LOB News Bulletin No 55 31st August 2025

LOB Bulletin 55 31st August 2025 (1)

Well, the summer holidays are now over, and school starts again next week. Girls will be looking forward to seeing their friends and finding out what will be happening in their unit meetings this term. It is time to ensure the following is ready for unit meetings

• All volunteers have up to date DBS and safer guiding training
• Unit risk assessments are read by all volunteers and added to if activities planned for this term are not covered.
• Ensure that girls emergency contact information is up to date on Go
• Add any heath issues or dietary needs to Go if anything has changed
• Move girls onto unit as soon as meetings have started
• If a girl has transferred to the next level (Rainbow to Brownie) old leader needs to remove her on Go or the new leader will not be able to add her to the new unit.
• Take off any girls that are not returning or have decided not to join. There are a number of girls on unit enquiry lists where it says contacted but nothing has
  happened. These lists need to be cleared up
• Contact new enquiries and try to offer their daughters a place.
• There are several volunteers needing to renew either their safe space (now safer guiding) or take safer guiding for first time. If your safe space/safer guiding runs out, you cannot support meetings. I would urge you to take up the face-to-face session being run by Caroline our safer guiding trainer.

I wish to thank everyone who attended the Thank You evening at Chigwell at the end of term. I am slowing working through items mentioned by the various groups during the discussion time at the start of the evening. One question was around who adds qualifications on Go. If you complete any course via county, then these are added either by County Commissioner or the Go coordinator. First aid completed at work – your certificate needs to be added via the learning platform; county is unable to add this information now. Other course completed via the learning platform should be added automatically but I would take a screenshot of the completion certificate. Please ask your Division/District commissioners first if unsure.

Have you booked your peer educator session for your Brownies, Guides or Rangers yet.

Our Peer Educators are waiting to hear from leaders and can deliver sessions on:

• Think Resilient – Gives girls the tools to build their mental well-being. Developed with Young Minds.
• Breaking Free – Equips girls to challenge gender stereotypes. Created with expert academics, CEOs, and charities.
• Safe The World – Helps members make a stand for safety. Developed with charity experts and police officers.

To book a session, complete our form: https://forms.gle/NaddWBY9ZxcxxNem6

Including Disabled Members in Guiding

Maureen Duncan, our County Disability Adviser, will be holding a “drop-in Zoom surgery”
for Leaders who have questions about how to include a member in unit activities.

Thursday 4 th September 2025 7.30 – 8.30pm via zoom

First Response Training

15th November 2025 (please note change of date)

If you have any queries and/or wish to book then please email Simone Jays, LOB First Response Coordinator at lobfirstresponse@gmail.com

Safer Guiding Training

27 th September – Our County Safeguarding trainer will be running a Safer Guiding training day at Goodmayes Methodist Church, Percy Road, Goodmayes IG3 8UA. Free car parking outside or 10-minute walk from Goodmayes tube station., 10am to 3pm.
Please email lobsaferguiding@gmail.com

* Your name and membership number
* The unit(s) that you volunteer with

* The date that your highest level of Safe Space expires

Dates for your diaries

4 th September 2025 Including disability members in Guiding via zoom
20 th September 2025 – Rainbow and Brownie Day
27 th September 2025 – First Response training day
11 th October 2025 – Peer Education Activity Day
October 2025 – Chigwalk – fundraising for Chigwell
15th November 2025 – First Response training day
October – November Autumn Walks (book via Chigwell website)
8 th – 13 th December 2025 – Christmas around the campfire (book via Chigwell website)
21 st /22 nd February 2026 – County Thinking Day event – bring you unit to your division slot at Chigwell (either morning or afternoon)

Your County Needs You

Queen’s Guide Coordinator – a volunteer who supports young women working towards the highest award in Girlguiding. They play a crucial role in promoting the award, guiding candidates and their mentors, and overseeing the award process at the county
or region level. The post involves meeting with interested individuals and their mentors
Key Responsibilities: Promoting the Queen's Guide Award: This includes raising awareness of the award, its
benefits, and how to get involved.
Supporting Candidates: The coordinator acts as a first point of contact for those starting the award, helping them find mentors and understand the requirements.
Overseeing the Process: Coordinators ensure the award process is followed correctly and that candidates are progressing towards completion.
Liaising with Mentors: They work with mentors to provide guidance and support to candidates.
Maintaining Records: Coordinators keep track of candidates and their progress.
Facilitating Communication: They may attend meetings, share information, and communicate with other coordinators and leaders.

Host Adviser – If you like helping volunteers ensure their proposed venue has been checked to Girlguiding standards
Have the list of venues approved in the county
Ensure any venues are keep up to date with approval
Be a contact for volunteers outside the county looking for venues

Could you take on one of the role mentioned above?

Yours in Guiding
Annette