Information For Leaders

Be prepared to suprise yourself! Find us at: www.ssago.org.uk

SSA

GO

St

uden

t Sc

Out

An

d G

uid

e OrG

An

iSA

tiOn

About SSAGOSSAGO, which stands for the Student Scout And Guide Organisation, enables members to continue (or start!) their Guiding and/or Scouting adventures whilst at university. We are part of both Girlguiding UK (GGUK) and The Scout Association (TSA) and include groups in around 30 universities across the UK. Any student at university or college can join SSAGO, whether they’ve been in Guiding or Scouting since they were 5, have never heard of either movement before, or are somewhere inbetween - and there is something for everyone. As with a Senior Section or Explorer group, every SSAGO club is slightly different, but generally our clubs meet at least once a week for different activities; ranging from the adventurous to the crafty, from games to evenings just relaxing with friends. Just like other Guide and Scout sections, camping is a big part of the SSAGO culture with 3 big nation-wide camps (called Rallies) a year and many individual clubs organising their own as well. For members who want to volunteer as a leader with any section, SSAGO Clubs can help students find a unit in their new area. Local groups are always desperate for volunteers, so any time would be helpful and most leaders are sympathetic to students’ work commitments around exams and essay deadlines.

“SSAGO meetings were a great occasion to meet people outside of my course. There was never any obligation to attend every meeting - but I had so much fun I went to them all anyway! Making friends in SSAGO meant there was always somebody there to talk to if I was missing home too much.” - Charlotte Smith Bangor

SSAGO, which stands for the Student Scout And Guide Organisation, enables members to continue (or start!) their Guiding and/or Scouting adventures whilst at university. We are part of both Girlguiding UK (GGUK) and The Scout Association (TSA) and include groups in around 30 universities across the UK. Any student at university or college can join SSAGO, whether they’ve been in Guiding or Scouting since they were 5, have never heard of either movement before, or are somewhere inbetween - and there is something for everyone. As with a Senior Section or Explorer group, every SSAGO club is slightly different, but generally our clubs meet at least once a week for different activities; ranging from the adventurous to the crafty, from games to evenings just relaxing with friends. Just like other Guide and Scout sections, camping is a big part of the SSAGO culture with 3 big nation-wide camps (called Rallies) a year and many individual clubs organising their own as well. For members who want to volunteer as a leader with any section, SSAGO Clubs can help students find a unit in their new area. Local groups are always desperate for volunteers, so any time would be helpful and most leaders are sympathetic to students’ work commitments around exams and essay deadlines.

This leaflet contains information for leaders of Senior Section and Explorer groups about the Student Scout And Guide Organisation (SSAGO). It has been designed for leaders of Explorer and Senior Section groups so that they are able to pass on information about SSAGO to members who are looking to move to university. If you have any questions please get in touch with the Executive Committee - exec@ssago.org.uk or see our website - www.ssago.org.uk/

“Joining SSAGO meant after uni I could go for bigger and better jobs - because I didn’t care where I moved to as I had friends everywhere around the UK that I knew would look after me!” - Gillian Hawkin Edinburgh

“SSAGO has given me memories and friends which will last for a lifetime.” - Nicole White Loughborough

SSAGO Executive Committee 2012-13Chair: Luke Dixonchair@ssago.org.ukHowdy! I am Luke from Portsmouth SSAGO. If you have any questions, comments or ideas please do not hesitate to contact me. I will do my best to respond to them or forward them to someone who can. Secretary: Matthew Killensecretary@ssago.org.ukHi, I’m Matthew an Indie member. I became SSAGO secretary to give something back so please don’t hesitate to contact me about any SSAGO questions. Treasurer: Richard Robinsontreasurer@ssago.org.ukHi I’m Richard from Cambridge CUSAGC. I’m the person to contact about any money related questions or SSAGO clothing. Members’ Officer: Heather Portermembers@ssago.org.ukHi, I’m Heather from Southampton SSAGO. I’m new to Scouting and Guiding having been introduced by SSAGO but am thoroughly anjoying it. I’m the person to get in contact with if you have queries or comments about membership. Publicity Officer: Rob Spencepublicity@ssago.org.ukHello, I’m Rob from Leeds LUUSAG. My role is to make SSAGO look shiny and make sure everyone has heard how awesome we are. Feel free to contact me for any information or promotional material. If you have a question, but are not sure which exec member can best answer it, the whole committee can be reached at exec@ssago.org.uk or on the SSAGO hotline: 0844 4780022

SSAGO Clubs 2011-12*

AberdeenAberystwythBangorBathBirminghamBournemouthBristolCambridgeCardiffCentral LancasterDerby

*This lists is subject to chance. Contact details available from the website.

