Job Vacancy: Administrative Assistant

Application Deadline: The closing date for applications is 5pm, Monday October 31st.

Overview of the Role:

Join our team to help us provide opportunities for girls and young women to develop their full potential

We’re currently recruiting for a County Administrative Assistant to have responsibility for administrative support for Girlguiding Leeds; delivering a high quality service to volunteer members. This is a paid role involving 12-16 hours per week, 46 weeks per annum.

The successful applicant will provide comprehensive support to commissioners and lead volunteers, dealing with day-to-day admin including enquiries, meetings, subscriptions, training sessions, county residential properties, campsites, and more! To do this, they’ll have great administrative and organisational skills, and be enthusiastic about Girlguiding! The role will be a mix of working from home and from the Trefoil Centre.


How to Apply

For more information about the role and details on how to apply, please read our application pack:

To apply for the role, please download the application form and send to cc@girlguidingleeds.org.uk

Full Job Description

This role is subject to a successful DBS check.

A Sparkly New Robin Hole

Since the update in August 2021 a lot has happened at Robin Hole.

First, thank you to all the volunteers who have come along and given their time to making the site look brilliant. The building and grounds look amazing.

Inside, the lodge has been decorated from top to bottom! There have been new blinds installed, all the tables replaced, and the multi-coloured stools are now painted a uniform blue. We’ve even added a lovely new portable unit for merchandise, a number of new notice boards and all the pictures have been re-framed.

The biggest change is in the kitchen refurbishment, which is now completed and looks fantastic. This alone will be appreciated by our community for years to come.

Outside, we’ve been hard at work making our outside space more comfortable! Work has been done on the land drains so the flushing toilets and outside sink in the camp shelter can be installed. There has also been lots of work done on the trees, which was especially important following storm Arwen.

Officially, bookings are now open! We’re looking forward to a great year of making memories for our members.

Budgeting in Tight Times 

With the energy and fuel costs on the rise, this next year is likely to be difficult for families and units. It is important to look at your budget for the next year and plan ahead. 

As an example,  

A unit of 12 girls, with weekly rent of £15, providing no more than 2 programme badges per term would need to charge £31 per term (x3 times a year) just to stay afloat and pay subscription. That does not take into account things like: subscription for leaders, consumables, programme resources, equipment insurance, uniform, mileage …. 

Units are advised to have a reserve of 3-6 months funds in the bank or enough to cover subscription for everyone so that the unit can continue to run if the income doesn’t match what was anticipated. Being a Girlguiding volunteer should not impact on your personal finances, no one should be propping up their unit from their own funds. It is important that the costs of running the unit are accurate so that a crisis can be prepared for and prevented. 

Here are some things to consider when planning ahead:  

Annual Subscription – is the unit going to cover the cost in subs or will families be asked to pay part or all of it? If you decide to charge families directly give them as much notice as possible as well as the opportunity to spread the cost. 

Rent – Speak with the management of your venue to see if they are planning a change in rent. Do you have the space to offer more places for girls? Bigger units are more financially viable as the cost is spread. Can more than one unit meet at the same time in your venue to share the cost? 

Badges and programme resources – Can the unit have a core stock of things like badge books to be borrowed or used in unit time rather than everyone needing their own copy? Do units in your division share resources, particularly as there is a lot of overlap between sections in the skill builder levels. If you need specific items to complete UMAs and Skill Builders why not borrow the Adventure Boxes from County. Share resources with other units and ask on social media for donations of paper and pens 

Uniform – Can you set up a swop-shop within your division for second hand uniform or a local Facebook page for parents to share donations of uniform to new girls? 

Gifts – Giving gifts can set a trend that not everyone can follow, unintentionally leading to embarrassment over personal circumstances. Try to keep in mind that the experience we offer is the gift, and promote that within your unit.  

Girlguiding UK has a helpful budgeting tool that you can find on the link below; 

https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/globalassets/docs-and-resources/finance-insurance-and-property/simple-unit-budget-for-subs.xlsx

Treasure Hunts around Leeds

Whether you are a Brownie, Guide, Ranger or Rainbow, you’re bound to love a good treasure hunt, especially if it involves solving a puzzle!

Our adventure team is collecting treasure hunts that can be used around Leeds for all age groups and we thought we would post them here so everyone can enjoy.

Keep checking back to this page as more and more get added!

Bookable Sessions @ County Days 2021

Our Leeds County Days are quickly approaching!

Currently scheduled for Oct. 16th and Oct. 17th, 2021 at Shine in Harehills (https://www.shinecollective.co.uk/), the days are filled with lots of sessions that we hope that our volunteers in Leeds will find useful. County days are for members of Girlguiding Leeds to catch up, learn new skills and meet new people.

You don’t need to book or stay for a full 2 days. Instead, feel free to just “drop-in” and pay us a visit between 10-4 each day. We’d love to know if you are coming so if you wouldn’t mind telling us on EventBrite it would be a big help! Some sessions are limited in capacity, so take a look at our bookable list below and sign up if you are interested.

Saturday, Oct 16 -> https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/county-day-tickets-169987783035

Sunday, Oct 17 -> https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/county-day-tickets-170146700361


Bookable Sessions

Along with just popping in and enjoying some good old fashion face to face chatter, we have a series of sessions that have limited space. If you would like to book into a Craft Inspiration, Art Therapy, a Yoga class, Safe Space or any other training, the links below will help you quickly do this. A full schedule can be seen at the base of this article or downloaded here:

Craftspiration

This is a one hour workshop is available both Saturday and Sunday at 10, 11:30, 1:30 & 3:00. These sessions are limited to 15 people per session.

