First Response Training

We are pleased to bring you our First Response Training dates for 2026, both Face to Face and online.

Click here to browse dates

A Round-up from Lisa…

October seems to have whizzed past in a series of meetings and before you know it it’s Bonfire night and Remembrance Day.  I am still picking tomatoes and small cucumbers in my greenhouse and I can’t plant my bulbs because the autumn flowers haven’t finished, so I am having trouble agreeing with my Brownies that it’s time for Christmas songs!

No doubt across the County Christmas fayre planning and  pantos are well underway and some of you will be going to the Odeon special showing. 

Can I remind everyone to check their accounts ready for subscription in February.  Despite it always being that time of year it does tend to creep up on us quickly.

Finally, congratulations to all those people who have received County awards over the past few months.  It is so lovely to hear about the great work that people are doing in units and Divisions. Not as many photos as I would like – if you have a lovely photo of you receiving an award do share it on the Facebook pages.  

Thank you all for keeping Guiding alive in the County.

Lisa

County Office Access is Changing

Due to ongoing work at Admiralty Park, access to county office is changing.

From Monday 17th November, both pedestrian and vehicle access to the county office will no longer be possible from the Station Road entrance for the next 12 months.

Please use the main industrial site entrance off the roundabout on Wareham Road (what3words: ///zones.ruled.hiking).

If you are unsure of the way, or are visiting outside of office hours, please email (office@girlguidingdorset.org.uk) for the gate code and directions.

We would suggest allowing a little extra time for your journey as this route may be unfamiliar.

Walking Scheme

Fresh air, beautiful views and good exercise – discover them all with our walking scheme.

As you are no doubt aware both Leadership and Going away with schemes have been reviewed, the walking scheme is next.  The walking scheme had its last major review about 20 years ago. 

Below is a link to a short questionnaire. 

Please do complete the survey, it does not matter if you don’t know anything about the scheme – what would help you to take your units out and about more?  It is important that the walking scheme is fit for purpose, so the more views and ideas that come in the better.  Thank you.

Click here to complete our survey

Congratulations to Liz Seery who was recently presented with her Gentian award by Chris Gabb, pictured here with both Chris and Racheal Tatum.

Congratulations to Leaders who have completed the following qualifications…

• Michelle Chandler, Bournemouth North, Module 6 Brownies
• Charley Rodgers, NE Minster, Going Away With (GAW) Modules 1-8

Well done!

Autumn Events

1st Response Training Adult Members Various dates Please visit our website to browse availability

Find out more

Young Leader Training Adult Volunteers & YLs 1st November Come & find out about the new Young Leader Development Programme (YLDP).  Closing Date: 20/10

Register

A Round-up from Lisa...

WOW!  What an amazing couple of weeks I have had.  

A couple of weeks ago I spent some time with the Rainbows at Farmer Palmers. I arrived just at lolly time (how good is my timing?) but also took the rain with me. The Rainbows were having a great time and I presented Eloise Whitaker with her Gentian award.  Eloise has been amazing as our activity and adventure co-ordinator and has done so much within the county.

Then last weekend I spent the weekend at PGL with over 400 members attending our County PGL event. We had a little rain and it was certainly blowy but we made the most of it.  Brownies, Guides and Rangers climbed, abseiled and had a go in a giant swing.  Rangers went axe throwing. All the adults were exhausted by the slight slope(!) that PGL is on and my feet are still recovering but a good time was had.  I also snuck in some GOLD presentations and 2 wonderful Ammonite awards to Anne Kirkland and Helen Miller.

Thank you to all the adults that were involved in both events – we cannot given these experiences without you and an extra word of thanks to the Blue Team who organise things in the background.

Talking of Going Away With events we are looking forward to the new GAW licence that will be coming out in the next few months.  In the meantime please can I encourage you to look at the bite size information below.  

I picked up about the medication forms when I looked and some of us who are “experienced” sometimes forget to have a quick check on all the requirements.  Keeping records at GAW events is very important to keep our young members safe.

