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Support roles

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A Senior Section memberCommissioner

Each County and Country/Region has a Commissioner who is responsible for the organisation and development of guiding in her area. Some Districts and Divisions also have a Commissioner. Other Districts and Divisions, however, prefer to operate as a team with various team members taking responsibility for specific functions such as local events, attending meetings, administration etc. The division of responsibilities is agreed by the team in response to local needs.

Commissioner support through Districts, Divisions, Counties, Countries and Regions is organised so that each Commissioner is a leader of one team and a member of another. Each Commissioner is supported by a team of people according to her needs and the needs of her area.

A Commissioner at any level:

  • is responsible for the well-being, encouragement and development of guiding in her particular area
  • must be a female member aged 18+, role reviewed at 70 
  • is willing to support the aim of Girlguiding UK and to abide by its policies
  • completes the relevant recruitment procedure  
  • makes or reaffirms the Promise
  • is the leader of a team of adults
  • has the personality to develop good relationships with adults and young people both within and outside Girlguiding UK
  • wears guidewear appropriate to the occasion or activity.

A District Commissioner has a term of office of three years, and may continue for a further two years if invited to do so.

A Division or County Commissioner has a term of office of five years, and may continue for a further two years if invited to do so.

 

District Assistant(s)

A District Commissioner may invite one or more member(s) of the District Team, or another interested woman aged between 18 and 65, to become a District Assistant.

The District Assistant:

  • must be a female member aged 18+, role reviewed at 70 
  • is invited to undertake the role by the District Commissioner
  • does not complete the Commissioner induction programme
  • is a person to whom the District Commissioner assigns specific areas of responsibility, such as support and training of Leaders or representing specific areas of guiding such as a particular section
  • has a term of office that does not extend beyond the finishing date of the District Commissioner’s
  • may continue in the same role or another capacity if invited to do so.
 

Assistant Commissioner

An Assistant Division or County Commissioner, where appointed:

  • must be a female member aged 18+, role reviewed at 70 
  • completes the Commissioner induction programme
  • undertakes duties delegated or assigned to her by the Division or County Commissioner
  • has a term of office that does not extend beyond the finishing date of the Division or County Commissioner’s
  • may continue in the same role or another capacity if invited to do so.

An Assistant Division Commissioner is invited to undertake the role by the County Commissioner, in consultation with the Division Commissioner.

An Assistant County Commissioner is invited to undertake the role by the County Commissioner, in consultation with the Country/Region Chief Commissioner.

 

Country or Region Chief Commissioner

The Chief Commissioner:

  • must be a female member aged 18+, role reviewed at 70 
  • is invited to undertake the role by the Chief Guide
  • represents her Country or Region on the Executive Committee of Girlguiding UK
  • may, in consultation with the Chief Guide, invite one or more persons to be her Deputy to assist her with aspects of her work and to deputise for her when appropriate
  • is encouraged to create a team of specialist Advisers/Coordinators to help her with specific aspects of guiding according to the needs of the Country or Region
  • has a term of office of five years
  • may continue for a further period of up to two years if invited to do so.
 

Deputy Chief Commissioner

A Deputy Chief Commissioner, where appointed:

  • must be a female member aged 18+, role reviewed at 70
  • is invited to undertake the role by the Chief Commissioner, in consultation with the Chief Guide
  • undertakes duties delegated or assigned to her by the Chief Commissioner
  • has a term of office that does not extend beyond the finishing date of the Chief Commissioner’s
  • may continue immediately in the same role or another capacity if invited to do so.
 

Country/Region, County and Division Adviser/Coordinator

Division and County Commissioners, and Country and Region Chief Commissioners, are encouraged to invite people to be Advisers and/or Coordinators to support them in their role. Advisers and/or Coordinators will have a wide range of skills that they are prepared to share with other members of Girlguiding UK, both girls and adults. They may be guiding members, recognised volunteers or members of the Trefoil Guild.

An Adviser/Coordinator:

  • is encouraged to be a member of Girlguiding UK
  • is invited to undertake the role by the Commissioner, in consultation with the appropriate County or Country/Region Adviser/Coordinator
    • must be willing to support the aims of Girlguiding UK and to abide by its policies
    • must have completed the relevant recruitment procedure
    • has a term of office of three years
    • may continue for a further period of up to two years if invited to do so.
 

Secretary/Administrator

Commissioners are encouraged to appoint Secretaries and/or Administrators to undertake specified tasks such as registrations, the administration of the Leadership Qualification etc.

Secretaries and Administrators:

  • are encouraged to be members of Girlguiding UK or the Trefoil Guild
  • are invited to undertake the role by the local Commissioner
  • must be willing to support the aim of Girlguiding UK and to abide by its policies
  • have a term of office that does not extend beyond the finishing date of the County Commissioner’s
  • may continue immediately in the same role or another capacity if invited to do so.
 

Treasurer

Commissioners throughout guiding are encouraged to invite individuals to undertake the role of Treasurer to administer the finances of the local area.

The Treasurer is responsible to the local Commissioner and any appropriate committee for the management of accounts, ensuring that the accounts are submitted for examination annually and that they comply with the provisions of the Charities Acts (or appropriate legislation in Scotland) as they relate to accounts.

They may also be asked to check the local accounts within the District, Division or County to ensure that they have been examined annually.

The Treasurer:

  • is encouraged to be a member of Girlguiding UK or the Trefoil Guild
  • is invited to undertake the role either by the Commissioner or by the Executive Committee concerned, in accordance with the local constitution where appropriate
  • must have completed the relevant recruitment procedure
  • must be willing to support the aim of Girlguiding UK and to abide by its policies
  • undertakes the role for the time specified in the constitution if appropriate or according to an agreement with the Commissioner.
 

President and Vice-President

The Country/Region, County or Division constitution may provide for the appointment of a President and Vice-President(s) and their respective terms of office. Otherwise, the Commissioner in consultation with the Executive Committee or local team may invite someone to hold the non-executive office of President. Vice-Presidents may also be invited in a similar way. Presidents and Vice-Presidents are members of Girlguiding UK. The terms of office of Presidents and Vice-Presidents are specified by the local area concerned at the time of appointment.

Occasionally a District may have a constitution that provides for the appointment of a President and Vice-President.

 

Trefoil Guild Chairman

A Trefoil Guild Chairman:

  • is invited to undertake the role by the appropriate level Commissioner
  • has an initial term of office of three years
  • may continue for a further period of up to two years if invited to do so.
 

Chairman of sub-committee

The chairman of a sub-committee of a Division, County, Country or Region Executive Committee:

  • is encouraged to be a member of Girlguiding UK or the Trefoil Guild
  • is invited to undertake the role by the appropriate level Commissioner
  • must be willing to support the aim of Girlguiding UK and abide by its policies
  • undertakes the role for the time specified in the constitution if appropriate or according to an agreement with the appropriate Commissioner.
 

Ambassador

Ambassadors support Girlguiding UK by speaking on its behalf at events, providing specialist knowledge and advice or access to facilities, or advocating guiding at a local, regional or national level. Ambassadors do not have to be members, and can range from supportive parents to local community leaders or celebrities.

Ambassadors are usually, but not always, appointed by a Commissioner.

Page last updated: 2/15/2012