Welcome and Farewell

Posted by Martin Wynn

Members and leaders from the county team together with the vice-presidents met at Hodnet Hall yesterday evening to say farewell to Sarah Myers our retiring County Commissioner and to welcome our new County President, Marion Wynn.

Sarah has completed 5 years as County Commissioner and will be succeeded by Jane Hurst at the end of September. Marion succeeds Lady Jane Heber-Percy who has completed 24 years as County President but will continue to support the county as a vice-president.

Unfortunately Catherine Coleman Assistant County Commissioner, who is also finishing her role this month was unable to join us due to illness.

New Queen’s Guide Award

Posted by Martin Wynn

Pictured Drew Marrs and Megan Phillips (County Queen’s Guide Coordinator)

Drew Marrs was our 1st girl in the County to complete the new branded Queen’s Guide Award, in an amazing record time of only 11 months!!

For her award, Drew did her Going away with licence, took part and went to Camp America on the activity team, undertook an expedition in the Yorkshire Dales, became a peer educator, helped run a county event for 14+ girls and also helped run unit events too. A very thorough and thought about award. Since doing her award she been promoting it to others and is now becoming a mentor for one of her young leaders who is due to start her award.

Congratulations to Eileen Gillam

Posted by Martin Wynn

Eileen has completed 70 years adult service to Girlguiding Shropshire. Eileen is currently a Vice-President and a Trefoil Guild member. Her many roles have included being the Leader of a Sea Ranger Unit, a District Commissioner, a Division Commissioner, a County and Region Outdoor Activity Adviser, Assistant County Commissioner and the County Treasurer. She was the designer and led the team of ladies who embroidered the current County Standard. She said that she thoroughly enjoyed her active Guiding and is hoping to be able to visit the Elements County Camp.

Other Trainings

Posted by Amanda Taylor

If there are other trainings that you would like then please email training@girlguidingshropshire.org.uk

Safe Space Training

Posted by Amanda Taylor

Safe Space courses available at County HQ:

We will be looking to put on some trainings once the new Safer Guiding trainings have been released.

1st Response Trainings

Posted by Amanda Taylor

Face to Face trainings available at County HQ:

Saturday 8th February 2025 9.30am-4pm

Sunday 18th May 2025 9.30am-4pm

Midlands Region Awards Dec 2023

Posted by Martin Wynn

Congratulations to Clare Wassall and Kay Sankey who received Chief Commissioner Awards from the Region Chief Commissioner, Clare Shinton. Pictured are (from left to right) Catherine Coleman (Assistant County Commissioner) Clare Wassall, Kay Sankey, Clare Shinton (Region Chief Commissioner) and Elaine Brannon (County Awards Chair). The presentation took place at Barton Under Needlewood on 3rd Dec 2023

The award recognizes the extraordinary contribution and dedication given by a member of Girlguiding Midlands who is providing quality guiding to girls and young women primarily at a unit level.

Longford Campfire

Posted by Martin Wynn

Girlguiding Longford district had a bonfire at Neville’s Field in Edgmond, with campfire singing led by the Trefoil Guild – around 75 girls spending time together in the great outdoors!

Midlands Region Jump – July 2023

Posted by Martin Wynn

15 intrepid leaders from across the Region volunteered to fundraise and raise awareness of Girlguiding by completing a tandem parachute jump in July…. Including our very own Ranger Leader Debbie Bray.

“The date approached but sadly the weather was not in our favour the jump was postponed until October.”The date approached but sadly the weather was not in our favour the jump was postponed until October.

Blue almost cloudless skies beckoned in Nottingham as we approached SkyDive Langar Airfield. We had our training and then we were off….14000feet up, attached to my instructor James, filmed by Pete and we made my very first parachute jump.

Freefall initially then the parachute opened and we gently took  in the sights, I was allowed to steer and we did two half spins then two full spins (alas none were caught on camera but we DEFINITELY did them!!) and then a gentle, graceful landing – just like we’d practiced!

It was an absolutely amazing, fantastic experience! Thanks to my hubby Lance for driving all that way, to Graham and Josh for cheerleading, to Stephanie, Clare and the Region team for organising us all and for bringing badges, certificates, cake and refreshments! to Skydive Langar especially James and Pete my instructor and cameraman and the biggest thank you to all my wonderful sponsors…thank you so much.

More photos and the videos are on my fundraising page….

Debbie Bray is fundraising for UK Skydiving Adventures | Give as you Live Donate

Another amazing opportunity from Girlguiding…what will  your next adventure be? Make sure you grasp it with both hands!”

Volunteering in Serbia (9-19/8/2023)

Posted by Martin Wynn

After a year of planning including two weekends and three days getting to know each other, our Midland Region group of 16 Rangers and 4 Leaders, with one Ranger and one Leader from Shropshire, set off on the flight from Heathrow to Belgrade where we were met by volunteers from the EcoCentre, Sremski Karlovski and taken by coach to the Centre (about an hour’s travel) where we stayed for our adventure.

We volunteered at the Nature Reserve 15minutes walk from the EcoCentre, on the banks of the River Danube, where we helped sanding and painting the picnic benches, open sided classroom and the bridge which a previous group had built. While one half of the group were busy with this, the rest of us moved the logs, branches and twigs which had fallen during a recent horrific storm….we loaded them onto a trailer and the tractor driver took them off site to be used locally. The following day the groups swopped over so everyone had a turn with both activities. We even made it into the Regional Newspaper!

This was the daily morning routine (we started early as temperatures reached 34degrees C some days.) Then in the afternoons and evenings we had a variety of activities including a visit to the Bee Keeping Museum, a walk up Mount Fuska Gora, time exploring Belgrade, Novi Sad and Sremski Karlovski, we learnt how to make Kuglof cake, had an International evening and a Board Games night with local volunteers.

It was an amazing adventure, with new friendships made, opportunities taken, and challenges overcome. Thank you to all who made it possible, all the people we met who made this so memorable, Concordia (the travel Company) and to Midland Region for allowing the trip to go ahead.

Look out for the next local, national and International opportunities and sign up for your own adventure – anything is possible.