Chief commissioner blog – April 2023

I hope you are looking forward to the spring and the lighter evenings. I do love spring. There’s something about a bright sunny morning (usually when the Formula 1 season is starting) that just makes me smile.

This month, our region team will be sharing more information about the recruitment campaign starting on the 8 May with a sponsored abseil event day – I am slightly nervous about abseiling down the Forum in Norwich, but it’s a new adventure and something I’ve never done before. I can’t wait for Brownies 2023 to take place, although I can’t decide where to take my own Brownie unit! I do hope to be able to attend some of the events so come along and maybe meet a member of my team or me.

I am delighted that my team was announced in March and what a team it is! Claire Course takes on the role of deputy chief commissioner, and Chris Skinner and Charlotte Bennett as assistant chief commissioners. We are all really excited to be able to lead Anglia over the next five years. By following this link, you can watch a short video of Chris and her Brownies in a radio interview – very inspirational. Over the coming months, there will be a series of interviews with Claire, Chris, and Charlotte featured in Signpost, Girlguiding Anglia’s newsletter. Please tune in to find out more about them, the sections they volunteer with and a bit about them outside of Girlguiding.

I was recently honoured to present a Buckinghamshire county good service certificate to Elaine Thorogood. Until recently, Elaine ran a Rainbow and a Brownie unit in Ivinghoe and Pistone. After nearly 25 years, Elaine has decided to retire from her units and support Girlguiding Buckinghamshire. Elaine truly deserved her award, and I was delighted to be able to present it to her on behalf of Sheila Beales, Buckinghamshire county commissioner.

From one inspirational lady to another – Andrea Oughton. Andrea has now stepped down as deputy chief commissioner. I’m lucky enough to have known Andrea for nearly five years, having first met her just after she started her role as deputy when she visited a county Brownie camp I had organised. Andrea has been extremely supportive of me over the last 5 years and even more so in the last couple of months, continuing as deputy chief for an extra month whilst my team and I settled into our new roles. Thank you, Andrea.

As you read this, you may well be getting ready to celebrate Easter with family and friends. I will be hiding Easter eggs for my children who are in their twenties, always makes me smile watching them trying to find the eggs. Whatever you have planned, I hope you are able to take some time for yourselves and relax whilst eating far too much chocolate!

Have fun and enjoy new adventures along the way.

Karen