We are part of Girlguiding, the leading charity for girls and young women in the UK and we sit within Girlguiding South West Region. We have Rainbow, Brownie, Guide and Ranger units across Wiltshire North, providing adventure for girls aged 5 and up.
We let girls discover new things, from the simple to the extreme. Our outdoor adventures give girls and young women the opportunity to gain in confidence and reach their potential. We are for all girls and we make a difference to our communities. We offer a world of new experiences and friends, but most of all we have fun!
For a glimpse into what we do over the course of a year, please take a look at our latest annual report:
Annual Report 2018
Whether you are an existing member, a parent or a prospective young member or volunteer, we hope you enjoy exploring our website.
Liz Radford & Tracey Warren
Joint County Commissioners
We are for all girls
We are for all girls and young women, whatever their background and circumstances. We offer them fun, exciting activities and the chance to make lifelong friends. You’ll find us all over Wiltshire North, helping to give girls a head start in life and encouraging them to be happy, self-confident and curious about the world they live in and the difference they can make.
We give girls their own space
We give girls a place where they can really be themselves with other girls and share the experience of growing up as a girl in today’s world. We provide a safe, non-judgemental environment where girls can explore the issues they care about while having lots of fun, enjoying new experiences and learning vital skills.
We give girls a voice
We give girls the confidence, skills and information to make informed decisions. We offer a supportive, inclusive and exciting environment where they can reach their own conclusions about the world. We show them how they can speak out and take positive action to improve their lives and the lives of others.
We change as the lives of girls change
We are relevant to today’s girls because we listen to them and constantly evolve and adapt what we offer them without losing what makes us uniquely us. We provide support, comfort and friendship in what can often seem a complex world for girls as they grow up.
Click here for more information about Girlguiding
Click here to find out about guiding in the South West Region
The map below shows how Girlguiding Wiltshire North is organised in eight divisions. Those divisions in turn are organised in districts. To email a division commissioner (the lead volunteer for that area), simply click on the appropriate division name and an email will preload with the email address inserted ready for you.
We have a team of volunteers who support our County and make the adventure possible for our members.
County President | Hilda Cooper | [email protected] | |
County Commissioners | Liz Radford | Tracey Warren | [email protected] | |
County Secretary (to Co Executive Committee) | Jo Begg | [email protected] | |
County Treasurer | Stacey Rochester | [email protected] | |
Membership Records (County GO) | Jo Begg | Jenny Kirschner | Julia Trew | [email protected] | |
Awards Committee | Pat Carter | [email protected] | |
Properties | |||
Campsite (Chilton Farm) | Matt Bather | [email protected] | |
Guiding Centre (Maud Heath Centre) | Sharon Greenhow | [email protected] | |
Advisers | |||
Rainbow | Jacqui Stammers | [email protected] | |
Brownie | vacant | [email protected] | |
Guide | Vicky Geake | Gill Shaw | [email protected] | |
Ranger | Rebecca Bowles | Marybeth Masters | [email protected] | |
18-30 Coordinator | Kara-Jane Senior | [email protected] | |
Adult Support (training) | Sue Duncan | [email protected] | |
Boating | Heather & Mark Scoynes | [email protected] | |
Climbing | Sarah Nunan | [email protected] | More info |
D of E Award | Gill Shaw | [email protected] | More info |
Heritage | Gwen Knight | [email protected] | More info |
Inclusion - Additional Needs | Jan Kelly | [email protected] | |
Indoor Residential | Christine Richardson | Sandra Sprague | [email protected] | More info |
International | Kathryn Blanford | Ronnie Clancy-Grubb (Asst) | [email protected] | More info |
Mentoring | vacant | [email protected] | More info |
Outdoor Residential | Lynn Mayneord | [email protected] | More info |
Peer Education | Louise Radford | [email protected] | |
Queen’s Guide Award | vacant | [email protected] | |
Walking | Mark Nunan | [email protected] | More info |
Besides becoming a leader, there are many other flexible volunteer opportunities within guiding. Some support roles are home-based which means they fit well around work, family and other commitments too. Volunteers have the flexibility and freedom to give whatever time they have available.
We would particularly welcome volunteers with skills in the following areas at the moment:
- Property management
- Property maintenance
- PR and marketing
- Recruitment
- Project management
- Administration
If you would like to volunteer with one of our units, there are several options open to you:
Unit leaders and assistant leaders
Every Rainbow, Brownie, Guide and Ranger unit has at least one leader, who has completed the Girlguiding Leadership Qualification. Leaders have overall responsibility for the unit, although this is often shared between a team. Leaders and assistant leaders work with the girls to plan activities and to ensure that finances and records are kept up to date.
Unit helpers and occasional helpers
Helpers are vital in enabling the unit to keep running. They help out either on a rota system, or just whenever they can, providing the leaders with an extra pair of hands.
To register your interest in volunteering for any of the above: www.girlguiding.org.uk/interested
Rainbows: Our youngest section, for girls aged 5 to 7. The focus is on developing self-confidence, building friendships, learning new things and having fun. Click on the logo for more information.
Brownies: For girls aged 7 to 10, Brownies is an adventure based around the three programme areas of ‘You, Community and World’. Amongst other things, Brownies build on their teamwork skills, challenge themselves with special interest badges and explore the outdoors. Click on the logo for more information.
Guides: Girls aged 10 to 14 take a large part in planning their own programme of activities which can range from community action projects to performing arts and adventure sports. Click on the logo for more information.
Rangers: Our eldest youth section is for young women aged 14 to 18. Personal development is at the heart of the Ranger programme; opportunities include volunteering, international travel, trying new things and developing skills. Click on the logo for more information.
Trefoil Guild: For women and men aged 18+, Trefoil Guild is a branch of Girlguiding whose members support the guiding ethos. Some get involved with the youth sections, whilst others enjoy taking on new personal challenges and socialising with like-minded people. Click on the logo for more information.
To register to join one of our units: https://enquiryym.girlguiding.
To join Trefoil Guild, look on the Trefoil Guild tab above to find your local Guild.
Trefoil Guild – guiding for adults!
Joining a Trefoil Guild allows you to make new friends, take part in a wide range of activities from geocaching to international travel and be part of the guiding family without taking up a volunteering role.
The aims and objectives of the Trefoil Guild are:
• To keep alive among members the spirit of the Guide and Scout Promises and Laws
• To carry that spirit into the communities in which members live and work
• To give practical, financial and moral support to Guiding and Scouting
There are around 130 members of Trefoil Guild in Wiltshire North. Most Guilds meet monthly, whether that is evening, daytime or weekends. We also have the ‘Lones’ whose members keep in touch by regular postal or email newsletter and occasional meetings.
Activities vary from Guild to Guild, dependent on the membership. Programmes have included crazy golf, craft, international travel, cream teas, croquet, visits and talks. It seems that food and drink is the common denominator, central to each Guild’s programme!
The various Guilds get together as a County on a regular basis, whether that’s for an international day, an afternoon at the County campsite or a scrapheap challenge day.
If you are interested in finding friendship, giving support, getting involved and getting active there is a Guild near you which would love to hear from you:
Guild Name | Location | Meeting Frequency | Contact |
Calne | Calne | Monthly | [email protected] |
Chippenham | Chippenham | Monthly | [email protected] |
Great Western (Swindon) | North Swindon | Monthly | [email protected] |
Ingleburn | Malmesbury / Tetbury | Monthly | [email protected] |
North Wilts | Royal Wootton Bassett | Monthly | [email protected] |
Wiltshire North Lones | n/a | Occasional; primarily a postal/email Guild | [email protected] |
Wroughton | Wroughton | Monthly | [email protected] |