Leading an international trip information session

Interested in international? Want to know more about leading international trips? Got questions about the international adventures on offer?

We are holding our next international selection event for leaders for  Region trips in 2026 on the 22 September 2024. We are selecting leaders for trips to Northern Ireland, Costa Rica, Sangam and a European adventure

 

When:  Wednesday 4 September  7:30pm –8:30pm

Where:  Teams – you will be sent a link in the days before the call

 

I am interested but cannot attend this event

We will record the information session. A copy of the recording can be obtained by emailing international@girlguiding-midlands.org.uk

Attending this online session will give you all the information needed to apply to be a trip leader for a region trip. However, you will need to complete an application form to attend the selection event separately.

Magical Midlands

Weather update

We hope you are looking forward to Magical Midlands on Saturday

As you are aware this weekend there is forecast to be hot weather. We take the safety of our girls and volunteers very seriously and have been working tirelessly to adjust plans and ensure that the event has an appropriate level of contingency in place. Please find below some information for yourselves and please also share the relevant information with your parents.

Please can you ensure;

  • All girls / adults wear an appropriate sunscreen and can reapply themselves during the day
  • Hats are worn by all attending
  • Water / drinks are bought by all attendees – we suggest freezing bottles at home so they stay cool as long as possible
  • Packed lunches are packed with thought for the hot weather and should include some form of ice pack to keep food cool and fresh
  • Dress appropriately for the weather and activities
  • Please make sure that girls/young members have socks with them for the inflatables, these must be worn

 

We have the following arrangements in place;

  • We have a full medical team, ambulance and paramedics on site
  • We will be giving all participants 3 x 500ml bottles of water and have skips for the recycling of these bottles
  • Paddling pools will be in the zones for girls to put feet into
  • There will be large bins / buckets of water to wet neckers / scarves / flannels / hats for girls to cool down – please use these to keep cool
  • There will be limited food provision on site if girls wish to buy some food but please do not rely solely on this as queues may be very long. There will also be ice cream vans if girls wish to bring money for these as detailed in the leaders booklet
  • 2 zones are outside and 1 will be indoors

We recommend you consider;

  • Cool boxes / bags for lunches
  • Gazebos / shelters can be bought and put up in an area to give you somewhere for bags or for some shade – this may not be located within a zone depending on space and may need to be taken down before the finale starts. Depending on space we may ask you to share these shelters where practical to do so.
  • Talking to girls and reminding them that they may not be able to try everything – leaders can manage expectations  – enjoy the day and take it at an appropriate pace
  • Girls bringing umbrellas to use as a shade when queuing and or a small hand fan.
  • Parasols can be bought and carried around the zones by leaders to give some additional shade if required

The team are working hard to bring an amazing event to the girls, please be reassured we are doing everything possible at this point and will continue to throughout the event but consideration for the volunteers will be needed on the day as we may need to be flexible and adjust plans to ensure the safety of all. If there are any questions please contact midlands.headoffice@girlguiding-midlands.org.uk  and please continue to monitor e mail as more information may be shared as we work through plans with the teams and the racecourse.

 

 

 

Come and join us at Uttoxeter Racecourse for this amazing large scale region event. There will be three exciting zones for you to experience – Xcite, Xplore and Xtreme – followed by a fabulous finale to finish off the day. It’s guaranteed to be a day full of fun and adventure.

Bookings open: 1 September

Bookings close: 30 April or when event is fully booked – whichever is sooner.

Bookings are now closed – if you have a query please email midlands.headoffice@girlguiding-midlands.org.uk

 

FAQs

Click here to join the service & event team for this event.

 

We have three exciting zones for girls from all sections to visit throughout the day, followed by a grand finale at the end. Each zone will have activities suitable for all ages and you will be allocated 1 hour 45 minutes in each zone. But what is actually in the zones?

Xcite zone: We will have fairground rides suitable for little ones and those a bit more daring. You may want to relax on our traditional carousel or scream at the top of your voice on our Sizzler and Remix rides!

