REN Best Practices
REN season is upon us and we are coming across lots of common errors so here is a quick breakdown to save you from a devastating “application denied”.
Timing – On your REN form you will see on page 1 a table of timescales for submitting your form. Please be aware that these are MINIMUM dates and not the date you have to submit your form. If you can submit it earlier than the minimum then please do, it gives your commissioner time to go through your risk assessment and to support you in making any changes. It also allows time for holidays, family emergencies, failed emails and any other mishap that might crop up and delay your application from being processed. If there is an exceptional circumstance that will mean you miss the deadline then contact your commissioner in advance and ask if it will be acceptable to submit it later. Without prior agreement all late RENs will be automatically denied.
Remember that our commissioners are all volunteers too. If your application is denied it will not be a decision that was taken lightly. Please be respectful of that fact and mindful of how you respond. The possibility of rejection is something that should be covered from a financial point of view in your risk assessment.
County REN schedule – this has been covered in Snippets before but please don’t forget to submit your schedule with your application. You can find it on this link HERE
Risk assessments – whilst we appreciate that you might use a previous risk assessment as a guide, be very careful of copying information directly as it will create inconsistencies. Make sure you have assessments for any activities and if you are using instructors that their qualifications meet Girlguiding standard. Don’t be vague, slips trip and falls should relate specifically to your venue
Covid 19 – it hasn’t gone away and current Girlguiding recommend LFT testing before a residential for volunteers and young members over 11 and this should then be included in your risk assessment and budget, including planning for someone not being able to come because of a positive test.
Premises – has your venue been approved for residentials? If it hasn’t it could hold up your application.
