Chief Commissioners Blog

It feels refreshing to have blue skies and a shining sun again, it really lifts the spirit. As we have received the news that face-to-face guiding can resume, we must take this next phase slowly to ensure that we are all safe and continue to stay well. Please make sure that your risk assessments are updated with any changes and are presented to your local commissioner in good time, so that events can take place. Risk assessment advice can be found on the Girlguiding website here. I know that many will be struggling to secure our indoor spaces and we will also continue to offer virtual guiding as a blended offer both now and in the future. As always take care of yourselves and do what is right for you and your unit.  Over this last year, I have certainly missed coming to visit activities, events, and units across the region. I hope that as we continue to experience easing of the the lockdown restrictions, it will be possible for me to travel and meet many of you once again. I am always happy to attend virtual events so please do invite me if you wish.

Earlier this month we saw the passing of the Duke of Edinburgh and the amazing legacy that he leaves behind. I know that many of you will be remembering the times when you met the Duke of Edinburgh at awards scheme presentations and possibly other times when he has visited events across the region. I was reflecting on my own participation in the Duke of Edinburgh Award, reaching the bronze award and taking part in the activities whilst at school.  The Duke of Edinburgh did come to an event that I was at, although I never got to speak to him, I know that we all felt really proud to be part of the scheme. It was great to see the memories of those involved in Guiding having taken part in the Duke of Edinburgh, either as participants and achieving awards or as supporter, and enabling his legacy will continue. Don’t forget to get in touch with our Duke of Edinburgh Award advisor Jean Verney angliadofe@girlguiding-anglia.org.uk  if you need any support or guidance. I know as a region we have always supported this scheme and so many Bronze. Silver and gold awards have been achieved.

Have you been buzzing?

The 50th birthday celebrations continue, and I know that many of you have begun to complete the Buzz About Anglia challenge. You will see that this month we are focusing on the Bee Giving theme, giving out ideas of what to do with your unit, as an individual or as a group. Please don’t forget to send us photographs (with permissions) as we would love to share these with everyone else who is taking part in the challenge. You can download the challenge here and buy the badge here.

As the weather gets warmer and the nights get lighter, there will be more opportunity to take part in some of the outdoor aspects of the challenge. We have two great events coming up is year the Fiesta Fun 17 – 18th of July and our Amazzzing Anglia Birthday party on 27 November more details will follow but please keep those dates in mind when you are planning so that you can take part in these celebration events.

I am looking forward to the summer months meeting up with friends within guiding and perhaps spending less time on Zoom, which takes up so much of my guiding life at the moment. It has been an amazing tool which has enabled us to hold meetings, meet girls and undertake activities but I am looking forward to when I can meet more of you face to face as we return to some new ways of offering guiding. There is much happening over these next few months and it feels like new beginnings, as we emerge from the virtual world. Let us shout out to the world about how fantastic Girlguiding is to everyone, let’s do this together so that we can grow again and welcome new members and perhaps welcome some old ones back too.

Take care and Keep smiling

Tracy