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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

Guiders Staff Room Part 2

993 replies

Groovee · 30/09/2015 12:56

http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/extracurricularr_activities/715087-Guiders-39-staff-room-tea-wine-chat-and-optional-dancing

Part one above, new thread for when required x

OP posts:
Thread gallery
13
AlbusPercival · 26/02/2016 08:42

Ok dim question alert.

For leap day on monday we are doing the leap challenge.

My unit dont currently have a long skipping rope. Is there a specific type we need, or will a nylon rope i have do the ob?

madwomanbackintheattic · 26/02/2016 15:47

Make sure it's 'heavy' enough - if it's a really lightweight rope it will be difficult to get it to swing properly and sometimes they retain kinks - a bit of weight allows a nice swing and any kinks fall out. Some of those harder fibre nylon ones are a bit crapola... Find a friend and take it outside and give it a swing and see - you'll be able to tell if it will do the job ;-)

The best ones are those woven around a core.

madwomanbackintheattic · 26/02/2016 15:51

Oh becles what a pain. I have blooming adults doing the same thing and want desperately to screech 'well it's obvious YOU aren't responsible for the budget, huh?! Couldn't you have done that LAST month?'

MillicentMargaretAmanda · 27/02/2016 08:02

Hello all. Brownie & Ranger leader here. Mad woman, I too have been stalking the Syria photos on Wagggs. And yes, found them fascinating. Showed them to my Rangers, especially the ones of the older girls and I think it really moved them (and me) as those pictures could have been of them, but these girls live in a war torn country.

InFlagranteDelicto · 27/02/2016 08:11

Written my census cheque- biggest cheque I've written for a long time! We're doing our first ever promise ceremony this week- Eek!

Mouldable candles went down well, but a nightmare to clean off the tables. Ended up running a balloon promise activity with our YL while the other leader tackled the table with hot water and a cloth. Amazed at some of the candles made.

Had a new starter last week, at the end of the meeting she announced she wants to come to brownies every day! Bless her.

Becles · 27/02/2016 12:37

Ooh

Please could you tell me more about the candles...

Becles · 27/02/2016 12:37

Ooh

Please could you tell me more about the candles.

Becles · 27/02/2016 12:37

Ooh

Please could you tell me more about the candles...

InFlagranteDelicto · 01/03/2016 21:30

Candles were fun. Forgot to take pics. But used the kits from Baker Ross. Bit on the £ side, but decided to as there was no way they'd do them at home.

Each pack has 6 blocks of wax, different colours. I used one pack per six. The wax is hard to begin with, but softens like plasticine. We left the girls to use their imagination, and had all sorts of creations. They suggest using a cocktail stick to get the wick in. That wasn't entirely successful, but we worked on the logic that parents weren't likely to burn the finished objects Smile

First ever promise ceremony over. It went so much better than expected!

lucysmam · 01/03/2016 21:41

Hello ladies Smile, hope everyone's doing well?

I have a quick question - our outgoing LiC leaves in May, I found out today that there is nothing in the bank after paying subs (and have a horrid feeling she's topped that up from her own pocket) and she's dithering about putting me on the account...do I start fretting now & speak to our DC or do I wait and see if she'll commit to a date to put me on the account before worrying too much since I can't actually see what's been going in/out? I'm struggling to see where the money's been going - I've been using up stuff from the cupboard since Sept so hardly spent much & we pay rent in time for church events should they need our help.

MillicentMargaretAmanda · 01/03/2016 21:50

I think you probably need to be pushing to go on the account now for two reasons:

  1. all units should have three signatories
  2. last time I tried to get my name put on it took forever! Start now and it might be done for when you need it...
lucysmam · 01/03/2016 21:54

I'll start pushing more for her to committ to a date in that case - she announced this evening that she's busy every Saturday between now & retiring & she works full time so I can see it being hard work

InFlagranteDelicto · 01/03/2016 21:54

Agree, start the process now. It's taken me two months, 4 visits in branch on my days off and three phone calls. Often the staff in branch don't really know what they're doing which doesn't help!

Think in your shoes I'd be suggesting taking over the accounts in April, at the beginning of the tax year. I'd also be talking to my DC about the situation.

MillicentMargaretAmanda · 01/03/2016 22:02

Oh dear... Good Luck lucysmam...

Becles · 01/03/2016 23:09

What fun! You need to get the DC involved now.

