Girlguiding Epsom Division Annual Report 2024
This report provides an update on the activities and governance of Girlguiding Epsom Division during 2024.
Girlguiding’s Mission Statement: Whoever they are, wherever they're from, girls can do anything. Through fun, friendship, challenge and adventure we empower girls to find their voice, inspiring them to discover the best in themselves and to make a positive difference in their community.
Girlguiding’s Values: Our values are our shared commitment to be caring, challenging, empowering, fun, inclusive and inspiring.
The Division Team
Division Commissioner Division Treasurer Division Secretary Rainbow Section Adviser Brownie Section Adviser Guide Section Adviser Rangers/Young Leaders/DofE Adviser Outdoor Activities Adviser Courses Administrator GO Administrator/Awards Coordinator Trefoil Representative
vacant (Trustee) Jackie Huitson (Trustee) Nova Macdonald Andrea Vaughan (Trustee) Elaine Briggs (Trustee) Michelle Hall (Trustee) Alex Lorenz (Trustee) Michelle Hall (Trustee) Clare Lywood Claire Orpin Jennie Dore
1. Introduction:
2024 was another very successful year for Girlguiding in Epsom thanks to the dedication and hard work of the Division team, leaders and volunteers.
2. Dates of Division meetings held during the year:
The Division team held four meetings in March (AGM), May, September and November 2024.
3. Division, County, Region and National events held:
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March – Epsom Division Guides’ Trampoline Sleepover at Jump In, Esher
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Epsom Brownie and Guide units enjoyed Wish, Inside Out 2 and Moana 2 at the cinema as part of Girlguiding’s ongoing partnership with Odeon cinemas.
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April – Rainbow Funday – space themed
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June – Summer fun at the campsite for all sections
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July – Scoutabout – attended by Epsom Guide units
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September - Young Leaders County Training weekend at Bentley Copse attended by Epsom YLs
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September – Surrey East Brownie Revels at Walton Firs attended by 700 Brownies across the County and from all Epsom Brownie units.
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October – Leaders’ social weekend at Pax Lodge attended by Epsom leaders
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November – Lord Mayor’s Show – Surrey East represented Girlguiding in the parade which included young people and leaders from Epsom Division.
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November - D-day badge for all sections kindly donated by Epsom & Ewell Borough Council.
4. Rainbows Highlights
Residentials:
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7[th] Epsom (St Barnabas) Rainbows had a sleepover at Little Acres.
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2nd Stoneleigh Rainbows had a sleepover
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7[th] & 8[th] Epsom (St Barnabas) had a sleepover at Little Acres in October
Rainbows had a space themed Funday in April with 77 rainbows attending.
Highlights – Bocketts Farm trip, pantomime at Epsom Playhouse, celebrating pancake day, Lunar New Year celebrations, planting bulbs, cooking and learning about penguins.
Rainbows from several units achieved their Gold awards.
5. Brownies Highlights
Pack holidays
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9[th] Epsom Brownies went to Faurefold.
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1[st] Ewell Village (St Mary’s) Brownies and 8[th] Epsom Brownies went to Faurefold in May
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4[th] Stoneleigh Brownies went to Heyswood in July
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4[th] Epsom and 7[th] Epsom Brownies went to Heyswood in November
Brownie Revels was a great success and the Brownies did a range of activities including crate stacking, high ropes, archery, night line, caving, bouldering, STEM activities, crafts and games.
Highlights – Epsom fire station visit, day out at ICANDO, Formula 1 racing talk, planting flowers, curling, mini golf, Lunar New Year celebrations, Epsom Town Challenge, local history, money matters evening, hungry hippos, crazy hair evening, peer education, pumpkin painting, learning sign language, Happy Glaze trip and Parliament Week activities.
Sadly 2 Brownie units closed this year – 8[th] Epsom Brownie Unit and 4[th] Ewell Village.
Brownies from several units achieved their Gold awards.
6. Guides Highlights
Residentials:
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Trampoline Sleepover for Epsom Division Guides organised by Rachel King in March
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12[th] Epsom Guides went to Heyswood in May
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7[th] Epsom Guides went to Heron’s Wey in July
Scoutabout was a great success attended by 6000 Scouts and Guides from all over Surrey. Over 100 Guides and leaders from Epsom Division attended. Loads of fun activities and thanks to Laura Gudge for feeding everyone so well.
Highlights – camp skills, talent show, Earth week, scuba diving, outdoor cooking, ice skating, space evening and first aid.
1[st] Ewell Village Guides celebrated their 100[th] birthday.