Look out for next years plan coming together including a car treasure hunt and County event.

Best Wishes,

Lisa

Planning a trip away? If you need to manage medication for girls on your trips, here’s what you need to consider…

Before you go

A New Opportunity for Spring 2026

Dr Jo Maloney from EDGE Naturescape CIC, contacted us recently with an exciting, new opportunity.

Jo is currently working with the government, the chair of the British Ecological Society and the environmental team at Bournemouth University to develop a fun, educational, national programme to create greater awareness of climate change and its effect on eco systems and different species.

She is keen to bring this to us as she and her children have been involved with guiding internationally in the past.

Potentially there will be the opportunity to get involved with a free trial/pilot Spring 2026. Two live workshops with a maximum of 40 girls per group, followed by two additional workshops (same numbers) to be run remotely.  Sessions can be adjusted to suit age groups from Rainbows upwards.

This is being offered as a free trial but will evolve into a paid for programme when rolled out nationally. Jo mentioned the possibility of a discount for future groups once the scheme is fully up and running.

Details of this programme are currently confidential as they are still in their research and development stage so would be grateful if we do not share beyond Guiding please.

If you would like to get involved or find out more, please email Jo directly at jo@edgenaturescape.org

Contact Jo

Autumn/Winter Events 2025

1st Response Training All sections: Various dates available Visit our website for more details

Browse dates

YL Training Day1st November Young leaders: Come and find out about the new Young Leader Development Programme (YLDP)

Register

A Round-up from Lisa…

Hello everyone,

September came around fast didn’t it?  I’m sitting in a sea of PGL paperwork, reports and accounts trying to get myself up-together.  Thank goodness for the rain so I don’t feel obliged to sit in the sunshine in the garden.

My first weekend in September will be taken up with Dorset County show.  Whilst Emma masterminds the shows on our behalf she always asks for some help on show days.  Thanks to those who went to Gillingham and to those signed up for Dorchester.  I will have my new badges with me on the Sunday if you are coming along.  See if you can “spot” me.

There will be a special exec meeting on the second week to discuss plans for 2026 and how much our county subscriptions will be and then Farmer Palmers in the middle of the month.  With that, and PGL, September seems particularly busy.

I look forward to seeing a lot of you this month – If you haven’t met me before (or if you have) please come and say hello. 

Best wishes,

Lisa

The Results Are In…

Well done to everyone who took part.

All things LDP (Leadership Development Plan)

If you are newbie leader and have decided to take on a Leadership role –

Welcome and thank you.

Everything you need to know is explained here and if you have done all of this and you are waiting patiently for a mentor to be assigned to you for more than three weeks, please contact office@girlguidingdorset.org.uk and one of the highly skilled LDP co-ordinators will have a look to see what has happened to your process.

If you are a unit leader with a new person and not sure how you can help them to get into the swing of things we are going to trial sending unit leaders of LITS an information email. It will be about making you aware of what your new person is being asked to do so you can give them the opportunity to do it.

Being away from guiding for more than 3 years…

The process for existing leaders who’ve been away from guiding for more than 3 years has changed. If a leader has qualified as leader via the LQ or the LDP, but they have been away from guiding for 3+ years, their qualification will have expired.

They should speak to an LDP mentor who can help identify any learning needs to complete. We’d recommend the top-up course on the learning platform. Once the mentor and commissioner are happy, then the leader role can be reinstated. For their commissioner to add the leader role, they will just need to add the new ‘Returning leader after 3+ years’ course on GO – this must be done by the County Commissioner team.

Discover more

Summer/Autumn Events 2025 Don’t miss out!

