Gloucestershire County Day 2018

This year we were in Tewkesbury, fully booked and with a really good atmosphere about the new programme. County Day was a continuation from inset week, starting with an overview session and touching on change management. I was doing one of three Brownie trainings lasting 2 hours and focusing on the remaining 3 ppt from inset week - Awards, Using the Section books & Programme Planning. The IT was simple to connect, lap-top to projector, once I had the cable and the correct icon on the smart board to get to HDMI 1!
I had 40 chairs, in 3 rows, and it was very evident that any activities requiring movement were out - discussing with your neighbour was the best that could be managed! I asked for questions as we went along, and there was plenty of them so the 26 slides were just about right. There was lots of opportunities to share experiences, and there was a scout leader in the audience who was able to compare the scout approach with GG approach, which was useful. Concerns were raised around:

• paying for the badge books
• working with a number of skill groups at once
• supporting girls to achieve interest badges
• finding the time to record achievements on GO
• photocopying
• recruiting more leaders
• finding the time to accommodate UMA's & skills builders.

I managed to pass around a variety of resources during the training:

• Transition requirements
• Recording template
• New programme guidance notes
• sample theme & interest badges (in a handy see-through pencil case)
• new Region resource "Night in the Library"
• a plug for UK Parliament week 
• Educational Framework
• Participation on a Plate
• promoted #EveryGirl as a source for ideas & PR.

I felt the session went well and I had a number of leaders who commented on how useful it had been.

I had a lovely surprise at the end of the day - see photo!