to not understand the new Girlguiding programme? (yes posting for traffic - any leaders please help!!)

[RainbowRebel]

Sorry, shamelessly posting for traffic but I have to order stuff by Friday and I have no idea!!

I am a new Rainbow leader, I have no-one above me to ask as my DC doesn't know the answer and I am my unit's only leader (predecessors just downed tools and left, no hand over)

If you are a leader can you tell me if i've interpreted the new programme correctly? (i'm working off the flow diagram of the programme on GG website and the order form I've been sent through)

So:

If for example I wanted to start with the Know Myself Theme Award. To earn this the girls would need to complete:
Skills Builder - Know Myself - Network - Stage 1
Skills Builder - Know Myself - Reflect - Stage 1
Relevant Interest Badge (family tree perhaps)
and some relevant meeting activities.

Would this be right? I'm assuming Stage 1 is the Rainbows level for the skills builders? Then I just apply this pattern to each Theme Award?

So for September I would be ordering the two packs for the two skill builders, the relevant badges we plan to earn and the Rainbows handbook for the new programme? I'm guessing that the meeting activity card packs are optional and I only need those if i feel i can't come up with suitable activities? I'm assuming the skill builders have specific criteria hence the packs being needed but the interest badges and the meeting activities I have more free rein to do my own things?

Then I assume that the anniversary badges start with anniversary 1 being first year in Rainbows?

Anyone able to help me please?!

Hi, I can’t really help as I left guiding a few years ago. But, have you tried your district commissioner at all for help with this?

You shouldn’t have to be ordering by Friday!

Wait until the 21st July when it’s launched and the go into your local depot or look at the online shop and you can see what the options are.

The programme is rolling out over time and doesn’t need to be started in September.

You may like to order a handbook and badge book so that you can see what is in there.

we've been told to order from our local order person and she wants orders by the 1st. we're rural so there isnt a 'local' depot to me really to get to (45mins away at least).

My district commissioner doesn't know, i've already asked her.

I didn't want to waste time trying to do the old programme (which i havent fully understood yet anyway) just to have to learn a new programme, thought it better to start straight off with the new one.

Nobody really knows much about the new program at this stage as far as I can tell online and locally

You can order most things online if your local order/depot are too far away or unhelpful, so there’s no rush to order before more info comes out in July.

oh ok, so i can just wait and order in the summer? So just order the handbook which hopefully will tell me what i need to order next?!

I was told i had to order through the local contact but obviously this isnt true if i can order from the main website.

All a bit confusing!!

There's really not a great deal to know yet, so id hold off ordering anything.
If you're feeling a bit unprepared howwer, maybe look at doing a challenge badge in the first term at least.
Or although i appreciate it is the old program, see if you can get hold of a Roundabout. I expect the "All about me" one may have some crossover with the "know yourself" skills builder you are suggesting, so you can give yourself time to review the new programme while potentially completing some activities that qualify.

thanks nikky - so seems like my DC has tried to make us all panic into ordering stuff early when all i really need to order is the handbook which i assume will explain the new programme. and then wait for the reveal in july to see what is actually on offer and what i need to get. i assume i will still have time to order stuff after the launch and have it ready for september?

I'm not sure the handbook will explain but are you on the Rainbow leaders group on FB?
I am an experienced Rainbow leader but have been having a break and I'll be starting up a Rainbow unit again and my plan is to do a Region challenge badge (I'm in NWE and we have excellent challenge badges) first off, I am booked onto a new programme training in Nov and then start up the new programme after that.

ooh is there training for the new programme? i'm SW so hopefully there will be something this way. perhaps the best thing is just to stick with the old programme for september term (or hedge my bets and plan activities that i think will tie in with one of the new badges).

Didn't know there was an FB group!! Like i said, i'm very very new and am basically winging it!!

There will be training but where/when will depend on your region. Ask your DC.

my DC is leaving next month and knows nothing! I already asked her.

The new programme doesn't launch until late July and doesn't need to be full implemented until Sept 19, giving units a year to phase it in. As somebody has already suggested get hold of some of the roundabout books and do some of them.

Where in the SW are you?

My understanding is the same as yours OP but I agree with what PP have said. Wait and see when it's all released.

For now, look at other guiding programmes - my unit have just done Future Girl which was good or regional badges.

ok, i feel a bit better about just waiting until its all released, we've been made to feel we have to pre-order now.

I'm gloucestershire.

i guess i'll just have to cobble something together from the old programme which is a shame.

RainbowRebel you can do a combination of challenge badges and just plain old activities for the moment.
Make sure you include a Promise activity or two.
I'm not sure if Ready for Rainbows will be still current in the new programme but it will be current at least till early 2019 so get a few of those.
Looks like you have Rustle Bustle and Squeak which has loads of activities

www.girlguidingsouthwest.org.uk/rustle-bustle-and-squeak-new.html#rbsresources

Oh and join your District/Division/County FB pages too.

Rustle Bustle and Squeak is great, There is also a cooking resource for Rainbows.

www.girlguidingsouthwest.org.uk/downloads/Cookafun%20Rainbows%27%20Challenge.pdf

Don't panic. You can keep using the current programme for the next academic year; & as PPs have said, Training will be provided as the new Programme rolls out.

The new resources will be available to order online through Trading Services - it's really bad that you've been told you're to order them IMMEDIATELY... I suspect this may be an attempt to ensure that you all have them & don't encounter the inevitable problems with stock there will be. Despite the whole membership needing the new resources, yes. Why would they produce enough for everyone to have them? That would be Sheer Madness

As your DC hasn't been much use, try your Division or County Commissioner - latter should be able to let you know what's happening with Trainings, which tbh they should be doing anyway if you're a new Leader. Do you have a Mentor for the Leadership Qualification? Even if you're only doing Module 1, having moved to Rainbows from a different section, you should haven a Mentor, who should, amongst other things, ensure that you get Appropriate Training... (or alternatively, totally forget they're you're Mentor, leading to an awkward email exchange... that's not the recommended approach though, really, but it happens...)

My DC is my mentor for the Leadership Quali, she is wizzing me through it rather quickly before she leaves. basically i'm making notes in the book and she signs them off.

Yes it baffles me that as its a brand new programme that they arent just automatically sending the relevant handbooks out to each unit!

I had no idea there were FB pages, will see if i can find my local ones.

I think i'll put in the pre-order for the handbook and then wait on the rest and see what happens. all seems a bit backwards to me, expected to order stuff before you know what the stuff is!!

also thanks for the link, never heard of rustle bustle and squeak! off to have a read!

You do actually have to DO things for your ALQ as well as just sign things off!
We have to pay for handbooks etc. so they wouldn't be sending them out.
Is this what you mean by the Handbook?
www.girlguidingshop.co.uk/The-Guiding-Handbook.aspx
It has very little about the programme, and unless they've re-written it it won't have the new programme in it (though despite not having been on a training I assume the Five Essentials remain the same?)

one of the pre-order items for the new programme is 'rainbows handbook' - i assumed that was relating to the new programme specifically.

i've completed all LQ e-learnings, done safe space, first aid etc. i've planned and run the term's badges and activities. my DC is happy that i've done all that's required (or will have done by the end of term)