Poole Monopoly Challenge All sections: 5th July Event will cover from Poole Park, High Street, Quay and museum. Closing date: 20th JuneRegister

County Water Sports Rangers and YLs: 13th July With the Watersports Academy & Island Challengers, Brownsea Island. Closing date: 18th June Register

Farmer Palmers Visit Rainbows: 20th Sept A day getting to know animals and about life on the farm including having a tractor ride! Register

Multi Activity Day Rainbows & Brownies November 2025 Keep an eye on our website for more details…Coming Soon

Please note that all of our first aid sessions are shown on our events pages.  Our amazing trainers hold these trainings in a variety of ways but the face to face part is held at our office at Holton Heath. Each course takes a lot of hard work so I’m afraid we are not able to move it around the county.

Browse dates here

A Round-up from Lisa…

Hi,

June – a time for thinking about Volunteers.  

As an organisation run almost entirely by volunteers, volunteers like you, we are incredibly grateful for what you do week in, week out.  

Can I put in a word for your amazing District and Division commissioners.   Each one agrees to lead a group of diverse people with a view to making Guiding successful in your area. 

Having run a Commissioner myth busting session the group decided the most important thing for a Commissioner to have was motivation. Usually most people think that Guiding knowledge or time are the most important but without the motivation they would not have come forward.  

If you have a little time, be part of their vision, lend them a hand but most importantly offer a smile of appreciation and a thank you.  

I look forward to catching up with some of you over the next couple of months.

Best wishes,

Lisa

Message from HQ

This year’s national walking week will be held from Saturday 18 to Friday 24 October in Glenshee, Scotland. Bookings are now open! This is a fun and safe opportunity for volunteers who’d like to develop their existing walking skills and work towards their level 3 qualification. There’s also the option to join in with social walking instead in the open countryside.

Discover more

and Congratulations go to…

Katie Norris – Queens Guide Award

Katie, a leader in Poole (Rainbows and Brownies) gained her Queens Guide award in just 15months.  She faced challenges along the way and has been a guider for only 5 years.  Katie will be attending the National Award Ceremony in October in Manchester. 

She is a great role model for all young women in Dorset.

Summer Events 2025

Don’t miss out on these great opportunities!

County Water Sports Brownies: 28 June Guides: 29 June. Both events with the Watersports Academy, Sandbanks (Poole Harbour) Register

County Water Sports Rangers and YLs:13th July With the Watersports Academy & Island Challengers, Brownsea IslandRegister

Farmer Palmers VisitRainbows: 20 Sept A day getting to know animals and about life on the farm including having a tractor ride!Register

Poole Monopoly Challenge All sections: 5 July. Event will cover from Poole Park, High Street, quay and museum.Register

Peer Education Training

Peer Education training is for those aged 14-25 years old. Come on a residential weekend to learn new skills, make friends and become trained to run Breaking Free sessions (about breaking down gender stereotypes). Date: 5-7th September

Discover more

A Round-up from Lisa…

Hello all, This month I have been out and about at the VE event – enjoying a great evening with so many Guiding people and remembering those people who got us through WW2. Eloise and a few leaders enjoyed the water sports and the D of E team have been out in the sunshine.  Thank you so much to all of the Blue Team who organise so many events for the County.  Do take a look at the exciting County opportunities in this newsletter. This month, Kathleen Butler has joined our team as Young Leader Co-ordinator ( ylcordinator@girlguidingdorset.org.uk).  Welcome Kathleen – we look forward to working with you. I am just back from a meeting with Treasurers across the county.  It was a really good evening with lots of discussion.  I think the main take away points were about signatories on accounts, using online banking and making sure that accounts are handed over to your Commissioner within 3 months of the end of financial year.  The other thing from me is ask for help if you are having trouble.  Better this than an issue further down the line.   Look here for finance information. The meal for County Gentian award people is coming up shortly and I have been assigned “Find a starter for the meal”. So, I’m off to Google easy starters for large groups. Best Wishes, Lisa

and Congratulations go to…

Going Away With Scheme (GAW)

Congratulations to Leaders who have completed the following qualifications…

Emma Small, Poole West, GAW Modules 1-7

and Anya Watt Stewart, Poole East, GAW Modules 1-7.

Well done!

