The Trefoil March 2024

The official journal of the Trefoil Guild

Published each March, June, September and December

National president Della Salway

National chair Eileen Martin

Editorial board Judy Ellis (editor), Jane Smart (deputy editor), Eileen Martin, Jean Kelly, Sheila Leete, Sheran Oke, Kris Clarke, Margaret Froome, Tasha Best, Lydia Clarke

The Trefoil is issued subject to the following conditions, namely that it shall not be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise disposed of in mutilated cover or in any unauthorised cover by way of trade or affixed to or as part of any publication or advertising, literary or pictorial matter whatsoever.

The Trefoil Guild takes no responsibility for statements made in any advertisements or from any matter arising whatsoever. Readers should be aware that The Trefoil is not in a position to investigate goods or services advertised in

inserts included in the magazine, and the inclusion of the inserts is not to be taken as an indication that the goods or services concerned have been investigated or approved. Responsibility for the failure of any advertiser to fulfil his or her obligations to customers gained from an advertisement or insert in The Trefoil cannot, and will not, be accepted by the Trefoil Guild or The Trefoil

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Email: trefoilguild@girlguiding.org.uk

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Managing Director Richard Woolliams

Editorial Director Fergus McShane

Managing Editor Gill Hook

Art Editor Owen Moran

Picture Editor Tracey Pocock

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Hello everyone

Welcome to the first issue of The Trefoil for 2024. How did you spend the extra day in this leap year? Maybe a birthday celebration, a Trefoil meeting or just catching up with all those small jobs that always seem to be waiting to be done? People with birthdays on 29 February are known as leaplings – maybe you are a leapling or know someone who is? There are some great articles in this issue of The Trefoil. Find out more about Motivate on page 19 and how you can take part. Read about the recent TOPAZ trip to Thailand on page 26. If you are thinking about taking part in future international Trefoil adventures, keep your eyes on our website for more information about our Trefoil international opportunity (TRIO) events this year to find out more about how you can participate. There is also an article about our

speaker, Sue Riches, who will join us in Portsmouth on 8 June for our 2024 Annual Meeting. If you haven’t already booked, please think about joining us if you can.

Eileen Martin National chair

Stop press

The following Trefoil members were mentioned in the New Year’s Honours list 2023:

Margaret Douglas Rae. Lately President, Renfrewshire Girlguiding. For services to Girlguiding in Scotland, Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire. BEM.

Sheila May Betts. Chair and volunteer, the Jarman Centre, Girlguiding Cambridgeshire East. For services to Young People in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire. BEM.

Susan Walker. Lately Chief Commissioner, Girlguiding Scotland. For services to Young People, Dunfermline, Fife. OBE.

Let the fun begin!

Sheila Leete reflects on the most recent Trefoil Gathering and on her role as national programme and development adviser

‘Gathering: a party or a meeting when many people come together as a group’. This certainly describes the Trefoil Gathering at The Hayes Centre in Swanwick over the weekend of 29 September to 2 October 2023. For those who have never attended a Gathering, it is a sociable activity weekend taking place every 4 years.

My first experience of the Trefoil Gathering was as a member of the task and finish group for the 2019 gathering, led by the then adviser, Ann Hall. Little did I know then that I would succeed Ann as national programme and development adviser and be forming my own task and finish group, arranging a programme for 150 Trefoil members! When the long-awaited information

for the Trefoil Gathering 2023 was announced, the fun began!

If you’ve been a Girlguiding leader, you’ll understand the challenges of organising large scale events. With the venue booked, the main task was considering activities to appeal to all, checking that the venue had available rooms, finding activity leads, and all within budget.

Regular Zoom team meetings helped to build a wide-ranging programme. Team members were allocated activities, researching, contacting providers, checking suitability and availability.

Identifying activity rooms was interesting, as we were only able to visit the site virtually. Along with identifying special requirements and allocating bedrooms, this certainly set a challenge for the office staff.

On the weekend it was all hands on deck, with additional team members Sheran and Kris – my fellow national advisers – and Heather, our national treasurer, joining us. The welcome session on the Friday evening gave everyone the opportunity to mix and mingle, meeting up with old friends

and making new. Activities ranged from archery, axe throwing and African drumming, to tai chi, yoga and coach trips, and so much in between. There was always a quiet corner to sit in, relaxing with a jigsaw, knitting or just chatting with a friend.

As they left on Monday morning, most members felt refreshed, possibly a little exhausted, but having made new friends, safe in the knowledge that we are all part of the bigger Trefoil family.

A special thank you to Alison, Eleanor, Lesley and Louise, my task and finish group, along with Sheran, Kris and Heather, and Marie and the office staff, who helped to make our event a success.

My role as programme and development adviser

As I move into my final year as adviser, I thought I would share my experiences over the last 5 years. Anyone exploring the Trefoil handbook

can read the basic description of my role. As national adviser, I sit on the board of trustees as a voting member, and put the case for support of proposals – from the Trefoil 2020 booklet produced during the pandemic to our Trefoil 80th Anniversary challenge – ‘from small acorns to giant oaks’. I have also led walking holidays and the Trefoil Gathering, as well as supporting our Trefoil chair for the 4-yearly national conference. I am also a member of the editorial board of The Trefoil Building a rapport with country and region programme advisers has been key, especially as we national advisers are responsible for planning annual adviser conferences. This role has given me the opportunity to make so many new friends.