But it’s not just about the fairground in the Xcite zone, we have a big top with circus performances as well as lots of circus skills equipment that the girls can try.

As if that wasn’t enough, we have a huge inflatables area – some of these will be exclusively for Rainbows and Brownies but we know that our older girls like to bounce too so we also have bigger inflatables, slides and assault courses that will accommodate Guides and Rangers too!

The Xcitement doesn’t end there though, we also have a bubble man, a Punch and Judy show and sports day style races. We have a carnival stalls area so maybe you’ll have girls who become a champion at bash the rat, or maybe they’d prefer to hook a duck! Not only this, but there will be some recognisable characters that they can meet plus a few other surprises on the day.

 

Xtreme zone: This is our more adventurous area with activities the girls might not have tried before or will push their boundaries. There will be climbing walls, archery and axe throwing – but don’t think this is just for Guides and Rangers – we’ll have some climbing walls reserved just for Rainbows and Brownies as well as “soft” versions of archery and axes.

Girls of all ages can learn some basic first aid skills and even have a go at some science experiments and STEM challenges being provided by local and national organisations.

Rainbows and Brownies can bounce themselves silly on our bungee trampolines whilst older girls can test their bravery in our “cave”!

There will be lots of teamwork challenges too where we’ll challenge units to get on our leaderboards throughout the day for how quickly they can complete certain challenges!

We don’t want to give everything away at this stage as we want there to be a few surprises too. But we’ll leave you with a little question for this zone…will your unit be the one to free the duck?

 

Xplore Zone: If crafts are more your thing, then you’ll find lots of them in our creative zone. As well as individual crafts for the girls to make and take home, we also have some large pieces of artwork in this zone that we’re asking everyone to contribute to. These pieces or art will then be displayed around the region after the event!

But there’s a lot more to this zone than crafts – there will be multiple dance and music workshops suitable for all ages.

Leaders can get a bit of peace and quiet in the silent disco whilst the girls strut their stuff to their favourite tunes. If you’re looking for a bit of downtime after all of the excitement, then maybe one of our storytelling sessions will be what’s needed. And of course, we couldn’t have a creative zone without some campfire singing.

 

Finale: As if there wasn’t enough excitement already, we’ll all join together at the end of the day for an amazing finale. We’ve got something to suit nearly all tastes – whether it’s the Disney Princess sing-along, a fabulous bit of Abba mania or living your popstar era with our Taylor Swift tribute act we’re sure you and your girls will end the day on a high!

We hope you’ll agree that we have an action-packed day planned. In fact, there’s so much to do that we know you won’t possibly manage to fit it all and will have to prioritise what you choose to do. Closer to the event we will be sending out to units who have a booked a detailed information pack and maps to help you plan which activities you want to do in each zone.

 

We can’t wait to see you at Magical Midlands!

 

 

Bookings open: 1 September

Bookings close: 30 April or when event is fully booked – whichever is sooner.

Book here

FAQs

Click here to join the service & event team for this event.

Magnificent Mexico

We’ll be taking 40 members from across Girlguiding Midlands region and heading to Mexico where we’ll spend 7 nights at Our Cabana taking part in their adults only, A Taste of Mexico programme and enjoy a unique opportunity to immerse ourselves in the essence of this beautiful country, exploring ancient ruins steeped in history and savouring authentic cuisine bursting with flavours. Each moment will be a gateway to understanding and appreciating the diverse Mexican culture. We’’ll be able to hone our culinary skills with a private cooking class, connect with the locals in a community action activity and cultivate memorable friendships on this remarkable journey of discovery and connection.
Then we will head into Mexico City for 2/3 nights in this vibrant city, seeing the sights and getting involved in the local culture, music and of course the food!

Lorne

Opportunity for adult leaders to visit Lorne, Girlguiding house in Northern Ireland and explore the local area and take part in variety of on and off site activities.

