Glossary of terms
CHQ
Commonwealth Headquarters, the main administrative centre for
Girlguiding UK. It is located in London and staffed by a
professional staff who support the volunteers who run and deliver
guiding.
depot
A local shop where ‘guiding essentials’ such as guidewear,
badges, books and resources, gifts and equipment can be purchased.
Depots are run by volunteers and can range from shops with their
own premises to someone’s living room.
Go!
Stands for ‘Guiding organiser’, Girlguiding UK’s membership
database. All members’ and recognised volunteers’ details are
recorded on the secure database. All data is help and used in
accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998.
guidewear
Official guiding clothing, for young and adult members.
Guidewear is available from Girlguiding UK’s Trading Service, which
operates a mail order and online shopping service as well as
coordinating a network of local shops and depots.
member
Any person who has membership of Girlguiding UK.
young member
A girl or young woman who is a member of Rainbows, Brownies,
Guides or the Senior Section.
adult member
An adult who has membership of Girlguiding UK. Adult members may
or may not have a specific role in guiding.
programme
The activities and challenges that young members do at their
guiding meetings. Each section has a programme appropriate to that
age group, which offers a balanced and varied selection of
activities for girls and Leaders to choose from.
recognised volunteer
An adult volunteer who has undergone Girlguiding UK’s
recruitment process and taken on a volunteering role, but is not a
member
residential event
Any event that involves going away with a guiding group, from
sleepovers to holidays, camps and international trips.
section
Young members in guiding belong to one of four sections,
depending on their age:
• Rainbows: from age 5 (4 in Northern Ireland)
• Brownies: from age 7
• Guides: from age 10
• Senior Section: from age 14 to 26.
subscription (subs)
All members pay an annual subscription, which includes the
national subscription set by Girlguiding UK and possibly other
local or regional subscriptions. These funds support the
development and administration of guiding.
In addition, young members usually pay a unit subscription
(‘subs’) which enables the Unit Leaders to plan and run activities
within the unit. Subs may be paid weekly, termly or by other
arrangement, depending on what suits the Unit Leaders, members and
and parents/carers.
unit
A group of young members and their Leaders who meet regularly
together and carry out the guding programme for their section.
WAGGGS
The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts: the
worldwide guiding Movement that brings together guiding
Associations in 145 countries. Girlguiding UK is a founder member
of WAGGGS.
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