If you enjoy teamwork, and can come up with ideas that our members would enjoy, why not apply to become the next national programme and development adviser?

Noticeboard

Bulletins and information for all our members

Meet our Annual Meeting speaker

Sue Riches is a global traveller. After battling breast cancer and having a mastectomy, Sue and her daughter Victoria applied to be part of the first All Women’s Expedition to the North Pole, a challenge they succeeded in achieving.

After her breast cancer, Sue felt the recovery was not a challenge, as her optimism inspired her to know that she would always get better.

In her spare time, Sue enjoys dog walks, horse riding, carriage driving, biking and skiing. She is also very happy to sit down with a good book. For holidays, Sue enjoys less typical destinations including Mongolia, Peru or the Rajasthan desert, and she has recently returned from Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. She has booked to visit the five ‘stans of Central Asia – Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. She once spent a month in Petra, teaching the Bedouin people carriage driving so that visitors who were unable to walk down the Siq could go by carriage. Even with all the travelling Sue has done, it is surprising to learn that Sue hates snakes.

If Sue were Prime Minister for the day, she would add a bank holiday

on 21 October to mark the Battle of Trafalgar, as suggested by her late husband.

Sue remains optimistic, inspired by Shackleton and his crew to work around problems even when it looks as if things are going wrong.

New word counts for contributors

The Trefoil’s new font, Poppins, takes up a little more room on these pages.

The word count is now: Single page –270 words with 1 or 2 photos. Double page – 550 words with 2 or 3 photos.

And it’s goodbye from us!

Three years ago, Jane Smart and I began editing The Trefoil. During this time we have worked with the teams that produce the magazine – the editorial board, the readership panel, the proofreaders, the staff and you, the contributing members. The Trefoil is a magazine produced by, and for, our members. It has been a delight to meet so many of you, to hear your opinions and suggestions. We’ve tried to include as many as we

Festive quiz answers

Books

1 The Wind in the Willows. Kenneth Grahame

2 A Child’s Christmas in Wales. Dylan Thomas

3 What Katy Did. Susan Coolidge

could and you’ve made the magazine lively and, we hope, interesting. We should like to thank all the members of The Trefoil teams for working to deadlines – even when they are shortened by delays! You’ve certainly followed the key messages of getting involved, giving support and actively working on the production. I hope you’ve also made new friends, even if it’s via email.

Jane is continuing to recover from the stroke she had after the Llandudno Annual Meeting and sent her best wishes to everyone when we met on a chilly day in Builth Wells.

We should both like to wish the new Editorial team led by Kris Clarke all the best for the future, and I hope you will all continue to be involved with any roles needed by the magazine. Thank you all for your help and support.

4 The Pickwick Papers. Charles Dickens

5 Anne’s House of Dreams. L M Montgomery

6 The Dark Is Rising. Susan Cooper Food and drink

1 Ashura. Islam

Submissions to The Trefoil and website

2 Bodhi Day. Buddhism

3 Hanukkah. Judaism

4 Diwali. Hindu

5 The red represents the colours of dawn of the new year.

Zoroastrianism

6 Japanese. Shinto and Buddhism

We welcome all submitted items using the appropriate pro forma, which can be downloaded from the website. Please state whether you’re happy for items to be considered for the website if there is too little space in The Trefoil. Submissions date for the June 2024 issue is 8 March 2024

Your snapshots

We take a look at what Trefoil members have been up to

Time travel

An enthusiastic group of Bedfordshire county Trefoil members took a trip through time, from the 1940s to the present day, when they met for their annual get-together at Windy Sayles Guiding Centre in Dunstable. With the theme of Through the Decades, each of the groups attending presented their vision of days gone by with quizzes, memories, games and activities. County archivist, Paul Hunt, also brought along a magnificent array of memorabilia to explore. Members enjoyed fun activities, such as kite flying and an outdoor lunch of sausages cooked on an open fire. Chris Daniels, Leighton Buzzard Trefoil Guild

Making merry

An amazing 47 Trefoil members from Northamptonshire had a fabulous stay at Hautbois, visiting Cromer Pier, Wroxham Broad, Langham Glass, Great Yarmouth and Bressingham Gardens, where a lot of us rode the merry-go-round with a huge amount of laughter that caused a lot of interest in Trefoil Guild.

Jane Causebrook, Danetre Trefoil Guild

Raising funds

Members of Gibraltar Trefoil Guild raised funds for the local community at Morrisons supermarket, where we raffled a huge vegetable and fruit hamper and about 10 smaller prizes donated locally.

Moira Dalmedo, Gibraltar Trefoil Guild

Fun and games

What fun members of Gerrards Cross and Denham Trefoil Guild had at Buckinghamshire county winter gathering. With a panto theme, everyone was wearing something festive – Christmas sweaters, Santa hats or tinsel. As a warm up we were challenged to create antlers for Rudolph and dress a member as a Christmas tree. Our antlers were judged best! We were asked to provide a short panto-related entertainment. Ours was Celebration – a quiz to identify pantos using the names of chocolates and sweets.

