Did you take part in Fiesta Fun? What a great weekend of videos and activities with a resource pack which included lots of ideas, which we can continue to use over the coming months. Thank you to all members of the task and finish group for putting this event together. Fiesta Fun continues the celebrations of our 50^th Year.

I took part with my own unit and we joined together with our local Brownies, we certainly did have fun! We made masks, learnt a fiesta dance, had a piñata, and made Fiesta Fred, Fran and a Freda. There is still time to send us your photos and of course don’t forget to get in those badge orders.

This month we have more ideas for the “Buzz about Anglia” challenge and in our next newsletter the spotlight will be, “Bee a leading light”. So please do keep an eye out for this. I have noticed that many counties have active challenges you can take part in, which really complement our region challenge and create an even bigger Buzz!  August also sees our Trefoil Guild members from across the region joining in our 50^th Birthday celebrations, by having a “Garden Party” together.  This sounds a great way to celebrate and I’m so pleased that our Trefoil members are joining in the celebrations. Thank you to Jean, our Region Trefoil Guild Chair, for supporting our Trefoil members with this initiative. You can find out more here, Trefoil Guild 50th Birthday Challenge   it includes lots of idea quizzes and games. What about this one?,

“Name 5” Game – Do individually or in small groups.

1. Name 5 foods that come in a can.

2. Name 5 fairy tales.

3. Name 5 game shows.

4. Name 5 things that happened in the 1970s!

5. Name 5 Counties in the Anglia Region.

6. Name 5 garden flowers.

7. Name 5 different types of cake!

I hope that’s got you thinking?

As always, thank you to all of you

take care and keep Smiling,

Tracy

County Spotlight – Essex West

Essex West comprises of ten Guiding Divisions and stretches from the Thames in the south to the Cambridge border in the north. It is home to about 3.5 thousand members aged 5+ to the Trefoil Guild.

This has been an unprecedented year not just for Girlguiding but for the whole world. We have all had to find new ways of doing things to enable life to go on. Leaders in Essex West have certainly risen to the challenge being very creative in their ways of keeping girls connected to Girlguiding. When permitted there have been face to face meetings indoors and out. When not permitted many have made activity packs and newsletters. We have all learnt how to Zoom with many complete technophobes becoming very adept at this new skill. Leaders have encouraged members of all sections to take part in activities set up through County and Anglia such as festivals and sleepovers and Girlguiding UK’s many Activities from home.

Many planned events have of course sadly had to be cancelled such as Essex Jamboree and a County sleepover at Warwick Castle.

Our County Commissioner for the past five and a half years Chris Skinner has stepped down following the end of her extended term of office. During that time she did a tremendous job of leading the County. Now as we emerge from lock-down we have a new County Team with Rosemary, Jenny and Susan to take us forward.

 Units are beginning to reopen and rediscover the joys of Guiding. We also have a much heralded shiny new website to advertise ourselves.

Our hard-working training team are endeavouring to ensure that all Leaders are compliant with Safe Space and First Response requirements as well as other trainings.

The recent closure of LaSER’s Chigwell Row campsite will be keenly felt in Essex West. It is  a much loved place for activities, camps and holidays as well as evening Unit meetings which we would love to see remain available and will endeavour to support  it staying open if we possibly can.

Highlights of lock-down

Some Leaders proved themselves well able to adapt to the times by taking part in the Loo Roll Challenge.

We encouraged girls to take part in the weekly Clap for Carers and display rainbows for the NHS in windows. Also, to show a Guiding light to keep the spirit of Guiding alive.

By the time Christmas came around we were all ready for some fun. A virtual pantomime “Jack and the Beanstalk” was made available to members of all sections – oh yes it was!

It had been planned to run a cross section event for Thinking Day which with the ingenuity of our Programme and Adventure team was reimagined as a hugely successful virtual weekend event. It was run across the County website, Facebook and Zoom. Members were all encouraged to take part in as many activities as possible. Some set up sleeping dens for the virtual sleepover. There were scavenger hunts and escape rooms, craft and cooking activities, farm visit and a Thriftwood campfire to sing along with. A great way to learn about and celebrate World Thinking Day.

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We are pleased to announce the launch of a grant aimed at helping to support new units as they open. The previous grant ended in December 2020 so we are offering this to all units who have started meeting since 1 January 2021.