Situated in NW Leeds Tarnheights Division, holds a unique position within the Girlguiding Leeds boundary being so close to the city’s outer limits. Most girls and units have fairly easy access to the countryside, open fields or parks within a 5 minute walk of where they meet or live giving those here great opportunities to explore and enjoy the out of doors.
The Division has 27 active units for Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers, led by teams of enthusiastic leaders and is made up of units with Esholt, Guiseley, Rawdon, Reva and Yeadon in their name
Most units have been keeping in touch by offering either weekly or two weekly meetings online, via Zoom, and a number have supported other units in the Division where this has not been possible. The invaluable work leaders have put into this has been greatly appreciated by girls and parents and in addition to offering the online meetings many have put together and delivered craft and activity packs too.
Units have welcomed guest speakers and activity leaders from Funky Jives, Cats Protection and Amazing Animal Encounters, held quizzes, played bingo, made microwave mug cakes and bug houses during online meetings. As always there has been a lot of baking, cooking and eating done. Recently from the County Commissioner’s Winter challenge many girls have had the experience of making ice cream in a plastic bag which came with a warning that sometimes the bags explode. Speaking from experience we didn’t get the much anticipated explosions – I think the dads present were a bit disappointed that evening!
1st Esholt Guides have made catapults, done origami, learned to sign Auld Lang Syne and held a virtual party complete with party bags. Girls were set a family photo trail around Guiseley to carry out in their own time with prizes.
This term girls from all sections have enjoyed completing the activities from the Winter Challenge, attended or completed activities from the Science from your Sofa day and taken part in the Girlguiding Adventures at Home. The girls who meet with 4th Yeadon Rainbows & 5th Yeadon Brownies welcomed members of 1st Bedale Rainbows to a joint World Thinking Day celebration. 1st Reva and 1st Rawdon Rainbows continue to thrive and have plans for a joint virtual Easter sleepover following the success of the one at Christmas.
Driven by their enthusiasm for gaining badges and completing activities during the lockdowns quite a number of girls from the Divisions Rainbow and Brownie units have achieved their Bronze, Silver and Gold section awards.
With the prospect of longer days, lighter evenings, warmer weather and the easing of Covid lockdown restrictions coming a number of units already have plans in place for starting outdoor face to face meetings after the Easter break including chip walks, outdoor cooking and games evenings.
For leaders we held a Division social event which included Claire’s tricky quiz which made those present realise just how much they didn’t know or had forgotten during the past 12 months. One meeting that was particularly useful to the Division team was a chance to catch up with all our Leaders in Training. During the prolonged lockdowns and restrictions unfortunately a number of unit leaders have left us after many years of service so we are really looking forward to getting our recruitment campaign started and giving a warm welcome to our new volunteers.
As Division Commissioner I am really looking forward to when I and the Division team can visit unit meetings again, present awards, welcome new leaders who have joined us and those yet to, plan Division events and celebrate all our achievements whilst units are looking forward to welcoming back their girls and meeting all their new starters.
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Karen Whitelaw
Tarnheights Division Commissioner