Jane Graham, Gerrards Cross and Denham Trefoil Guild

Tree festival

One of the last events of 2023 for Norfolk South Trefoil Guild was to take part in the Salvation Army Christmas Tree Festival. We made the tree out of a pallet and members had fun making acorns and stars depicting Trefoil’s 80th year. We hope by leaving a copy of our county magazine ‘Fanfare’ that we may attract some new members.

Carol Peters, Norfolk South Trefoil Guild

Trail walk

During a ramble, members from Dunbartonshire, Scotland, did half of the Semple Trail from Howwood to Lochwinnoch.

Elizabeth Howie, Kilwinning Trefoil Guild

Discovering Dundee

Some of the SAORSA Trefoil Guild got together to do the Daunder Dundee Badge. We are an online guild, so this was the first time some of us had met each other. We met at Girlguiding Dundee to get the badges and then proceeded to discover what was on offer with this badge.

Kirsty Gibbons, SAORSA Trefoil

Guild

Clever crochet I learnt to crochet for my bronze Voyage award and then went on to use this skill for my silver award service, constructing knitted and crocheted squares into blankets for the charity Woolly Hugs. This is my first make and is currently on its way across Europe to be given to teenagers from Ukraine. I’m also planning to make hats and scarves for care leavers’ Christmas presents (also via Woolly Hugs), hats for sailors (The Mission to Seafarers) and knitted angels (Rushmoor Christmas Angels).

Heather Gibbs, Thanet South Trefoil Guild

Picture this!

The Trefoil Guild photo group and friends visited the Giant’s Causeway and the Old Bushmills Distillery on a recent stay at Lorne in Northern Ireland, where we had a few days revisiting the composition element of photography. Jane Causebrook, Trefoil Guild Photo Group

This little piggy…

While staying at Bowerman’s Cottage on Dartmoor for the weekend, 7 members of Yeo Vale Trefoil Guild visited Pennywell Farm where we had the privilege of being able to cuddle pigs in blankets! A fabulous weekend of fun, friendship and fantastic food. We are already planning another weekend trip to the Gower Peninsula in April.

Tigi Higgins, Yeo Vale Trefoil Guild

Sense of adventure

Members of Renfrew Trefoil Guild enjoyed a six-day trip to Adelboden, Switzerland. They visited Our Chalet and the woodcarver as well as Interlaken, the Schilthorn and the Trümmelbach Falls. On our first day, a small group decided to walk back to Adelboden from the woodcarver’s and on our way back took a detour through the Choleren gorge. This is an impressive narrow river gorge approximately 100m long. Craggy cliffs and cascades could be seen as we made our way up the metal steps and along the walkways. This detour showed that Trefoil members always have a sense of adventure.

Elizabeth Forrest, Renfrew Trefoil Guild

From tiny acorns…

Members of Carlisle and Border Trefoil Guild, which meets each month at Susan’s Farm in Houghton, Carlisle, have been trying out different activities from last year’s 80th Anniversary challenge, including visiting an arboretum in the Eden Valley, learning about the different kinds of oak trees and holding Oak Apple Day Celebrations. They were given an oak sapling and members planted it in a hedgerow at the farm where they meet.

Alison Jary, Carlisle and Border Trefoil Guild

Fantastic visit

Trefoil members visited the CS Lewis Square in Belfast. After ‘entering the wardrobe’ we had the opportunity to view the many sculptures depicting scenes from Narnia and learnt much about Lewis’s thoughts when writing his acclaimed work. In true Trefoil fashion, the visit concluded with a delicious lunch.

Stephanie Wilson, South Antrim Trefoil Guild

Getting together

South West England PR advisers, programme and development advisers and international advisers met at Foxlease last autumn. It was a great opportunity for everyone to get together and exchange ideas, and it was an extra special opportunity for Lynne Gouldsmith to meet up with old friends. On the way back to Cornwall, Lynne visited Brownsea Island with Beryl Paddison, Cornwall international adviser, and so has ticked something else off her bucket list. Lynne Gouldsmith, Cornwall county PR adviser

If you’d like to see images of your own guild’s activities on the pages of The Trefoil, please email your photographs to trefoilguild@girlguiding.org.uk for consideration.

Our board of trustees – who are we?

People often ask who the board of trustees are, so here is a little bit of information about who we are and what we do, says Jean Kelly, chair of the finance and general purposes committee

The trustees are made up of the national chair together with the 9 country and region chairs, the treasurer, 3 advisers who cover communications and engagement, programme and development, international, and the chair of the finance and general purposes committee. As well as the trustees, our president can attend board meetings and so can the chief

guide. The board is supported by the Trefoil office manager.

The main aim of the board is to make sure that we are acting in the best interests of Trefoil and are complying with the Charity Commission guidelines and within the law. The board also sets our Trefoil Guild priorities and manages the day-to-day business of the organisation.

