Girlguiding Carmarthenshire
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A FINAL MESSAGE FROM JOANNA GALLANDERS
Dear Leader,
I am writing to thank you for your volunteering, dedication and enthusiasm during my post as County Commissioner. So much has happened over the last 5 years, both within Girlguiding and indeed my home life. Many of you know that my personal circumstances have been anything but dull since 2014 and very
often Girlguiding has been my escape and my comfort as well as my favourite thing to do. We are amongst the smallest counties in the UK but Carmarthenshire has real heart and I have been constantly proud to demonstrate to others how much our small county can achieve.
I really need to thank the Executive and all those who have multiple roles within the Executive for their guidance and patience and for making things happen, with what appears to be magic, when we all know the reality is hard work, long meetings and lots of effort. You have been truly amazing and I have been so lucky to have you standing with me. I also need to thank the wonderful leaders who work in my units, you have had to shoulder a lot, hopefully I will be back up to scratch soon!
I would like to especially like to thank the core of the Events Team for their vision, hard work and tolerance. You have been so fantastic and I am really grateful to every one of you.
Sarah Davies starts her new role as County Commissioner on Tuesday 1st January and I am happy to congratulate her and assure her of my continued support during her post. Many Executive posts will be coming to an end over the coming weeks and months and Sarah will be in touch soon to announce her new executive team. My thanks again to those of you who have offered your services over so many years.
I am wishing you all a very Happy, Healthy and Peaceful New Year and looking forward to seeing you all soon.
with my love and best wishes
Jo xx
MESSAGE FROM JOANNA GALLANDERS
Hi all, As I come to the end of my County Commissioner post and we get ready to welcome Sarah Davies as our new County Commissioner it is time to look at other posts on the executive team that will end in 2019. We would like to gauge interest in these posts so if you have a particular talent, qualification or interest it would be great if you could fill in a survey monkey for
us.
As we have slightly changed our executive structure to fit in with UK and Region procedures we
won't have adviser roles in all sections, disciplines etc but we are very keen to utilise the Task and
Finish group option which will give more people a chance to have a go at something new and to
share their knowledge without a three to five year commitment. The Job descriptions for the roles are attached.
Please register your interest for current vacant/ future vacancies at:
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/N3CMJFM.
We look forward to hearing from you
I would like to thank all the current exec team for their support and help during the last five years. I will post more nearer the end of my post.
Best wishes
Jo
COUNTY CAMP 2018 GLASTON-PEMBREY
Well, that’s it! We hope you had a blast at Glaston-
Pembrey 2018! From the glorious sunshine to torrential
rain; Live bands to the UV disco; Craft to Animals; we
hope you have done something new, met new friends and
still want to come back again sometime!
But first, some thank you’s. We’d like to give a huge shout out to
all of your amazing Leaders for bringing you because without them, we couldn’t have put on this event for you. We’d also like to thank the amazing Service Team who have helped run sessions, put up tents, help with all the work behind the scenes and generally be awesome - Thanks gals! To all the Leaders and volunteers who’ve come to help to run activities for you; to the wonderful people from Mad Science; Into The Wild Animal Encounters and Megan Scott Dance – thanks for delivering brilliant sessions! The live bands, Fforest and Otherside said that you were the best audience they’d ever had and I’m sure you enjoyed rocking out to two amazing bands and to DJ Shaun for an epic UV Disco and Photo Booth.
Our biggest thanks go Phil and all the staff at Pembrey Motor Racing Circuit for kindly letting us camp at this amazing venue. We really appreciate it. Also a big thank you to our sponsors, Gravells Kidwelly and Burns Pet Nutrition.
Keep an eye out for our next big event in November – a huge County Fun Day with details to come very soon – watch this space! But for now, thank you for coming, and from everyone on the Events Team remember: Keep Calm, and ROCK ON!
Sarah, Daniel, Stephanie, Tammy and Emma –
Girlguiding Carmarthenshire Events Team
THE SENIOR SECTION AT BOUNCE BELOW
GIRLS and young women from Carmarthenshire are joining thousands of fellow Girlguiding members up and down the UK for a spectacular year of celebration to mark 100 years of Girlguiding's Senior Section.
The Llechwedd Slate Caverns' underground trampoline park was treated to a visit from members of the 2nd Tycroes Senior
Section - Bethan Martin 15, Leah Pompa 21, Eleri Bowen 20, Stephanie Pompa 17, and Betsan Thomas 16, on November 19.
The young women climbed and jumped in the caves before completing the mannequin challenge. They braved the cold and damp of the caves to have a sleepover on the giant nets, and a hearty breakfast was provided the next morning to defrost the guides.
Girlguiding's Senior Section is open to all girls aged 14 to 25, offering a host of amazing opportunities to older girls in guiding – from international travel and outdoor adventure sports to peer mentoring, advocacy and leadership skills. Girls can be involved with Girlguiding in a flexible way, with each young woman choosing her own level of commitment.
Rebecca Ode, deputy Chief Commissioner for Girlguiding Cymru who organised the event said, "We knew our older girls and young women wanted a special event, something that hadn't been done before.
"In conjunction with Bounce Below we were able to offer a unique experience that challenged the girls. The sleepover was a first for both organisations, pushing all boundaries.
"The challenge of sleeping on the nets in the cold shouldn't be underestimated either! It's been a fantastic experience".