DurhamExeterImperial CollegeLancasterLeedsLeicesterLoughboroughManchesterNottinghamOxfordPlymouth

PortsmouthReadingSheffieldSouthamptonSt AndrewsStirlingStrathclydeSwanseaWarwickYork

Universities Without SSAGO Clubs

Indie MemberStudents at universities with no official SSAGO Club can join as an “indie” or independant member which allows them to attend national SSAGO events and be kept up-to-date with SSAGO de-velopments. Start A New ClubStudents looking for a challenge can always start a new club. We have lots of support available for members looking to do this - there are factsheets available on the website (www.ssago.org.uk/) and the committee will always be willing to help.

As the exec committee members and active clubs change yearly, this page has been designed so an up-to-date version can be printed from the resources section of our website: www.ssago.org.uk/

SSAGO EventsThe national side of SSAGO organises four events each year. They are hosted by clubs who organise them on behalf of SSAGO. Three of these events are known as SSAGO Rallies and one is the SSAGO Ball. Any club may place a bid to host a rally or a ball at the AGM, held during the Spring Rally, and all members present vote to decide which clubs will host the following year’s events.

- Loughborough SCOGUI Inflatable Rally 2011 Logo

SSAGO RallyRally is a national camp, held once every term where SSAGO groups around the UK meet up to join in activities, have adventures and make new friendsfrom across the country. They can vary in size from around 100 to over 250 people. The three rallies are held around November, February and July and, as they are hosted by different clubs each time, they offer an unique opportunity to visit new places.

Each rally has a theme chosen by the host club, which is usually worked into the choice of activities and will be the basis of the (op-tional) fancy dress competition. When booking on, participants can choose which Saturday afternoon activity to do from a list picked by the host club which almost always includes some or all of the fol-lowing: a walk or hike; a pub crawl; a shopping trip; afternoon off (meaning a free choice of what to do for the afternoon); on-site ac-tivities; swimming; and visits to local attractions.

They cost about £25 for the weekend, plus optional extras for some of the activities (however, there will always be activities that are free).

Rallies are a great way to make new friends from around the country, as everyone is always really friendly, and they provide a (hopefully well earned!) break from the stresses of university.

“SSAGO was always there when I needed down time between assigments and I met some pretty special people through it too.” - Bethan Coombe Swansea

SSAGO BallThe SSAGO ball is the more formal side of SSAGO. It marks the official handover from the old SSAGO Executive Committee to the new one and it’s one of the few chances to see other SSAGOers not covered in mud!

The camping of Rallies is not for everyone and this is a chance to attend a SSAGO event in a nice hotel; switching heavy walking boots for posh dancing shoes.

The Cutlery Cup is awarded at Ball to a member who has shown outstanding commitment to Guiding or Scouting.

“Organising the SSAGO Ball gave me a welcome break from my in-tense university course. It allowed me to work with some fantastic people, gain skills and most of all create some fantastic memories. It was an amazing feeling to see everyone enjoying something I’d helped put together and knowing I’d been part of people’s SSAGO life.” - Kayleigh Urquhart Bangor

Please feel free to distribute this leaflet to

anyone who would find it useful.

More copies can be supplied by emailing the

SSAGO Publicity Officer: publicity@ssago.org.uk.

SSAGO have created a badge for Senior Section and Explorer members with challenges designed to increase independence and ability to live away from home. The pro-gramme is available from the SSAGO website and Senior Section members can count it to-wards the Independant Living octant.While this badge can’t be worn on uniform, it is perfect for camp blankets - and, with the many badges that can be collected from campsites visited on Rallies, may be used as an excuse to get a new blanket to fill!

For more information on anything in this leaflet:

www.ssago.org.uk/exec@ssago.org.uk

0844 4780022

SSAGO Blanket Badge