The country and region chairs are an important link in the Trefoil communications chain as they hold their own executive meetings which county chairs attend. County chairs in turn hold their own executive meetings which guild chairs attend, and guild chairs are important in making sure our members’ views are heard. So, all members out there –please make sure you ask your chair to feed back any issues or requests that you have.

Our 3 national advisers cover too many areas to capture in this short article, but just think of all the opportunities given in 2023 alone through the Trefoil walk, the Gathering at Swanwick, the amazing adventures of the Thailand TOPAZ team and, of course, our ongoing challenges in recruiting to our wonderful organisation. Our treasurer supports our

organisation and keeps the money on track with budgets in place and our annual accounts verified and approved in good time, and my role supports Trefoil’s statutory responsibilities, including our policies and procedures, GDPR and risk management as well as the Trefoil website, KEY and the handbook.

Did you know that the Trefoil handbook has been updated?

Our first handbook was published in 2008 in a hardback version, but since 2018 it’s only been available on the Trefoil website. We know that some of our members prefer a printed version, but as changes to our policies and forms happen quite often it isn’t possible now to do that. The handbook is available for all Trefoil members but is especially useful to any members who have a role such as chair, secretary, treasurer, or adviser, as it pulls all the information you need into one easy-to-use online book. If you need a copy but don’t have access to the internet, do speak to your county, country or region chair, who may be able to give you support.

Annual Meeting review

Following the results of the survey, Sheran Oke reports ‘You said, we listened and will do…’

The review of our national Annual Meeting is now complete. The report with recommendations has been made to the board of trustees, where discussion took place. The board listened to your thoughts and feedback and supported the recommendations made. Thank you for your contribution. Read on to find out more.

We had a positive survey response, whether that be via The Trefoil using a postal survey, virtually online or directly to the review team at our last Annual Meeting in Glasgow. It was interesting to note that 70% of responses were made online with 24% at the Annual Meeting and 6% using the postal route. Regardless of which method was used, the feedback was

consistent and clear – our Annual Meeting is a valued event for members to come together, to share our programmes and promote the benefits of being part of Trefoil to a wider audience, but we need to consider how we can do this better and ensure that what is included on our formal agenda is relevant and interesting to the membership. There was a clear message that the Annual Meeting needs to remain as a face-to-face event: this message has been heard loud and clear, however 62% of respondents noted that they would watch the event online if it were available. Seeing the opportunity to reach a wider membership, the board has asked that we review the options

and costings for this and report back to a future meeting.

We have agreed that as from 2025 we will look to provide sessions for members to engage in either before or after the Annual Meeting, covering a range of topics which are both serious and fun. Suggestions could range from paddleboarding in the docks, a singing event, or a membership subject consultation, which could be either internal or virtual to involve a wider audience.

We also agreed that there would be increased availability for countries and regions to promote the work they are doing as well as optimising the promotion of national initiatives. Your feedback told us that this sharing of information at a country and region level was a missed opportunity – so be prepared to be amazed!

With regards to the formal part of the meeting, survey respondents suggested some minor amendments

Would you consider watching our national Annual Meeting if it was available for you to watch online? Maybe with your Trefoil

to the content, requesting that the keynote speaker keep their topic relevant to the ethos of guiding and Trefoil, and some reports being available to members attending using a QR code as necessary. We know that not everyone will want a paper copy.

So, this is simply a ‘whistle-stop summary’ of the key recommendations from our survey. Given the timescales associated with the planning process, we have shared the feedback with South West England, who are our 2024 hosts, recognising that they will not be able to adopt all recommendations in such a short timeframe. We will see the structural and content changes being implemented in Ulster in 2025. We look forward to seeing you there, engaging in the pre- and post-meeting opportunities and actively supporting and providing stalls to promote and share Trefoil. Thank you again.

Guild or a time of your choosing?

Update from Girlguiding

Speaker Fellowship with others Report from the Trefoil national chair

Top 5 choices by survey respondents about which elements of an Annual Meeting day they wish to retain.

Stalls

Away day in… Norfolk

Hautbois House is a great base from which to discover the area and offers plenty for you to do on site

If you’re planning your expeditions and programmes with the advent of Spring – and are missing the fun of Waddow Hall and Foxlease – did you know that Girlguiding Anglia owns its own activity centre?

Hautbois House sits in 28 acres in Coltishall, Norfolk, just north-east of Norwich. It is a 19th century house which can accommodate 60 guests in 11 bedrooms, 8 of which are en suite, and it offers 25 different activities, from archery to zip wires.

If you fancy camping, there’s space for 300 campers, or if you feel a tent is not for you then you could try the Reedcutters’ Village which accommodates 58 people in shepherd’s huts. Many of the activities on offer

could be linked with the Motivate challenge, so you could tick them off on your record sheet.

The Broads are close by and Hautbois has its own cut-through to the River Bure. There are walks to nature reserves, windmills and waterside pubs, trips on the Broads, and Norwich is 20 minutes away by car, 30 minutes by bus.

There are opportunities for Trefoil members to volunteer at events such as Hautbois Fest 24, and there’s a Trefoil Adventure Weekend in the pipeline for April 2025. If that’s too long to wait, why not book your own adventure for 2024? For more details, check the website and download the information pack at hautbois.org.uk.