Hi all,

I’m not a chocolate eater but I love Easter time.  I think that the holiday may bring rain though – but my carrots and beans need it.

Lots of info below this month so I’m going short and sweet.  Hopefully lots of good news next month after all our lovely events.

Now.. Can you get eggs made of wine gums?

Enjoy the season however your celebrate.

Best Wishes

Lisa

Property Bitesize Training

Girlguiding is planning a series of property training sessions over the next year for property managers and members of local property committees.

Each session will be up to 1 hour on topics such as risk assessments, employing staff, tree management and insurance. Each session will include time for Q&As and frequently asked questions will be collated and sent to all country and region teams.

They have asked that we share the signup link.

Places are limited to 30 people for the first session which takes place on Thursday 24 April 7pm- 8pm.

Childnet’s Annual Film Competition

Childnet’s annual film competition is back! 

The competition is for young people aged 7-18 who are budding actors, fancy a go at creating animations or can tell a good story! 

This year’s theme is, ‘It’s not your fault.’ How can we support each other against online scams?’ 

It is free to enter and judges from the BBC, Disney and the British Board of Film Classification will be selecting winners. 

The deadline is 2 June. Although this is short notice for units, it is a fun activity for members to get creative. 

More information can be found online: The Childnet Film Competition 2025 | Childnet.

Friends of Brownsea Island

Friends of Guiding Brownsea Island (FOGBI) exist to provide support and to stimulate more interest in Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour.

FOGBI would like to make visits to Brownsea

Island more affordable for any Unit in Dorset that would like to visit (either for a day or for a residential) but would have difficulty funding such a visit. 

Applications are invited from Units who need help towards the cost of your National Trust Group membership or towards the cost of ferry fares from Poole to the island.

If your Unit or an individual member of your Unit would benefit from a small grant (of around £50) towards the cost of a visit, then please visit our website and complete the application form. 

County Awards

Have you checked out the awards section of the County website recently?

Is there someone you know who deserves recognition for their dedication and hard work?

What about those that have shown commitment at a local level? A Unit Leader who is always there? Someone who is your go-to person for organising District or Division events?

Take a look at the Dorset Ammonite Award.

Check out the ‘Our Awards’ area on the website:

You will also find details of the South West England Awards as well as a link to their nomination process.

You are fabulous. Your friends are fabulous. Let’s celebrate that with some awards!

Hello everyone,

I am feeling spring like this month after a meeting with other County Commissioners where I was given a helicopter to help me view our amazing county. 

I set off from North East Forest down to Twynham and back across our biggest conurbations of Bournemouth North and South to Dudsbury Guide camp and then Poole East and West viewing Brownsea Island on route.  I doubled back to see North East Minster and headed across to Purbeck along the Jurassic Coast and along to South and West. Then I headed to North and back down through Blandford and home to Mid.  

I was encouraged to look closely at where every unit was and where to look for new units and volunteers.  It was an amazing flight helping me to see all of Dorset from the sky (even if the helicopter fitted in the palm of my hand and I never actually left the ground!). I will be encouraging your Division commissioners to do the same.

Hoping to see you all at an event soon – do ask me for a badge if you don’t already have one!

Best Wishes

Lisa

PGL Reminder

Thank you to all of you who have registered and paid their initial deposits to come along to our PGL weekend in September.

The next payment of £50pp is now due.

Last Chance

There are places still available but you’ll have to be quick – numbers will be capped at the 28th March.

For more information click here or contact county office.

County Water Sports Days

Back by popular demand, our county water sports days are now available to book via the website and will once again be hosted by The Watersports Academy.

Brownies: 28th June

Leaders Event: 17th May

Guides: 29th June

Rangers & Young Leaders: 13th July (Brownsea Island)

For more information and to book your places, click here.

V E Day Celebration 8th May 2025

To celebrate Victory in Europe Day – also known as VE Day, we are holding a 40’s Tea Party at Dudsbury for adult members.

