Guide Report
We have had a very successful and interesting 2015. Although we have had a few girls leave, this has allowed us to take girls off the waiting list so at this present time we have a full unit and still sustain a waiting list. We welcomed Lesley and Joanne, trained Guiders with other sections but who have also decided to work with the Guide section.
At the beginning of the year we held our Annual visit to the Panto at the Everyman. In February we hosted St David's Guides at our annual Thinking Day Celebrations and we based the evening on the World goes Global Region Challenge badge. Visiting several countries via challenges.
In March the unit took part in the Comic Relief Danceathon, together with St David's Guides. This meant dancing for 6 hours, the girls did a heroic effort and we raised the grand sum of £180. More fundraising took place at our Division Sponsored Walk in May, when we raised £205 for Alder Hey. The Swallow patrol did sterling work in raising money for Cancer Relief and WWF by selling cakes in the meetings. The Ladybirds raised money for the Girl Guide Friendship Fund by selling cakes at Parade. Thanks to all who contributed.
Six girls gained their Baden Powell Award and were presented at the Division presentation evening in May. Congratulations to Molly Bowman, Pollyann Fairclough, Lucia Power, Amy Pye, Eve Ravenall and Phoebe Taylor. They have all joined Rangers or become a Young Leader with the unit so are continuing Guiding.
The Guides cleaned the brass in the church and picked up litter around the grounds to complete our Community Action clause of the yearly Challenge badges. Some also turned out to help with the painting in and out of the Annexe. Thanks to them and the parents who also came and helped us.
We had several visits out of the meeting place, we went to the Body Shop, Thornton's, Pets at Home and Awesome Walls, the climbing centre - all thoroughly enjoyed. We had visits from the Police who talked about Safety on the Web, and Mary Molloy with her Hearing Dog. An evening of Archery was also enjoyed.
Badge work included working on World Cultures, Communicator, Traditions of Guiding and Chocolate Interest badges, the Guides also worked on Patrol Go For Its in their patrol time and received badges for each one they completed. Unit challenge badges (formulated by units around the country to fundraise) were worked on, we completed Princess, Parachute, and Poppy Challenge Badges. As part of this challenge we made Thank you cards for the past and present serving forces, these were distributed to Byng House, Royal British Legion Convalescent Home and the Duchy of Lancaster Regiment. Following on from this we also made and sent Christmas cards to the wounded armed forces recuperating in Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.
We had good weather at our Harry Potter themed weekend camp in June at Bispham Scout Site in Billinge, when we worked on the Expelliarmus Challenge. Similarly on the Division Get Away to Kingswood Colomendy in October, where we enjoyed Caving, Abseiling and Fencing amongst other activities.
Molly Bowman was chosen to represent the Guide unit at the Church Garden Fete this year and looked lovely with her retinue.
We ended the year with a meal at Frankie and Bennie's Restaurant at Edge Lane, something we haven't done for a while.
My thanks to Gemma, Charlotte, Lesley, Joanne and Peter for their help and latterly Molly and Eve our Young Leaders, for their help especially following my knee operation in October.
Ann Aspinwall