Motivate

A personal challenge to… ‘Look wide, and even when you think you are looking wide – look wider still’. Such perfect advice from Lord Robert Baden-Powell

2024 marks the start of an exciting new year full of possibilities. To support this, we have created a personal challenge: Motivate. This initiative was produced through collaborative working, by the international, PR, and programme and development advisers from the 9 countries and regions across the UK. Motivate is far more than a badge. It is commitment to a common cause. It is friendship and fun while challenging yourself to step outside your comfort zone, pushing boundaries wide, wider or widest to truly see what you are capable of achieving as the exceptional human being you are. A member with limited movement or disability of any kind can adapt any of the suggestions to suit their individual capabilities, or design their own. Why not invite community leaders to a Trefoil meeting to tell you about their work and opportunities for engagement? Motivate encourages you to partner with another member for mutual

help, support and encouragement, to set realistic goals, and, through friendship and the 4 key Trefoil messages, help motivate each other.

To

summarise Motivate:

Make a note of your personal goals

Undertake the activities

Share progress with your Motivate buddy

Keep a record of your achievements

Share your challenge with us to be included on the Motivate page of the Trefoil website

Use #MotivateTrefoil to share on social media and don’t forget to join our Facebook group

Complete your challenge by incorporating our Trefoil key messages: find friendship, get involved, get active, and give support.

On the next 2 pages is a list of suggested activities available for each of the 3 Motivate areas: air, land and water.

Choose 2 activities from each of the 3 Motivate areas which reflect our Trefoil key messages.

There is no time scale to complete this challenge.

As you undertake this journey, as an individual or with others, try to record your achievements. Use media, photos or videos, keeping a diary or even sending postcards to yourselves. We have created a record sheet that you can use too - it’s on page 22, the back of this handy pull-out guide.

The Motivate badge will be available through your country or region team later in the year. See our website for more information.

The options are limitless, as are the challenges that each of us may choose to undertake. Good luck and enjoy!

Activity suggestions

Here are some ideas to get you started on Motivate…

Air

Support a local charity such as Air Ambulances UK: airambulancesuk.org

Try a zipwire experience

Star gazing – wonder at the stars in the sky. Can you see any constellations?

Take a flight in a hot air balloon, the London Eye or any city sightseeing wheel

Visit a bird sanctuary, or record birds that visit your garden

Take a trip to the top of an observation tower eg Blackpool, Brighton or even Paris

Sample a new food or cook a dish using poultry or game birds

Plan a virtual trip by air

Take part in the RSPB bird watch

Make and fly a kite

Visit an air museum, watch an air show or learn more about the history of flight

Or create your own challenge

Land

Support a local charity such as Wildlife Trust: wildlifetrusts.org

Visit somewhere you’ve always wanted to go to

Try a form of wheeled transport you’ve not been on before

Try to complete Couch to 5k

Take part in a parkrun, peace walk or fun run

Go on a bus pass or travel card adventure

Sample a new food or cook a dish using plant-based ingredients

Plan a virtual trip on land

Do a litter pick

Go car free, walk to work or a friend’s house

Set up a walking group or participate in one

Or create your own challenge

Water

Support a local charity such as The Rivers Trust: theriverstrust.org

Take a trip on water

Increase your swimming distances

Visit a lifeboat station or maritime museum

Go scuba diving or snorkelling

Support refugees. Is there a local charity collecting items near you?

Go pond dipping

Sample a new food, or cook a dish using something from the sea or fresh water

Plan a virtual trip on water

Try a foot spa

Go open water swimming

Or create your own challenge

Turn over for your Motivate challenge personal record sheet.

This record is for the individual member and does not need to be presented to gain the badge. A larger, A4-sized version is available from our website: trefoilguild.co.uk

Our key messages are: find friendship, get involved, get active, and give support. There is no time scale to complete this challenge. Good luck and enjoy!

Getting creative

From puppets to pavement art, songs to sculptures, here are some ideas for your Trefoil’s programme

Looking for fresh programme ideas?

Musical interlude

Check out the programme ideas page on our website. Your country or region programme adviser was part of the team who produced the lists. Here are some of the ideas from the culture, arts and music section: ‘Jam’ session

Make up words to a well-known tune (and dance?) about your guild to use as a recruitment tool.

Arts… Have a ‘pavement artist’ evening. All you need are some coloured chalks, a pavement – or a washable table top if you can’t get down that far – and a bucket of water to clear up afterwards.

… and crafts

Everyone scrunches up some cooking foil and uses it to create a sculpture to illustrate something they have done during the past week. Members have to guess what it is. Don’t forget to recycle the foil afterwards!

Put varying amounts of water into jars or bottles and suspend these from a horizontal pole (broomstick). Tap them with a spoon, changing the sound by adjusting the water. With practice you will be able to play a scale or a simple tune. Play short extracts of music and ask everyone to write or draw what the music suggests to them, then share them.

It’s showtime!

Make paper plate puppets, add ‘hair’ (wool, scouring pad) and tape them to a plant cane. Tables turned on their side make a stage, now you are ready to do your show!