1940’s traditional tea party – you are welcome to dress in 1940s  style (optional).

Badge included.

Beacon lighting 9:30pm Dudsbury guide camp.

The cost will be £10 per head which includes a badge. Partners are welcome.

Please visit our website to book.

GAW Mentor Training

“With an aim of “To refresh mentors on GAW scheme requirements”

Objectives:  To view the scheme and discuss what is considered good evidence

Outcome: mentors will have discussed the current scheme, looked at requirements and discussed evidence and issues with evidence.

To book your place, please click here.

Commissioner Myth Busting

For anyone not in a commissioner role who is interested in what a commissioner does. (NOT FOR CURRENT COMMISSIONERS)

When? 10 May, 10am to 12pm

Aim : To Unlock the Truth: What Does a Commissioner REALLY Do?

Objectives: Many people step into the role of Commissioner with misconceptions—or hesitate to step up because they don’t fully understand what’s expected.

This engaging session will cut through the myths and give you the clarity, confidence, and tools to consider the Commissioner role.

Outcome: Trainees will have an overview of a commissioner role and what the position is responsible for.  Trainees will have had the opportunity to raise queries and ask questions.

To book please visit our website.

First Response Training

The latest First Response training sessions are now available to book online – both face to face and via Zoom.

Please visit our website to browse dates.

Note: If the particular session you are interested in is full, please email county office to add your name to the waiting list.

Calling All Those in a Financial Role

We will be holding a meeting Wednesday 21st May at county office…

to cover:

• The responsibilities of a treasurer
• Forms
• Charity requirements
• What happens when it doesn’t happen?

If this sounds like it is for you, look out for your email invitation…

February – the month of the spring flowers beginning to show their faces.

Speaking of spring flowers, I have had the pleasure of presenting a Gentian award this month.  Congratulations to Thalia and thank you for all you have done in your safe and sound role.

We are looking forward to INTOPS (County International Opportunities) for Guides and Rangers on the weekend of Thinking Day.  

12 young people will be coming forward to have a great weekend and by the end some will be put forward for Region selection to attend an international event.   

At the County Commissioners lunch we had 3 amazing presentations from those who attended an event last year.  Each had gone on an adventure – one to Malaysia, one interrailing and one to a UK jamboree.  We are hoping that one member we choose this year will get a similar opportunity.

Last week I met with the Blue Team and we put the final touches to this years programme.  

There will be PGL in September (places still open – please do sign up.  Remember – County are supporting the adults places to ratio).

There will also be a Monopoly run in Poole, Water Sports events for adults and young members, kayaking to Brownsea for Rangers, a Farmer Palmers trip for Rainbows, stalls at Dorset and Gillingham shows, the VE day event, attendance at Pride events as well as the usual Gentian event and Adult awards and GOLD event.

All this from a small but amazing team.  

This month Gill Clarke has stepped down as YL co-ordinator and Sandi Clarke as part of the EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) team – we thank them for their hard work within the County.

We also hope to put on a Rainbow/Brownie multi activity day but are looking for people to help to organise it.  

This is a small task and finish group (no long term commitment) and you can be part of wider Guiding in the County.  

To do this you need to be: Interested in helping!!! You can have been in Guiding 6 days, 6 weeks, 6 Years, 60 years – it doesn’t matter.  You can be a unit helper, a leader, A Queens Guide participant or an occasional helper. You can come from any Division, from a town or from a rural background.  If you are interested please let Alison at the office know  

And finally…… Subscriptions are due – please do pay them as soon as the invoices come out.

Best wishes,

Lisa

February Policy: Code of Conduct

https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/information-for-volunteers/policies/code-of-conduct/

Happy New Year!

New year, new beginnings, new year resolutions.  Sometimes though, we have to look at the successes of last year.

Girlguiding Dorset had so many – did you see the 12 days of Christmas posted by Emma on our Facebook page?  From International experiences to awards and Thinking Day adventures.  I’m sure you will have your favourites.

