Region Team
Chief Commissioner Team.
-
We are delighted to be working alongside our staff and volunteer teams in North East England to offer the best possible Girlguiding experience for our young members. We are unit leaders, covering all the sections between us, and have extensive external experience in leading large scale organisations and in researching alternative solutions. We pride ourselves on our willingness to listen and provide support, so get in touch if you have a story to tell, a problem to solve, or a brilliant idea. We’d love to hear from you.
Photo left to right: Amy, Assistant Chief. Wendy, Chief. Alison, Deputy Chief.
You can contact the team on info@girlguidingnortheast.org.uk
Lead Volunteers.
-
We have a wonderful collection of badges, books and resources which are very rarely seen but are very useful at times to solve mysteries and provide information for events and displays. I receive lots of resources badges artefacts etc. to supplement our collection and update new badges and resources produced where economically possible.
-
You can contact Lesley neetrefoilchair@gmail.com
-
Hi, I’m Helen and I look after the administration for DofE I support county DofE advisers with questions about the award programme and work with the region office to support the enrolment process for girls who wish to complete their award. I also run meetings and training sessions for leaders who would like to be able to offer the DofE award to girls in their units. As part of my role, I also verify completed DofE awards within region and ensure badges and certificates are presented at a local level. If you would like to learn more about the DofE award, please do get in touch.
Hi, I’m Janet and I look after the expedition section of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in North East England. This involves organising training, practice expeditions and qualifying expeditions at a region level. These are open to any participant in the region to enable them to complete any level of the award if they do not have a group of peers or volunteers with the skills locally to do this. I am also available to support volunteers organising their own expeditions from unit level upwards with advice on any aspect of running the expedition section including routes, risk assessments and the approval process.
You can contact the DofE team by emailing dofe@girlguidingnortheast.org.uk
-
Amelia Forrest, Christine Kenyon and Louise Flynn
Events Planning Team
-
Hi I’m Sarah. My role is to lead on what we offer our girls aged 4-18. I support and work with the region advisers to ensure that the girls in our region have a wide range of opportunities to be involved in different experiences. My hope is that I can make the what we offer mor girl-led and in doing so improve what we offer. I want to make the regional events accessible to as many girls as possible.
You can contact Sarah by emailing girlexperience@girlguidingnortheast.org.uk
-
You can contact Sarah by emailing HealthandSafety@girlguidingnortheast.org.uk
-
Becky Hutchinson
Inclusion Adviser
-
The inspire advisers works with a community of volunteers between the ages of 18 and 30 that can come together and share their ideas and thoughts.
You can contact Becca and Lucy by emailing inspire@girlguidingnortheast.org.uk
-
You can contact the international team by emailing international@girlguidingnortheast.org.uk
-
My role is to support everyone across the region with all things recruitment, retention and transition related. I facilitate the monthly region growth network providing updates to county growth and retention enthusiasts. I’m always happy to talk about recruitment, warm welcomes, flexible guiding, data and transition. We have region growth working groups focused on growth and retention projects and we’d love you to get involved!
You can contact Alison by emailing Alison.Brown@girlguidingnortheast.org.uk
-
The Outdoor Adviser’s role is to support county outdoor activity and residential advisers in giving advice on residentials and outdoor activities.
You can contact Anne Marie by emailing NEEOutdoorActivityAdviser@girlguidingnortheast.org.uk
-
My role is to support 14-25 year olds in North East England to become peer educators. Who deliver interactive sessions to Brownies, Guides and Rangers on issues that are important to them – Free Being Me (body confidence), Think Resilient (mental health), Breaking Free (gender stereotypes) and Safe the World (girls safety). I organise training sessions, support county coordinators to promote peer education in their area
You can contact Hannah by emailing peered@girlguidingnortheast.org.uk
-
As Safeguarding Lead Volunteer, my role is to support the region with ongoing safeguarding cases. I work closely with HQ to carry out risk assessments and investigations. I am also a point for advice and can be reached by all volunteers who are seeking advice and guidance on any safeguarding matters. Please feel free to reach out if you need any guidance and support!
