I've been involved in Guiding for almost 25 years, have had my Leadership Qualification for 13, but have always been an Assistant Leader - I attend all the meetings and residentials, and join in the termly planning meetings, but generally haven't got involved in much admin apart from that. I am qualified as a Unit Leader but for various reasons until now have never acted as one.
Well, now our Unit Leader is stepping down and someone needs to fill the gap. Fortunately, there is another AL alongside me, plus a keen young Leader in Training, so we have enough bodies, we're just trying to work out how to divvy up the workload fairly. I'm pretty up to speed with the programme, sorting stuff for weekly meetings etc, but the admin is sending my head into a spin! Thankfully the other AL is happy to deal with the accounts, so that's one headache dealt with. I'm getting to grips with GO, but it's not the most helpful system, I think I'm going to have to keep some sort of spreadsheet alongside it to keep up to date with who's done what Skills Builder/UMA/interest badge etc. Anyone have any magic solutions?
Do you all run communications electronically with parents? Do they have your personal mobile number and do you limit times you respond to texts/e-mails? I obviously want and need to be accessible, but I have a real job and a family too and don't want to be answering queries at all hours.
And then. The risk assessments. I've done them before for Pack Holidays, but the amount and complexity of paperwork seems to be growing and changing constantly especially since Covid. Everything needs to be redone and then they've changed it again before my DC can approve it. Doesn't help that half the forms don't open properly on my piece-of-crap laptop which results in more muttered swearing. Is there a way of dealing with all this without it taking up hours each week and/or driving you crazy?!
I love Guiding and desperately want our Unit to survive and thrive, but have been having a wobble that I've taken on too much!