However, for those of you who find this time of year difficult just remember you came through the whole of 2024, so well done you.  We lost some lovely friends on the way, who we miss greatly, but we made it.

As part of a new series throughout this year I am going to highlight some Girlguiding policies to remind the more mature leader (such as my good self) of recent changes.  We don’t always have the time to read everything that comes through so I thought some bite-sized links might give us the opportunity to have a quick update.  

This month –

good safeguarding behaviours:  https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/information-for-volunteers/policies/safeguarding-policy/good-safeguarding-behaviours/

As I write this I am also preparing for the meeting of all the Dorset Commissioners and Blue Team (Leadership Team) at the County Commissioners lunch.  Every year your commissioners represent you in organising the County plan – if you have something you want them to include make sure you drop them an email before January 15th to give them time to write it all down before we meet.

In June this year I will have completed 4 years as County Commissioner.  I am loving the role – the opportunity to get to meet so many people, join in with events, presentations and leading a team of fabulous people who keep the County running smoothly.  

Could you be a member of this team?  

We are looking for an International advisor and a Peer education lead.  Roles for the EDI team, Outdoor activities and Growth will be coming up this year and our amazing finance person tells me every year that she would like to pass on the role.  

Would you like to shadow someone to see how the role works?  Please email me for more information.  Also, please remember I can’t ask you if I don’t know about your skills and all of the people on the team are leaders just like you.  Go on… be brave.

Enough for this e-news.  I wish you all a happy and healthy 2025 and hope to see you at some county events this year.

With best wishes,

Lisa

Poole Divisions are fortunate to have a boathouse that has kayaks and Canadian canoes.  

For many years now they have offered these activities to units in their areas as well as a longer boat club to give individual young members a 6 week boating experience.  

They are looking for qualified leaders to help them with this but are also interested in opening this up to other units.  You do have to be aware that this activity is time dependent so it may not suit units far from the facility in Poole.

If you are a leader who can help or are interested in offering it to your young members please contact girlguidingpooleboathouse@gmail.com

Hello everyone,

Merry Christmas, Seasons Greetings, Happy Holidays.  Whatever way you celebrate I hope you manage to enjoy a break over the next few weeks.

Below are the results of a fun day out I had with Racheal and Chris at the office.  I definitely had a Christmas jumper on but I stood behind the County President and her new hat so that I didn’t need to remove all the little snowballs from my underwear (😊).

Christmas is a time to show our thanks to others for the year, but it is impossible to personally show my thanks to you all for all that you do.  

Whatever you do for Guiding, whichever role you hold, you are an integral part of the team and I thank you.  

Special thanks to the Blue Team and all the Division Commissioners without whom nothing would happen.  Here’s to 2025 whatever it may hold.

Best wishes,

Lisa

Season’s Greetings

Hello everyone,

As the clocks changed I have been on two new warm welcome zooms.  It was lovely to meet new volunteers and welcome them to the county. 

I have also been having a bit of fun with the County President – watch out for the outcome of that in the next e-news – Thanks to Racheal for holding the camera.

See below details of the trainings on offer this month – still chance to sign up.  MIMO.

Now I need to start Christmas shopping…

With best wishes,

Lisa

Autumn Training Opportunities

We’re pleased to say that we have a variety of short training sessions for you to book on the 23rd November…

Understanding and Using Social Media.

Social media is a great tool to share news and promote your unit. Come along and find out how to get the most out of social media for your unit, district and division from an Industry Trainer.

Young Leaders: An Overview.

This is a great overview aimed at Young Leaders and their leaders where you can chat through the process.

Approving REN forms and Risk Assessments. What to look for on the REN and risk assessment.

GO Training.

Understanding GO and how to use it.

Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis – so do register asap!

PGL Weekend Sept 2025

Another call to all our Brownies, Guides, Rangers and Young Leaders who would like to come along to Osmington Bay September 26th, 27th and 28th  2025.

For more information, please visit our website.