BSG Awards

Any member of Girlguiding Bristol & South Gloucestershire may nominate someone for an Award. Applications will be considered in the strictest confidence and should be kept secret from the nominee. Letter-writers must include their name, email address and the date of writing. (NB The Unit Leader can give her email address and unit name in the case of young members). Letters from family members are not accepted.

County Sea Stag

Application Form needs completing by the nominee – they should ask colleagues, parents, members of the community, as appropriate, to write letters of support. A minimum of 10 letters is required and one from the Division Commissioner should among these.

Young Members Awards

Applications are made by the Division Commissioner, giving name, email address and date of birth of the nominee. It must include the commissioner’s endorsement and relevant background information.

Nominations must be supported by at least three letters which can be from Unit members, Senior Section, fellow leaders, or anyone who can confirm the service given.

All Other Awards

Three letters of support plus an endorsement from Division Commissioner are required.

Applications and supporting letters can be sent to the Awards Panel by email awards@girlguidingbsg.org.uk and a copy to the County Administrator admin@girlguidingbsg.org.uk Alternatively, a hard copy can be sent by post to: the County Administrator at County Headquarters, Westmoreland Road, Bristol BS6 6YW, marked CONFIDENTIAL.  All applications and letters should be received at least two weeks before the date of the published Awards Panel meeting. An electronic signature can be accepted for emailed letters.

Successful applicants receive a letter informing them of the award and inviting them to attend the County presentation evening. Those who wrote letters of nomination will also be invited.

If an application is unsuccessful, the Panel will contact the applicant with a reason, if it’s felt appropriate. Re-submission may be made after a year has elapsed if further evidence can be presented.

Criteria:

The County Sea Stag is awarded to recognise and acknowledge the outstanding contribution and commitment any adult member of Girlguiding Bristol & South Gloucestershire has made, and continues to make, to the promotion and advancement of Guiding within the County.

It is expected the person for whom the application is made will have already received the Good Service Award and the service must be over and above that for which the Good Service Award was given.

Criteria:

This award will be considered for any person who is not a member of Girlguiding who has done outstanding service within the County, often over a period of time. It is expected the proposed recipient will have previously received a Thanks Badge.

Criteria

This award is given to someone who has done something special or exceptional in their unit, division or County.

This may include running an excellent unit, supporting a unit in a challenging location or saving one due to close, peer education, sharing skills or experience with members of other units, organising a Division or County event or giving service or fundraising in the community.

Nominees will be aged 16-30 – applications must be received 6 months before the nominee’s 30th birthday.

It is expected the person for whom the application is made will have already received the Good Service Award and the service must be over and above that for which the Good Service Award was given.

Any member of Girlguiding may present a Thanks Badge after discussion with a Leader or Commissioner.

The Thanks Badge may only be given to a member of The Trefoil Guild if they have given service specifically to Girlguiding.

Badges and Certificates can be purchased from your local badge secretary.

It is not necessary to contact the County Awards Panel about this badge.

Occasionally, BSG will award a Thanks Badge to someone who has given valuable service to the County.  Emailed nomination letters may be sent to the Awards Panel, copied to the County Administrator.  Only one nomination letter is required. This should be received at least two weeks before the published date of the Awards Panel meeting.

It is expected the person for whom the application is made will have already received the Good Service Award and the service must be over and above that for which the Good Service Award was given.

Criteria

This is a national award which may be given to an adult, who is a member of Girlguiding, for excellent service to Guiding, within a unit, division or County. Being a member implies that she will hold a membership/recognised volunteer card.

Alternatively, the award may be considered for someone who has completed a role, but no more than six months before the application is made.

It is expected the person for whom the application is made will have already received the Good Service Award and the service must be over and above that for which the Good Service Award was given.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (D of E) is a voluntary, non-competitive programme of activities for anyone aged 14 to 24.  Girlguiding has joined forces with D of E so you can complete this fantastic challenge as part of your Guiding experience.

D of E fits in closely with many of the other awards and qualifications available to you through Guiding, in particular the Queen’s Guide Award.  There are three progressive levels of the award – Bronze, Silver and Gold – that vary in length and commitment.

For each level you need to undertake four sections; volunteering, physical, skills-development and an expedition.  For the Gold level you will also need to take part in a residential event.

The three levels:

Bronze – for those aged 14 and over, taking at least six months to complete

Silver – for those aged 15 and over, taking at least twelve months for direct entrants (those without Bronze Awards)

Gold – for those aged 16 and over, taking at least eighteen months for direct entrants (those without Silver Awards)

You can decide which level(s) you complete, and in what order, as long as you meet the minimum age requirement.

If you would like further information about doing your D of E through Girlguiding, please contact the County D of E Adviser

Would you like to experience different adventures, make new friends and travel to exciting places while making a great contribution to Girlguiding in your local area?

If you are aged 16 – 25, then the Queen’s Guide Award is for you!

The Queen’s Guide Award is the highest award in Girlguiding and includes five sections:

Service in Guiding: Take an active role in running your unit, organise activities with different sections and participate in a national Guiding ‘think tank’ conference

Outdoor Challenge: Achieve the Lead Away or Going Away with Modules.  Practise your leadership and teamwork skills whilst travelling and exploring new places.  You could go wherever you would like in the world!

Personal Skill Development: Start a new skill or develop an existing one. Activities include cooking, music, sport, dancing, languages – you can choose something you are really interested in.

Community Action: Get more involved with your local community and carry out a practical community action project and a research project on your chosen theme.

Residential: Spend two nights and three days away from home with new people while enjoying a new adventure. 

You have three years to complete the award and when you have finished you will be presented with a certificate and a sterling silver badge.

You will then be invited to a national presentation in London, where all of the Queen’s Guides receive their award from the Chief Guide.

This is a fantastic opportunity for you to enjoy.  If you would like more information or are interested in signing up for the award, please contact our Queen’s Guide Adviser.