BOOKINGS FULL – please email midlands.headoffice@girlguiding-midlands.org.uk to be added to the waiting list.

FAQs

 

 

INTOPS – adult leaders

Could you help to lead and inspire our young members on international adventures in 2027?

We are looking for leaders for our four international experiences in 2027.

In 2027, we will be travelling to:

· Long haul to Asia

· Short haul to Europe

· A European multi-city trip by train

· ICE The Orkney Islands

We are looking for passionate leaders who can work as part of a team to deliver these adventures in 2027 for our young members. Between October 2025 and the trip, itself in 2027 you will be expected to plan the trips, support the participants before embarking on your adventure in 2027.

International trip leaders have many skills and attributes, but we are particularly looking for leaders who are good communicators, good team players, planners, work well in a team, able to solve problems and are enthusiastic to travel.

For all trips there is a % bursary for the trip leadership team to support them in covering the trip costs alongside the planning and organising of the event.

To apply for this opportunity, you must complete the online application form and you will be required to attend a selection event at Trefoil House in Birmingham on 14 September 2025 from 10:45 to 15:30 . This will help us match trip leaders with the correct trip as well as matching up leadership teams.

The FAQ document answers many common questions, please take a read if you have any additional questions, please contact international@girlguiding-midlands.org.uk

Applications for this opportunity will close on Friday 7 September 2025 at 5pm.  After which you will be sent additional details about the selection event.

Leading an international trip information session

Interested in international trips? Want to know what is involved in leading a trip? Want to learn about the international trips the region will be running in 2027?

We will be holding an information session for adult volunteers interested in leading region international trips and leaders looking into how they can get involved in international at a division or unit level.

When: Friday 05 September 7:30pm –8:30pm

Where: Teams – you will be sent a link in the days before the call

How do I sign up: complete the online form, this will also give you the chance to add any questions that you would like us to answer.

I am interested but cannot attend this event

We will record the information session. A copy of the recording can be obtained by emailing international@girlguiding-midlands.org.uk

Attending this online session will give you all the information needed to apply to be a trip leader for a region trip. However, you will need to complete an application form to attend the selection event separately. You can find more information here.

City Treasure Hunt

City treasure trail in small groups – Spy Mission to explore Medieval Coventry and discover some of the city’s history – the trail is approx. 2 miles and takes around 2 hours to complete. There is an option to explore other local venues e.g. Coventry Transport Museum (this would be at your own cost – adult ticket £16.50), Coventry Cathedral both old and new – no entrance fee but donation if desired. Meet with other leaders from around the Midlands region, come as a team or book on your own and be put into a team with other Girlguiding leaders. Stop on the route and enjoy lunch or a drink and a snack.

Arrival to begin the trail anytime between 10am and 12 noon. There is plenty of city centre parking or the option to arrive by train – you could visit the nearby Coventry Guide shop on Saturday morning.

Details of where to meet will be sent nearer the time. It would be useful for your team to have access to a mobile phone should you need to access a clue during the treasure hunt and you will need to be able to access the Treasure trails website to submit your answer however this can be done later at home if you wish.

Cost £4 per person – non refundable

Read the FAQs

Book here

Abseil for Girlguiding Midlands

Abseil to fundraise for Girlguiding Midlands. Take on this challenge at 3 Brindley Place, in Birmingham city centre and help raise funds to help all girls know they can do anything.

 

When? Sunday 27 April 2025

Where? 3 Brindley Place, Birmingham

FAQs

Book here

Property conference

If you’re responsible for a Girlguiding property, join us to ask questions and learn about property management within Girlguiding.

 

Where – Trefoil House Birmingham

Please bring your own lunch- drinks will be provided

Topics will include:
Fire safety – what are the legal/key measures we should have in place
Legionella – what should we know and do
Insurance – are we fully covered?
Legal advice on owing a charity property

 

Book a space at the property conference.

Bookings close 9am 24 February.