Do check activities in other categories. Log on to the members’ area of trefoilguild.co.uk where you will find the full list under Programme resources

Meet a Trefoil

Celebrating their first year as a guild, members of Glenanne Trefoil Guild enjoy getting to know each other over a cuppa and a treat, says Lorraine Spence

Glenanne is a newly established Trefoil that meets monthly in Tullyallen Presbyterian Church Hall in Armagh. The Trefoil was formed in March 2023 under the guidance of Joan Hendren. Our growing Trefoil now comprises 19 ladies who have all been involved in guiding at differing levels. We come from a variety of backgrounds and have a wide age range (25-70+) but we all share a love of guiding.

As a new group we are enjoying getting to know each other through different activities. Meetings begin with a warm welcome, apologies and information sharing, and end with a cuppa and a treat. This is possibly the best part, where we get time to really build friendships. I’m really enjoying meeting neighbours with whom I have only ever had a passing acquaintance!

members enjoy doing. With such a huge age range, we initially thought the challenge would be finding something to suit everyone. However, this has not been the case and all activities have been fully embraced. We find that we can easily adapt activities to ensure everyone’s included. With the guide motto ‘Be Prepared’ adhered to in all aspects of its meaning – well prepared meetings, being prepared to try new things, being prepared to adapt activities and situations to meet the needs of everyone – the group is maturing, and relationships are blossoming.

We are a young Trefoil Guild in that we have been together less than a year. We are getting to know what our

In our short time as a Trefoil Guild, we have had a wide and varied programme. One of our first meetings involved afternoon tea in Gosford Guide House. This proved to be an excellent way to meet our new friends and learn a bit about each other. Of course, it didn’t hurt that

we had beautiful sandwiches and traybakes to enjoy while we socialised. As part of our 80th Anniversary badge we had a treasure hunt and quiz. We also brought in a photo that was meaningful to us, such as ones from childhood, older family photos, places of interest and celebrities. We tried to match the photo to the guild member and then talked about why the photo was meaningful to us. This was an excellent way to get to know each other and brought back lovely memories.

Flower arranging (or how to put flowers in a vase so it doesn’t look like

they’ve ‘fallen from the sky’), painting and armchair yoga were all very relaxing and helped us to unwind. I’m not an artist by any stretch of the imagination but I enjoyed painting the poppy in November and was really proud of my effort.

We’ve been given an overview of the Voyage award, and some of us have taken steps to begin, others are thinking about what we can do and some are taking on a supportive role. This is what I love best about Trefoil – the level of involvement and participation is completely up to the individual and we all take away from it what we need or want.

Glenanne Trefoil Guild have had a very successful and enjoyable first 12 months, and we hope to have many, many more on our journey to becoming a well-established Trefoil Guild in Ulster. We are looking forward to growing together, establishing new friendships and meeting old friends.

Our experience of a lifetime

The TOPAZ Thailand group arrived in Bangkok last November to work alongside the Girl Guides (Girl Scouts) Association of Thailand (GGAT). Ravi Pooni (Midlands) shares their story

We were honoured to have been selected to represent Trefoil Guild UK in the first TOPAZ project to Thailand, and after months of fundraising and preparing we finally arrived. It truly was an eye-opening and humbling experience, and we’ve returned home feeling empowered and proud.

Our adventure started in Bangkok, where we experienced a traditional Thai welcome ceremony, including food and dance. We also got to know our GGAT colleagues, visited Wat Pra Keaw and the Emerald Buddha (the holiest site in Thailand). We met local Guides who showed us around the Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market – a great experience!

Travelling north to Chiang Rai, we stayed at Wiang Pa Pao Guide Training Centre, where we helped construct a high fence protecting land from wild animals and ensuring

the safety of Guiding members. It also protects land used to grow fruits. We successfully completed the fence a day ahead of schedule and added our plaque to one of the posts, which was a proud moment. All equipment supplies donated in the UK were used and appreciated. Having already discussed with GGAT in Bangkok the benefits and value of having a Trefoil Guild as part of membership, we presented Trefoil to the women in Wiang Pa Pao, highlighting networking, learning new crafts, and sharing skills as key benefits. GGAT is now considering establishing Trefoils in Wiang Pa Pao and Lamphun.

At our selection weekend we were told to ‘expect the unexpected’, and we did just that. One day we expected to meet 30 children and ended up meeting 104 – a fantastic experience! The children were from the local

school and from a neighbouring orphanage. We taught them English, guiding songs and the Hands of Friendship activity. We enjoyed this as much as the children did!

Our next stop was Chiang Mai, staying at the guiding centre. We led cultural exchange activities with local school children including making papaya salad and sweet coconut desserts, embroidered keyrings, and making bowls and plates out of corn husk. We had an opportunity to visit 2 local schools in Lamphun, where the school children were enrolled in an English programme as part of their studies. They enjoyed speaking English to us and taught us a lot about their culture and local cuisine.

One of the main highlights of our trip was immersing ourselves into the local culture and celebrating the

‘festival of lights’ (Loy Krathong). We made ‘krathongs’ using decorated marigolds, jasmine flowers, and banana leaves.

