Brownie holiday

Description

Staying away from home for more than one night in indoor accommodation (eg caravans, youth hostels, chalets).

Ratio of adults to girls

1:6 with a maximum of 36 children.

There must be at least three adults present, although this may be reduced to two for small events with the permission of the Commissioner.

At residential events where there is more than one section present, the correct ratio for each section must be observed:

Rainbow overnight: 1:4 (not including the Event Coordinator), with a maximum of 30 children
Brownie holiday: 1:6 with a maximum of 36 children
Brownie camp: 1:4 with a maximum of 36 children
Guide holiday/ camp: 1:10 with a maximum of 50 children
Senior Section: No ratio required. There must be at least two adults present, although this may be reduced to one for small events with the permission of the Commissioner. Maximum of 50 Senior Section members.

A Young Leader (aged under 18) who is attending as part of the event team, is not included in the above ratio.

A Pack Leader must be included as a Guide in the adult to child ratio.

Children of volunteers should be included in the ratios. If young children are present, an extra adult should be present to look after them.

To gain experience prior to assessment, you and at least one other adult may take up to eight children away for no more than two nights.

To be assessed, your event must have at least two Sixes and no more than 24 children.

Regulations

You will need to speak to your Commissioner and complete a Residential Event Notification form at the start of your planning.
Parents must have the opportunity to meet the Leaders prior to the event and have all plans explained to them.
A parent or other family member must be contactable for the duration of the holiday.
When going away without their own Leader, each Brownie must have met at least one member of the holiday leadership team prior to the event.
All volunteers aged 16 or over who are staying overnight at a residential event must have undergone the recruitment check process (Young Leaders and non-member volunteers should be assigned the role of Residential Occasional Helper on Go!).
If Leaders share a sleeping area with Brownies, there must be at least two Leaders/helpers or two Young Leaders present who are known to the Brownies. If Brownies are accommodated in detached units (such as chalets or static caravans), there must be at least two Leaders, helpers or Young Leaders present in each unit. They must be known to the Brownies.
If male volunteers or male children are present, there must be separate sleeping and bathroom facilities for them.
The venue must be approved by the relevant host Adviser. If the site or accommodation has not already been approved, notify the Adviser of your plans in plenty of time for the venue to be inspected before firm plans are made.
If the girls are staying in a youth hostel or hotel, the sleeping, washing and toilet facilities must be self-contained, with no access for the general public or other guests, and girls must sleep in rooms close to those occupied by the Leaders.
Lilos and sun loungers are not to be used as beds. If bunk beds are used, they must conform to British Standard numbers EN 747-1 and EN 747-2 (2007).
If an accident results in an injury which needs medical/hospital treatment or any illness occurs during any residential event, the Event Coordinator must report the details as soon as possible to Girlguiding UK’s insurance service using the notification of accident or incident form.

Camping on a Brownie holiday

Brownies may not sleep outside in tents on a Brownie holiday unless a Leader

holds or is working towards the Girlguiding UK Training Opportunities: Camp and Holiday Scheme Camp Licence (modules 1-6 + 8)

This is also the case for permanent 'tented villages' which are available at Girlguiding UK Training and Activity Centres.

Please click on the links below for further regulations on topics which may be relevant to your event:

Qualifications

A Leader must either:

hold or be working towards the Girlguiding UK Training Opportunities: Camp and Holiday Scheme Holiday Licence (modules 1-7).
hold an equivalent Girlguiding UK residential qualification, provided the Commissioner is satisfied that the Leader’s residential experience and skills are up to date.

The Event Coordinator does not necessarily have to be the licence holder.

Training Opportunities: Camp and Holiday Scheme (order code 6478) is available through Girlguiding UK Trading Service via the online shop, your local shop or depot.

Learning and development opportunities

Click here to find out more about training and qualifications related to going away with guiding.

Hints and tips/useful information

Talk to your Commissioner and relevant Adviser to seek their advice and support.

There is no maximum number of adults that can attend a Brownie holiday, but make sure the number means Brownies have the opportunity to take responsibility and do some things for themselves.

Some local authorities take the view that day-care registration under the Children Act 1989 applies to Brownie camps or holidays lasting more than five nights if any participant is under eight years old. The local Commissioner or Adviser should be asked about the local authority’s policy in this matter. If it appears that registration is required, then confirmation and advice should be sought from the local authority’s Social Services department.

If the venue is not normally used for overnight accommodation (eg a church or school hall), the local police and fire service need to be informed that the holiday is taking place. Publication

The publication Going away with guiding provides advice and information to help both new and more experienced Leaders to plan and run successful events. Order code 6045.

Page last updated: 5/9/2012

The Guiding Manual