CAMP 24
On Friday 9th September over 40 Guides, Senior Section and leaders spent 24 hours surviving at Stradey woods. As well as surviving torrential wind and rain the girls had a great time learning how to light fires, cook on a camp fire, build shelters and basic knife skills. The camp was run by our very own Events Team who did a fantastic job keeping everyone safe in the bad weather.
PUSHING BOUNDARIES EXHIBITION
The Pushing Boundaries exhibition opened at The National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth on 23rd April 2016.
The exhibition traces the history of Girlguiding Cymru from its establishment in 1910 to the present day. Using photographs and original items from the Girlguiding Cymru archive as well as the
Library’s collections we will look at how the movement has pushed the boundaries and impacted on the lives of girls over the years.
Linda Tomos, National Librarian, The National Library of Wales said: “This is a fascinating exhibition which explores how Girlguiding has influenced perceptions about what girls and young women are capable of achieving. I am delighted that the partnership with Girlguiding Cymru and the People’s Collection Wales had suceeded in raising awareness of the work of this wonderful organisation.”
Viv Craig, Girlguiding Cymru added:“Girlguiding Cymru is extremely excited about the forthcoming exhibition ‘Pushing Boundaries’, to be held in The National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth. It is the culmination of two years of work in partnership with the Library. Girlguiding has benefitted enormously from the expertise and knowledge that the Library has shared with them, from developing and digitising its archive, sharing the details on the Peoples Collection Wales, to gaining national qualifications through the learning and intergenerational work that has taken place. Great relationships have been formed throughout this partnership which Girlguiding hopes will continue and flourish well into the next decade. As a result of all this work, Leaders have come to appreciate the value of Libraries – Girlguiding couldn’t have done this work without the Library’s support.”
Recognition of this partnership has been acknowledged by the Heritage Lottery Fund enabling Girlguiding to continue working with the Library to develop current technology using iBeacons and apps to promote the ‘Young Roots’ heritage in Guiding in Wales.In the show you will get a chance to see:
uniforms when the organisation first began
The rugby ball that was transported around each of the Girlguiding Counties before the start of last year’s world cup
- The plane pull which raised money for the air ambulance
- How girls of today ‘push boundaries’
- The tapestry depicting Girlguiding through the years, made by the Welsh Trefoil Guild
CARMARTHENSHIRE GUIDES ON THEIR
MARKS FOR A WONDERFUL WEEKEND
Saturday 18 June saw over 1500 girls and young women from around Wales and beyond gather at The Royal Welsh Showground for a weekend of fun and adventure, Over 80 girls and leaders from Carmarthenshire were lucky enough to be amongst them.
Welsh Guides and members of The Senior Section were out in force at the Royal Welsh Showground for the biggest Girlguiding camp of 2016 in Wales, WOW Camp. The theme for the weekend was ‘on your marks’ and the girls enjoyed an array of activities including hockey, fencing, golf and cycling.
The girls also had the opportunity to select their activities for themselves from a fantastic selection including spider mountain, a Ferrari experience, circus skills, zorbing, bungee trampoline, zip wire and caving and much more besides, there was something for everyone.
"WOW 2016 was an amazing experience, i had lots of fun and the opportunity to try spider mountain, body zorbing and handle exotic animals." Kira Gallanders, 13, 2nd Tycroes Guides
Young women involved with the WOW camp at the Royal Welsh Showground are all members of Guides, aged 10-14, and The Senior Section, Girlguiding’s groups for young women aged 14-25.
Pembrey Brownie Receives Chief Commissioners Award
Just back from a lovely evening in Pembrey presenting Brownie Maddison Evans with her Chief Commissioner Award. A remarkable young girl who put her 1st aid skills, learned at Brownies into use, remained calm and sensible in a scary situation and saved her mums life! When Maddisons mum who is diabetic couldn't be roused, Maddison dialed
999 and raised the ambulance service and police, alerted her great grandparents when she could not contact her grandparents, administered the emergency medication her mum needed, dressed and fed her younger brother and then calmly waited for the emergency services to arrive.She let them in and conversed with the paramedics and the police until an adult arrived to take care of both children. I am so proud she is a Carmarthenshire Brownie. It was lovey to meet Maddison and her mum,grandparents, and great grandparents tonight. Brandie Thornton-Lane you must be one proud Brown Owl. Joanna Gallanders
Chill Fest 2016
Girlguiding Cymru members from across Wales came together this weekend for a special winter festival for girls and young women.
The girls enjoyed an action-packed weekend at ‘Chill Fest’ - featuring live music, water zorbing and caving!
The event is one of a host of girl-led celebrations this year to mark 100 years of The Senior Section – Girlguiding’s section for girls aged 14 to 25.
The chilly camp, which took place at Girlguiding Cymru’s headquarters at Broneirion from 22 to 24 January, gave over 100 girls a chance to test their skills by braving the cold winter weather. There were loads of challenging activities to choose from including climbing, zumba, geocaching, self defence and pyrography followed by a disco to keep them warm!
Members of The Senior Section were challenged to bouldering, zip wire, archery, giant inflatables and cycling, with karaoke and a bit of pampering on offer too!
Chief Commissioner, Lesley Mathews said: “From the relaxation corner to caving, Chill Fest has given all the girls and young women here the chance to try something new and make great friends. It’s been fantastic to see so many girls and young women from across the whole of Wales. I can’t thank the volunteers enough for putting on such a thrilling weekend.”