Our visit is the beginning; we will help and support the project going forward. We are proud of what we have achieved, it truly feels amazing to be part of this incredible journey and it’s great to see the impact that Trefoil Guild has had overseas!

Thank you for following us on this amazing journey!

If you would like to be considered for a TOPAZ programme then look out for the TRIO weekends taking place in the autumn. Information will be on our website and in a future edition of The Trefoil.

Traditions and folklore in… North West England

From Romans to Roundheads and witches to horse fairs, this part of Britain has it all, says Deb Millican, Hope Farm Trefoil Guild

The North West of England incorporates Cheshire, Sefton, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Manchester city, the Isle of Man, Stockport, The Wirral, Lancashire and Cumbria. It is a landscape of contrasts, from industrial towns, seaside resorts and historic cities to beautiful countryside including Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in England. The North West has a history

spanning from the Roman occupation of Chester to the amazing football and pop culture of the modern era.

Part of our history in the North West includes the Pendle Witches. The trial of 10 of the 12 accused Pendle Witches in 1612 at Lancaster Castle is one of the best documented and most famous witch trials in the UK. All 12 of the accused lived in the shadow of Pendle Hill in Lancashire and came from 2 rival families. It started when Alizon Device cursed a pedlar as he wouldn’t sell her some pins. When arrested she then accused members of her own family (the Demdikes) and the Chattox family of witchcraft. 10 of the accused were found guilty of witchcraft and hanged. You can follow the Pendle Scenic Witch Trail,

starting at Pendle Heritage Centre in Barrowford. Other trails pass through the beautiful Trough of Bowland on the route.

Holly Holy Day is observed on the nearest Saturday to 25 January and commemorates the lifting of the Siege of Nantwich in Cheshire by the Royalist Army on 25 January 1644. The town had been held by the Parliamentarians during the Civil War and had been under siege for many months. Parliamentary forces led by Sir Thomas Fairfax marched from Lancaster and engaged and defeated the Royalists at the Battle of Nantwich. In 1973 the Sealed Knot society began an annual tradition of re-enacting the battle. They march through the town centre and up to Mill Island where the battle was held. It’s an amazing sight with pikes, muskets and cannons being engaged.

The famous Blackpool Illuminations started because Blackpool was the first town to have electric street lighting and people came from far and wide in 1879 to marvel at the 8 arc lamps lighting up the promenade.

Over the years the light display has grown to 6 miles of lights, animated tableaux and even decorated trams. It is the biggest free light show on Earth and is illuminated for at least 66 nights a year starting in September. The Illuminations’ switch-on ceremony is performed by a special guest, which has included Shirley Bassey, racehorse Red Rum, Robbie Williams and even Kermit the Frog. The lights attract 3.5m visitors a year, incorporate 1 million lamps, 200 miles of cable and wiring and costs over £2million a year to stage.

Appleby Horse Fair is an annual gathering of in the town of Appleby in Cumbria. Its website describes it as ‘an annual gathering of Gypsies and Travellers… which takes place on the first week in June’. It is an unique event in Europe and attracts around 40,000 visitors each year. People gather in their colourful caravans and carts and carry on the tradition of horse trading, which has taken place since circa 1685. The main spectacle is watching the horses being put through their paces on Long Marton Road and being taken down to ‘the Sands’ to be washed in the river Eden.

Your letters

Find out what other Trefoil members have on their minds

Finding friendship at Our Chalet

To celebrate the 10th birthday of Dundee TG’13, 5 members took part in Our Chalet’s annual International Friendship Week in September 2023. Our Chalet truly is a special place –the combination of location, history, ethos and the people. We all felt this, and found the opening night’s pinning ceremony moving. Was it the swirling mist, the reading of a letter read at the first camp there, or the singing of the Our Chalet song as the flag was raised?

We were a group of 27 in total, aged from 18 upwards, from Scotland, the US, Canada, Australia and Mexico. Activities were in mixed groups, and we all got to meet everyone else over

the week. We learnt the sport of Eisstock (a lighter version of curling), hiked through a deep gorge cut into the rocks and tried out glass-blowing (and the challenge of bringing a delicate 4-inch glass ball home).

We visited Luzern and Bern, kayaked on Brienzersee and took a cable car ride to Bidmi, hiking back downhill following a marble run – pitching our wooden marbles against each other.

The on-site day was packed full of team challenges while looking after a hard-boiled egg, which culminated in building a contraption to protect it when dropped from the attic window. It was great fun to share guiding skills with each other, making fires and shelters, and we discovered just how

much we had in common with our WAGGGS sisters from around the world. We learnt about Girlguiding and Girl Scouting in different countries, uniforms, organisational structures, age groupings and cookies. By the end of the week, we had made new friends from all over the world.

Canada reunion

A reunion is to be held for members who participated in the ScotlandCanada Exchange 1973-1974. We have contacted 8 members of the group and we hope to be able to reach the remaining 7 through The Trefoil. We hope that Ranger and Guide leaders from that time may have had members who participated and will be able to add to our list.