Adult social walking weekend 13-15 September 2024

This is a social walking weekend for adults in Girlguiding. Would you like to explore some Lake District hills, fells and mountains, with friendly people to go out with? This is the weekend for you! This is the first social walking weekend we have offered for a long time in Girlguiding Midlands, so please come and join us. There will be a mix of day walks on offer for you to join in with, from lower level walks with a teashop included, to longer walks up bigger hills and mountains. Or you may like to do a walk of your own choice. We hope you will be able to get some log book walks in if you are already involved in the walking scheme, or find out about the scheme, or simply come and enjoy walking with new people.

Cost includes dormitory accommodation with bunk beds. You will need to bring your own sheets/duvet/sleeping bag, pillow and towel.

Please arrange your own transport. If you would like to share your details and arrange shared transport between people coming that would be good, please let us know on the booking form. If you need collecting from Windermere train station, please let us know on the booking form.

Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available throughout the weekend. The weekend is self-catering so please bring your own packed lunch for Saturday and Sunday, and your own breakfasts/eve meals. There is a good kitchen at the house with microwave and oven, plus cooking equipment and mugs/plates/bowls/cutlery etc. We can do a chippy run on the Saturday evening or go to a local pub if you like.

Kit: You will need appropriate clothing for going walking in September, with comfortable, warm and waterproof clothing plus walking boots or shoes. We will be able to share safety equipment between us, but please bring things like a group shelter if you have them. If not don’t worry! Further details will be sent in the joining instructions.

Bookings will close when full or Friday 16 August 2024, whichever is sooner.

Bookings are now closed for this event, thank you for your interest.

Peer education training

Become a peer educator

A fun filled weekend where you will make new friends, develop new skills and improve your confidence.

Our next peer education weekend is open, with training that includes the Safe the World topic, giving girls the tools to build their mental wellbeing.

Peer education is Girlguiding’s innovative programme that trains members aged 14-25 (Rangers, young leaders, adults under 25) to empower themselves and others to make a difference in the lives of girls throughout the UK.

Peer educators help Brownies, Guides and Rangers explore important topics.  As young people they use their own experience to bring the subject to life.

Peer educators run fun, safe and challenging sessions which we develop with expert partners.  These sessions focus on important skills and issues such as:

  • Mental well-being
  • Relationships
  • Confidence and assertiveness

Peer education training 

There will be a number of peer education training opportunities throughout 2024.  This is taking place Saturday 14 – Sunday 15 September, this is an overnight event and will cover the important topic ‘Safe the World’.

This weekend open to members aged 14-25. Know someone you think would make an amazing peer educator? Share the link below with them to help them get started on their journey.

To gain the skills required to become a peer educator you need to complete the peer education e-learning, safe space levels 1 & 2 and attend a peer education training weekend.

If attending all weekend cost is £25

If attending Sunday topic training cost is £10 per (one day training)

Where you are training: 16-18 Burton Rd, Carlton, Nottingham NG4 3DF (pick up and drop off)

Where you’ll be staying: Elton campsite, Station Road, Orston, Nottinghamshire NG13 9NB.

When: Saturday 14 – Sunday 15 September 2024 (Sleepover)

Bookings Close: 4pm Thursday 8 August 2024

FAQs

All about  peer education

 

Please note this is a joint peer education and young leader event.

Young leaders will take part in activities over the weekend, such as discussing the new young leader programme, fire lighting, cooking, team building and much more at Elton campsite during the day. Before the joint evening activities of an open-air cinema and silent disco.

During the day, peer educators will be doing their training at Girlguiding Nottingham headquarters and will travel (via minibus) to Elton campsite to join in the evening activities with the young leaders.

If you are a young leader who has done peer education basic training before, you can either attend Sunday’s topic training at Girlguiding Nottingham headquarters, or attend Saturday’s young leader event and Sunday’s topic training.

If you are over 18 years old and are already a peer educator, and want to add to your topic training you can book for Sunday’s topic training of Safe the World.

If you are over 18 years you can book the full peer education weekend.

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