Details DC should hold and you and the remaining team should know whatever happens are:

Your unit accounting year end
Bank account details inc branch, bank and signatories.
Where to get hold of signatories inc membership numbers, addresses, emails and tel
Details of your hall / meeting place agreement inc rent understanding, point of contact and contact details for them
Info re any unit resources that may be stored with her or somewhere else (tales of unit tents and minibuses going astray!!)

If you don't have one already set up a generic unit email address where any unit comms goes out from now on. This gives a good transition in comms and audit trail of comms. If you have one do you have the log on details (would suggest changing the password once lic leaves)

Have a meeting over easter to agree hoe the transition will work and also whether notice needs to be given about raising subs the following term.

Original poster
Groovee · 02/03/2016 07:57

It took us 18 months to sort out the signatories due to the merger of 2 banks into one! It was a nightmare. I was the only one who needed to go to the bank because I didn't have an account with them.

I'd look at building up some funds if the case is there is no money. Maybe apply to local trusts or funding grants. Raising subs may be feasible.

Mother's Day craft is tablet bags here and cards. Must remember to take with me lol.

OP posts:
lucysmam · 02/03/2016 09:22

Thank you ladies, I'm on it now!

I'm the main contact and have set up an email for the unit so everything stays in there.

Accounting year runs to the school year but will add to my list of things to double check.

I don't think there is anything stored elsewhere but will make enquiries about that as well.

Groovee, I've just increased subs to £2 per week but scrapped the £5 joining fee because it was just going on the little red bags & nothing into the unit funds. I was going to have a think on it & re-introduce at some point but paying out for the bags and not actually having anything for unit funds seemed pointless.

Not sure where I'd start applying for grants - any suggestions as a starting point?

I really appreciate your help ladies, I'd be like a fish out of water without it I think!

Original poster
Groovee · 02/03/2016 14:20

Do you have a local Facebook page you could ask on? Places like rotary clubs give grants. We have a local trust we can receive them from as well as the airport having a grant system.

OP posts:
madwomanbackintheattic · 05/03/2016 04:16

Places we have received grants from - the Legion, church women's groups (we help them out by serving at their community suppers and they make a donation towards camps etc) local businesses, town council, outdoor stores, parent's employers (some places have one off awards for volunteering etc)

We had to remove a guider a few years ago, which got a bit messy. 18 months later, we realised that the bank had never made the requested changes to the account, so she was still listed as a signer and the new guider (who had been signing chequers for the full 18mos) hadn't ever been added to the account. Le sigh.

This year I consolidated 9 separate unit bank accounts to 3. It had been a total nightmare to keep track of all 9 accounts. It is MUCH simpler now. And much easier to tell if a guider is merely stuffing cash and cheques into a duffel bag and not ever visiting the bank...

lucysmam · 08/03/2016 12:37

Aaaarrrrrgggghhhh!

That is all.

Original poster
Groovee · 08/03/2016 14:12

Oh Lucysmam, are you ok?

OP posts:
lucysmam · 08/03/2016 14:42

Frustrated!

Our LiC is shifting people about on JoinUs who I've literally just emailed. & unavailable any weekend to go to Build a Bear. & wants to cancel tonight because the hall's heating is broken even though everyone who's replied to my text has said that they're happy to wrap the girls up warm.

& 3 parents didn't respond to my text so need to find out if they actually use the numbers they gave me...

Just an aaaarrrrgggghhh moment!

Good news is that I have very nearly completed the LQ booklet though - 6 bits to sign off as we do them after half term!

AlbusPercival · 08/03/2016 17:48

Keep going lucysmam, you will get there

lucysmam · 08/03/2016 20:44

We will Albus, it's just a bit frustrating sometimes & I have a feeling the accounts are worse than I thought after tonight.

Going to see our DC face to face over the next couple of weeks to see what she thinks because it's frazzling me a bit Sad

We had a fab night tonight - some very erm...unlikely drawings as ideas for next half term (think swimming pools, ponies and barbeques!!!) Grin And some music with our pop bottle/hama bead shakers. Some very artistic creations among them. Unfortunately for me, my Rainbow thought she could sneak her shaker up to bed & play Hmm.

Wine time!

AlbusPercival · 09/03/2016 11:34

I dont think they sound too unlikely (for brownies!) tell them they need to save up those ideas for when they move on.

I took my girls horseriding in the autumn, we are swimming over Easter, and we have an annual bbq at end of july.

If they asked for bowling we did a fab (and very cheap!) glow in the dark bowling activity. 2 litre coke bottles or similar with a bit of water in for ballast. Drop in a glow stick and give them footballs to use as balls.

They keep score, you just need leaders to right the pins between goes.