7. Ranger Highlights
Residentials:
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Summer camp at Heron’s Wey
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Sleepover at Walton Firs camping pods in November
Highlights - roller hockey, making mosaics, paddle boarding, first aid, pizza making, cluedo wide game, evening walk on Epsom Common.
8. Trefoil Guild:
Epsom Trefoil Guild – Carolyn Page is the new Chairman after Eve Douthwaite stepped down after many successful years as Chairman.
Highlights include a talk by Air Ambulance charity Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS), craft activities, outing to Centenary Woods, garden visits and have joined the county for events such as tai chi, ukulele and Region Warner holiday in Suffolk.
We are very grateful for the continued support and encouragement given to us by our Trefoil members at many events this year including Summer Fun at the campsite.
9. Little Acres Campsite:
Epsom Division campsite Little Acres has its own committee and a separate annual report has been produced to summarise the activities that took place in 2024.
10. Epsom Division Depot:
Epsom Division Depot has its own committee and produces a separate report.
11. Community engagement:
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Big Garden Birdwatch – Rainbows and Brownies
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Abbleby House care home – Rangers played board games with residents
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Litter picking – Rangers and Brownies
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Food bank collection – Brownies and Rangers
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Toilet Twinning – Rangers donated money to twin a toilet at Little Acres with a latrine in Pakistan
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Care packages for children’s ward at Epsom Hospital - Brownies
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Ewell Yule – Ewell leaders ran the first aid / lost child station and games stall.
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Ewell Rotary – Christmas local street collection
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Epsom Rotary – Christmas local street collection
12. Information provided by GO Administrator:
----- Start of picture text -----
Dec 2023 Dec 2024
Rainbows 108 86
Brownies 232 227
Guides 174 157
Rangers 21 16
Total number of young members registered 535 486
Adult Leaders 52 47
Assistant Leaders 5 5
Unit helpers 30 28
Administration role 2 2
Division Helpers 10 24
Young Leaders 31 28
Young external volunteers 22 21
Total number of volunteers registered 152 155
Number of units 28 27
----- End of picture text -----
13. Awards
Long Service Awards:
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40 years – Bernie Dunne
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30 years – Linda Cooper
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20 years – Amanda Cooper and Julia Criddle
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10 years – Michelle Sharpe
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5 Years – Sarah Clanfield
Adult Leadership Development Programme:
None completed this year
Going Away With Scheme: None completed this year
Young Leader Qualification:
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Olivia Keam
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Elizabeth Collins
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Tiggy Garrie
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Beth Hatton
Other:
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County Specific Award – Mary Zoeller
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County Good Service Awards – Rachel King and Jackie Huitson
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Central Surrey Voluntary Action (CSVA) Award - Mary Tupper and Elaine Edwards
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Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet – Iris Aryeetey (Epsom Ranger and young leader)
14. Changes to division team.
Rachel King stood down as Guide Section Adviser in March 2024 and Michelle Hall took on the role as Guide Section Advisor.
15. Annual accounts from division treasurer.
| Balance Sheet 2024 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | ||||||
| Credits | £87,765.70 | |||||
| Debits | £68,823.28 | |||||
| Balance of C/A | £18,942.42 | |||||
| Deposit Account Balance | £28,098.40 | |||||
| Unpresented Cheques | £0.00 | |||||
| Total | £47,040.82 | |||||
| Credits | ||||||
| B/F Current Account | £6,524.57 | |||||
| B/f Deposit Account | £36,260.37 | |||||
| Campsite - Donations/JustGiv | £17,832.66 | |||||
| Grants | £22,500.00 | |||||
| Bookings | £8,491.80 | |||||
| Camps/Events | £11,447.00 | |||||
| Census (subscriptions) | £1,250.00 | |||||
| Unit - account closures | £1,176.67 | |||||
| Interest | £488.82 | |||||
| Badges / Souvenirs | £484.65 | |||||
| Misc | £305.00 | |||||
| £106,761.54 | £63,976.60 | Income | ||||
| Debits | ||||||
| Building Work/Maintenance | £37,341.51 | |||||
| Badges / Souvenirs | £0.00 | |||||
| Camps/Events | £9,438.51 | |||||
| Census (subscriptions) | £88.00 | |||||
| Division Expenses | £259.27 | |||||
| Equipment / Stationery | £6,031.00 | |||||
| Insurance | £1,445.37 | |||||
| Intl Grants | £0.00 | |||||
| Long Service | £54.05 | |||||
| Misc | £353.83 | |||||
| Rent/Rates | £1,959.00 | |||||
| Utilites | £2,750.18 | |||||
| £59,720.72 | Expenditure | |||||
| Bank Statements Total | £47,040.82 | |||||
| Prepared by: Jackie Huitson | Approved by: Division Team |
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