You can contact Hannah by emailing safeguarding@girlguidingnortheast.org.uk
-
Hi, I’m Gabby. My role is to support and encourage sport throughout the region. I will be organising sporting activities in different counties and liaising with sporting bodies to help encourage our members to be active and enjoy sport. I hope to provide opportunities for young members throughout the region try out new sports and prove they can do anything they want to do.
You can contact Gabi by emailing sport@girlguidingnortheast.org.uk
-
The region chair of awards heads up the region Thanks and Recognition committee who meet twice per year to consider applications for region and national awards. As a committee we are responsible for ensuring that each application meets the criteria of the nominated award as laid down by Girlguiding and Girlguiding North East England.
You can contact Gillian by emailing ThanksandRecognition@girlguidingnortheast.org.uk
-
My role is to support and encourage walking throughout our region. We have a wealth of superb walking terrain in our region both from gentle strolls to challenging hikes so something for everyone and every age group. We offer a programme of training and assessment for Level 2 walking qualifications, and plan to expand that to include level 1. I am also always there to give advice on any aspect of walking.
You can contact David by emailing walking@girlguidingnortheast.org.uk
-
The young leader adviser works with girls between the ages of 14 to 18 as they complete their young leader journeys and offer them (and their leaders) any support or encouragement they may need.
You can contact Belle by emailing youngleaders@girlguidingnortheast.org.uk
Region Office Team.
-
Aged 10 I became a Guide at my local Guide unit in Norfolk and, as I’ve said on many occasions, loved it so much I never left! Over the years I have been a District and a Division Commissioner and I currently volunteer with both Brownies and Guides.
I joined the North East England region office team in March 2022 in a part-time position, moving to full time and becoming Region Manager in May 2023. My role as Region Manger is to support the Region Chief Commissioner and her team to deliver the Region Strategy. By working with the staff team and lead volunteers we aim to create exceptional experiences and rewarding volunteering for all the regions members.
In any spare time, outside being a leader at Brownies and Guides, I love gardening and music.
-
I have been part of the region office team since 2000. As the finance officer I deal with all the office payments, invoicing, banking and maintaining the region’s financial records. I also oversee the shop orders, Duke of Edinburgh’s award registrations and any grants or bursaries. Since October 2019 I have also taken on the role of Team Leader to support the staff team and the Region Manager.
I have been active in Guiding since joining Guides on my 10th birthday and I currently hold several voluntary roles in the organisation ranging from Guide and Brownie leader to county adviser, treasurer and depot manager. Outside of work and Guiding I enjoy knitting, music, jigsaws and reading.
-
In my role as M&C officer, I’m here to support marketing volunteers in promoting the region and our events. This involves sharing what units across the region have been up to on our social media channels, representing the region at community events and distributing information to our members via regular newsletters.
I am a Ranger leader and a great advocate for the young women in our organisation. I have held a variety of County roles over the years including Division Commissioner and County PRA, I joined Girlguiding as a staff member following 6 years working for a national children’s charity.
-
Sharron Little
Events Administrator
-
I joined the North East England team in April 2019 in a new role as County Administrator for two counties, East Yorkshire and North Yorkshire South. I work part-time and my usual pattern is full days Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.
I have over 21 years work experience within the private, public and voluntary sectors which should be useful for helping the counties with a wide variety of tasks. I’m originally from London and was a Brownie and Guide. In my spare time I am a keen gardener and love walking my dog and practising yoga.
-
I joined the Girlguiding North East England office team in June 2024, having been a member of Girlguiding from Rainbows through Rangers, now volunteering as a guide leader. I’ve had many great opportunities through Girlguiding, and in my role as Membership Support Officer I aim to support volunteers and enable girls to have positive experiences through Girlguiding. Outside of guiding I enjoy playing piano, baking and spending time in nature.