The idea to have a birthday party for Cubs and The Senior Section in the museum Gardens soon became the focus and our very own Micki Stokoe volunteered to lead this event.

Site visits became a regular weekend activity, trying to work out if it really was possible to squeeze 2000 young people in the small area the museum

would allow us to use. Time marched on, permformers were

sourced, bands were booked, tents were pitched, routes marked out and the weather was ordered!

On the day the sun shone bright and an overwhelming number of Guides and Scouts turned out for the occasion.

We sang Happy Birthday and enjoyed our birthday biscuits whilst watching the various performances and listening to the bands.

It was a very different St George’s Day parade, one that will stay in the memory banks for years to come.

On behalf of the 2016 committee I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who made the day possible and I look forward to seeing you back in The Minster for 2017!

Helen CampbellTower Division Commissioner

It has been another busy year for Priory Division. It started off with the Thinking Day event at Acomb Methodist Church which was attended by over 200 Rainbows, Brownies and Guides. Crafts and activities were done from all the Regions and then Priory Trefoil Guild ran a small service to commemorate Thinking Day.

I would like to congratulate Laura Excelby, Rachel Mccreanor and Julia Coatesworth from 38th (Acomb Methodist) Guides on been awarded their Baden-Powell award.

The Division took part in St Georges Parade and would like to thank Micki Stokoe for all the hard work she did on this event.

In April Acomb District held a Queens Birthday Party with sandwiches and cake. They made hair slides and edible

jewellery and a good time was had by all.

In May 339 adults, rainbows, brownies and Guides visited Beamish for Empire Day. We also had 1 Brownie Unit and 2 Guide Units take part in the York Active Support event at the Yorkshire Arboretum.

Over the summer months there were lots of pack holidays and camps along with the Big Gig and 3 Guide Units attending Wellies n Wristbands for the first time.

I would like to thank all the adults in the Division for all the hard work they have done over the past 12 months and look forward to a good guiding year in 2017.

Nicky BoothPriory Division Commissioner

PrioryDivision

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Girlguiding NYS is part of the largest organisation for girls and women in the world with over 10 million members.

708

95

91

452

Volunteers

Leaders in Training

Young Leaders

8 Year Old Brownies

We have units for all age groups across the County.

4568

632

Rainbow Units

Brownie Units Guide Units

Ranger Units

We have made Growing Guiding a priority, with retention just as important as recruitment.

Membership

Rainbows

Brownies

Guides

Rangers

Awards

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50 Year AwardRosemarie Temple

40 Year AwardMarlynn Holroyd

30 Year AwardRuth EdwardsJulie A SimpsonAngela F Smith 20 Year AwardClaire E Hird

10 Year AwardJanet AndersonFrances GarlandLaura HammellNicky LiveseyVictoria Claire MillsBecky PostlethwaiteBeverley Soar

5 year AwardLiz BatesKatherine BucklandLaura CatesSophie GarthwaiteRebecca GeorgiouMegan HolmesLeah LangfordJulie MorrisRachel ParkerKirstie ParkCatherine ReynoldsLiz RosindaleHilary SaundersJanette StrodderPaula WaltersHolly WaltonRebecca Wilson

Queens Guide AwardLaura Clarke

Silver Voyage AwardDiana Bates

Baden Powell AwardAmber DabillBethany BraithwaiteAbigail WhiteLaura ExelbyElise GreenSarah BurtonIsobel MossEleni WilsonTrinity PowellGeorgia WiseVictoria ClaytonCaitlin HillEleanor MarchSophie ClarkeAbigail McCafferyStephanie HubbardLouise TempleAllanah BoothEleanor MorganJemima PinkneyErin HarrisEmily JoyceFlorence SmithLauren EdgarJenny VarlowEve MartinRobyn PringAnnabel CooperRachael McGreagorJulia CoatesworthRachael ThorpeAmy Copley

North Yorkshire South would like to thank all the contributors

to this review and those who continue to support us.

County Contact:Lesley StrathiecountysecretaryNYS@gmail.comgirlguidingnys.org.uk

@girlguidingnys

girlguidingnys

Designed by Helen Campbell

Charity No: 516246

Photo Editor: Laura HarrymanEditor: Hazel Creaghan

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