Need some new craft ideas? During the session, volunteers can try out some crafts to take away.  There’s something for you and something for you to do with your girls.  Attendees will be able to try all the crafty activities on offer.

How to Book:

These are available to book on EventBrite. Choose the link for the day you would like to attend below. Once you click on the “Register” button, you’ll be able to add the Craft Sessions as an Add-On to your booking, just scroll down the list.

Saturday, Oct 16 -> https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/county-day-tickets-169987783035

Sunday, Oct 17 -> https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/county-day-tickets-170146700361

Art Therapy

This one hour workshop is available in Saturday only at 10, 11:30, 1:30 & 3:00. These sessions are limited to 8 people per session.

The Wellbeing Team has arranged for a children’s art psychotherapist to help you with art techniques that can be used with the girls in your units to help promote wellbeing of young people. You’ll experiment with art techniques that help you express emotion!

How to Book:

These are available to book on EventBrite. Choose the link below. Once you click on the “Register” button, you’ll be able to add the Art Therapy Sessions as Add-On to your booking, just scroll down the list.

Saturday, Oct 16 -> https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/county-day-tickets-169987783035

Yoga for Volunteers

This 45 minute session is available on Sunday only at 10:00 & 1:00. These sessions are limited to 12 people per session.

This session is aimed at volunteers who want to give yoga a try. It’s a gentle session aimed at beginners. Come get comfy and relax!

How to Book:

These are available to book on EventBrite. Choose the link below. Once you click on the “Register” button, you’ll be able to add the Yoga for Volunteers Sessions as an Add-On to your booking, just scroll down the list.

Sunday, Oct 17 -> https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/county-day-tickets-170146700361

Yoga for Young People

This 45 minute session is available on Sunday only at 11:15 & 2:15. These sessions are limited to 12 people per session.

This session is aimed at volunteers that would like to gain some skills in teaching yoga at their unit meetings. We’ll concentrate on how to use yoga and mindfulness with young members.

How to Book:

These are available to book on EventBrite. Choose the link below. Once you click on the “Register” button, you’ll be able to add the Yoga for Young People as an Add-On to your booking, just scroll down the list.

Sunday, Oct 17 -> https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/county-day-tickets-170146700361

Space Space Level 3 Training

This 3 hours session is available on Saturday from 1-4 and Sunday from 10-1. There are limited spaces available.

Girlguiding requires that at least one leader (and ideally the whole team) for each unit MUST have a Safe Space Level 3 (SS3) certification. Furthermore, there must be someone present at every meeting who has SS3!  This requires renewing every three years, so it’s worth having a quick check that everyone in your unit is up to date. If they are not, then join us at County Day. By the end of 2022 it is likely that all members will require this.

How to Book:

You can book on the Girlguiding Leeds website in the events section. This training is free.

Saturday Oct. 16 -> https://girlguidingleeds.org.uk/events/safe-space-level-3/

Sunday Oct. 17 -> https://girlguidingleeds.org.uk/events/safe-space-level-3-2/

Going Away With Session

This 2 hour session is available on Saturday only from 10:30-12:30. This session is limited to 15 people.

This is for qualified leaders who would like to gain their GAW licence.  This session will give you a solid overview of what is required and get you started on the journey to completion.

How to Book:

This can be booked on the Girlguiding Leeds website: https://girlguidingleeds.org.uk/events/going-away-with/

LQ Mentor Session

This is a 90 minute session is available on Saturday from 2:00-3:30 and Sunday from 11-12:30. These sessions are limited to 15 people.

This event is for new and existing LQ Mentors. If you are interested in becoming a mentor, please come along to find out more.

How to book:

This can be booked in the Girlguiding Leeds website:

Saturday Oct. 16 -> https://girlguidingleeds.org.uk/events/lq-mentor-update/

Sunday Oct. 17 -> https://girlguidingleeds.org.uk/events/mentor-update/

LQ Sign-Off Sessions

These are 2 hour sessions available on Saturday & Sunday from 10:30-12:30 and 1:30-3:30.

During these 2 hour blocks, LQ Mentors will be available to sign-off modules for Leaders in Training.  You will need to bring your paperwork and evidence with you. Please book the block you intend to show up. You are unlikely to need the full two hours with a mentor, but we want to make sure that we have enough mentors on hand to help everyone who turns up.

How to Book:

These are available to book on EventBrite. Choose the link for the day you would like to attend below. Once you click on the “Register” button, you’ll be able to add the LQ Sign-Off as an Add-On to your booking, just scroll down the list.

Saturday, Oct 16 -> https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/county-day-tickets-169987783035

Sunday, Oct 17 -> https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/county-day-tickets-170146700361


Other Stuff that is Happening

Along with a series of bookable session listed above, the following will be up and running for you to explore throughout the day:

The Ideas Room

Adventure Team are filling a room with lots of ideas to take away to use with units.  Including places to go as well as activities for meetings.

DBS ID Checks

If you need a DBS check, you can just bring all your documents and we’ll verify you at any time. If you need some guidance on what is required you can get more information from Girlguiding UK (https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/making-guiding-happen/policies/recruitment-and-vetting-policy/recruitment-procedures/). You can also download a handy checklist here:

Merchandise

Yup, it’s here, Girlguiding Leeds merch! Need a pen or a notebook that let’s everyone know you are part of Leeds? We’ll have these plus a number of hoodies and fleeces that can tried for size and ordered. You can see the new clothing line in the suppliers online shop:

https://customsportskit.co.uk/girlguiding/girlguiding-leeds/


And finally, here is the full itinerary of events so you can see it in on place!