I do love a Farmers Market

Where better to promote life-changing volunteering opportunities, than amidst an abundance of abnormally large cauliflowers, strange breads, jam as far as the eye could see and catchily-named businesses, such as 'Eat n Mess' and, erm, 'Villager's Fine Sausages'?

 

Yes, indeed, those lovely people at Chislehurst Farmers Market invited Girlguiding Chislehurst Division to have a presence, which we duly did. Equipped with postcards, flyers, broad smiles and positivity, we mingled for 4 hours, chatting to a plethora of locals about our need for more volunteer Leaders.

 

 

 

 

Never one to miss PR opportunities, I checked which stalls had a Twitter presence, then asked each in turn if they would promote Growing Guiding, which they all happily did.

Here is our happy day at the Farmers' Market:

 

With the German Wholegrain Baker's Shop

With Eat 'n' Mess




With Nut Farms (may contain nuts)




With Villager's Fine Sausages



Thanks to Dine Thyme

 





With those lovely people from M Farmers Market





The previous weekend, a few of us had had an informal presence at Chislehurst Methodist Church's annual plant sale, where we chatted to potential Rainbows and volunteers.  Here's a photo:

 

I've attended various meetings this week where I've fed back on our mission to open more Rainbow units locally.  We have confirmed three units will open in June and September - 3rd Chislehurst Rainbows at Christ Church (Mondays), 6th Chislehurst Rainbows at St Nick's Village Hall (Wednesdays) and 9th Petts Wood Rainbows at Garden Estates Association (Fridays).

I am still working on the other two new Petts Wood units - I have the girls, I have the venues, what I need is adults who are prepared to help out on a weekly basis, to provide continuity for the group, and who may be thinking about doing the Leadership Qualification, which would enable them to actually run a unit.  I'll get straight to the point - could this be you? Are you free early evening (term-time only) on Mondays or Wednesdays, local to Petts Wood (or prepared to travel there).  But I hear what you're saying - what is the Leadership Qualification? Read more about it here:

In Girlguiding, the Leadership Qualification supports you to lead Rainbows, Brownies, Guides or Senior Section units. You need to be over 16 to start work on the qualification, although you can't become a Leader until you are 18.

As a Unit Leader you learn and develop skills on the job and through formal and informal training sessions. You are also supported by a Mentor, who will be an experienced Leader.

What does the Leadership Qualication involve?
There are four modules, completed practically rather than through tests or examinations. They can be completed, and in any order:
Module 1. Your role in the programme Module 2. Your role in Girlguiding
Module 3. Your role in safety and unit administration
Safety is covered by showing you can effectively communicate with parents and the local community, and that the unit's programme is carried out in a safe environment. Unit administration refers to your responsibility for unit funds.
Module 4. Your role in managing the unitAchieving the Leadership Qualification You need to gather evidence to gain the qualification e.g programme schedules, letters to parents, records of discussions had with your Mentor (whom you are allocated when you start) and so on. This could include details of what worked and what didn't, and what you might change in the future.
 
Your Mentor will sign off the completed modules. Any member, from a Young Leader or Unit Helper to the girls in your unit, can sign off the different parts of a module if they see you perform the requirement.

It should take around six months. Throughout the qualification any relevant prior knowledge, skill or experience will be accredited, including any work on the Young Leader Qualification. And when I've finished?
When your Mentor has signed off all the modules required, your workbook and any evidence will be sent to the person appointed by the County to ensure the Mentor has met a common standard. This is not a check on you - it's to ensure your Mentor has helped you in the most appropriate way.
After the final meeting with your Mentor, you will meet with your Commissioner who will end your 'Leader in Training' role and add the Leader or Assistant Leader role, as appropriate. You will also receive a Leadership Qualification certificate and badge, and a Training and Activity Centre voucher.

Interested? E-mail ChislehurstDivisionGrowGuiding@gmail.com and we'll be in touch.

If you'd rather work with older age-groups, that's fine too, groups across the area and beyond would embrace what you could contribute.  Looking forward to hearing from you!