Residential Adviser

As County Residential Advisor my role is to firstly to liaise with the Division Residential Advisors, ensuring a continuity of standards across the county in relation to taking Brownies and Rainbows away on overnight holidays (i.e. it is obligatory to attend all of the relevant training prior to the licence application being submitted within our county). This ranges from assessing new facilities being proposed for residential stays to Guiders looking to take their Residential Licence.

Below you will find a step by step guide of the process needed to be followed when considering taking the girls away, followed by a list of all the approved Pack Holiday accommodation within Bristol & South Gloucestershire, along with the contact details for the respective Pack Holiday advisor within that Division, is available in the secure area of this website.

Girlguiding Bristol & South Gloucestershire Guidelines for Guiders on Camps and Holidays

Ensure that you hold or are working towards the relevant residential qualification for your planned event. If you wish to start working for a qualification contact your District Commissioner in the first instance. This will need to be several months in advance of your proposed holiday, as the Application for Assessment needs to be submitted 6 months before your test date. This form is held by your Division Adviser.

Accommodation - you will need to consider:

• The county approves your intended venue. (Accommodation lists are available from the Division/County Advisers)
• If you have located a site not approved, contact the local Division Adviser. (Contact details in the current County Directory)
• You need to visit your chosen accommodation prior to making a firm booking. Remember to consider size, number of girls, proposed activities, security, other facilities etc.
• If camping the campsite must be in line with current health guidelines, including E.coli & water requirements

If you require any advice regarding any aspect of your camp/holiday please contact the appropriate Division Adviser.

CRB checks are required for all NEW helpers at residential events. Allow at least a term so that checks can be completed.

Obtain A/A form (Application to Holiday/Camp) from the appropriate Division Adviser, or download from the Guiding website.

• Rainbows / Brownies – Holiday Adviser
• Guides / Rangers – Camp Adviser

Please note – the A/A form is to be completed at least 6 weeks before the event. An A/S form may be used by a licence holder running a short event (1 or 2 nights) for Brownies, Guides or Senior Section. An A/A form is also used for a Rainbow overnight. Rainbows must not have an overnight with any other section.

Complete A/A form (note if members from another District join a holiday or camp an A/J form must also be completed).

Points to consider:

• complete all sections
• as Guider in charge of the event you will also need to check the qualifications/skills/experience of activity instructors against The Guiding Manual
• establish Home Contact Procedure
• confirm CRB checks have been carried out on NEW helpers
• fees to Divisions £1.00 per night, £10.00 for test
• sign form, keep bottom (yellow) copy and forward rest & cheque to your District Commissioner at least 6 weeks before your event, together with 4 stamped envelopes for the onward transmission of the form

The DC will sign her approval, keep the green copy and sent the rest to the Home Adviser, after confirming:

• all adult participants who are not Guiders have completed the appropriate W/R & CRB forms and that references have been taken up
• adult participants have necessary qualifications/skills/experience to run the residential event as planned
• Guider in charge has consulted with an appropriate adviser (if necessary) e.g. Adviser for Members with Disabilities, Walking Adviser, Boating Adviser, Water Safety Adviser, International Adviser

The Host Adviser will complete the A/AC confirmation slip at the bottom of the A/A form and return it to the Guider in charge. If you have not received the A/AC slip 2 weeks before departure you must inform your Home Adviser.