It is hard to believe that it is 50 years since we hosted the Canadians at Netherurd and South Newton before home stays. The following year, the Scots travelled to Atlantic Canada for a wonderful adventure spending time in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick.

Fiona

Waddell, East Lothian county

Volunteer tales

Following on from ‘Charities our members support’ in the December issue of The Trefoil, I am a volunteer Citizens Advice adviser, specialising in benefits, helping people understand what they are entitled to and supporting them to apply and challenge benefit decisions. It’s complex and sometimes challenging. I learn something new every time and hear some sad stories about people’s struggles with life, but it’s good to feel our input makes a difference.

I walked 500 miles on the Camino de Santiago, in two stints, 2018 and 2019. I wanted to put something back but had to wait until 2022 when the Camino reopened after COVID. For the last 2 years I’ve volunteered for 2-3 weeks at a hostel run by pilgrim charity The Confraternity of Saint James UK in a remote village near Astorga, Spain – a team of 3 of us providing a safe, clean, relaxing and welcoming environment for up to 30 pilgrims each night. Good fun, long days and you meet people from all over the world (I’m learning Spanish on Duolingo, but Google Translate is helpful too!). As it’s an English hostel we serve tea and biscuits every afternoon, which is much appreciated.

I’m planning to go back this year – and travel on a tall ship, recreating an ancient pilgrim voyage from Cornwall to Spain, then walking to Santiago and making my way to the hostel, ready for my slot on the rota.

Ruth

Tompsett, Ouse Valley Trefoil Guild

Ramanee Bengough, Dundee TG’13

Singing circle wassails

In the article ‘Our 80th Anniversary’ in the December issue of The Trefoil, Sheila Leete said if you missed Oak Apple Day then why not celebrate Wassail. I did celebrate Oak Apple Day by going to Salisbury Cathedral to see the dancers from Great Wishford accompanied by a melodeon player. There is a charter that allows them to collect wood in Grovely Wood. They dance outside the cathedral, go inside for a blessing, when part of the charter is read, then return to Great Wishford for a day of celebration. Dorset Singing Circle is led by Sheila Leete with Benny Gauler on guitar. We meet most months to sing guiding songs. At our December 2023 meeting we learnt ‘Here We Come A-wassailing’, as Sheila suggested, with me playing melodeon, sang carols and other Christmas songs and learnt about wassailing and other Christmas and New Year customs.

I volunteer in St Mary’s Church on Brownsea Island. In the pews are kneelers to celebrate both Scout and Guide centenaries. Near the church is a mulberry tree planted by Olave Baden-Powell on 15 May 1963 when she declared the island open to the public. Last May, Brownsea Island celebrated 60 years of being open to the public.

Janet Mellors, Parkstone Trefoil Guild

Fun afternoon

Monifieth Trefoil Guild held a Murder Mystery Afternoon as a change to our usual Christmas meeting. It was great fun, and everyone made a great effort to dress the part. A buffet was put on afterwards by one of our members.

Linda

Duff, Monifieth Trefoil Guild

Email your letters to us at trefoilguild@girlguiding.org.uk or write to the contact details on page 2.

Achievements

Proud day for Marion

Marion Higgins, a member of Malta Trefoil Guild, received a Certificate of Appreciation from the British Legion Malta Branch, to commemorate all the fundraising she has done for the organisation. Marion, who has been a member of Trefoil since 2009, is also a member of the Royal Navy Association (Malta branch).

Fundraising triumph Butterfly House, at South Bucks Hospice in High Wycombe, is a day hospice providing support for patients living with life-limiting or life-threatening illnesses. Specialist palliative care is provided, on an outpatient basis, for people at any stage in their diagnosis. Support is also offered to families and carers. After one member of Gerrards Cross and Denham Trefoil Guild benefitted from the services of the hospice, the other members decided to raise funds. Along with other local Trefoils, Girlguiding volunteers and friends, they held a garden party and raised over £600. Further donations meant members Jane Graham and Lesley Coates were able to present the hospice with a cheque for £769.43.

Have you received an award, or do you know someone who has? Send the details and a photo to The Trefoil Contact details on page 2.

Building on connections

Kris Clarke shows us the power of communication and engagement in making Trefoil Guild stronger

In the intricate tapestry of modern society, communication and engagement stand as the fundamental threads weaving together individuals, organisations, charities, and communities. The ability to connect and interact plays a pivotal role in fostering understanding, empathy, and a shared sense of purpose.

The foundation of good communication

Communication serves as the cornerstone of Trefoil Guild and our

members. Whether it’s through spoken words person to person, written messages and emails, Trefoil social media or The Trefoil magazine – effective communication establishes a shared language that binds all individuals together. Clear and transparent communication ensures that our members are informed, empowered, and feel a sense of belonging.

In this digital age, various platforms facilitate communication, but the essence remains the same at most levels. The Trefoil magazine, even

newsletters, social media groups, and members’ events all contribute to disseminating information and fostering connections. A wellinformed Trefoil Guild is an engaged Trefoil Guild.

Engagement of Trefoil Guild

Engagement goes beyond mere awareness – it involves active participation and contribution from all our members. Engaged Trefoil members are characterised by individuals who feel a sense of ownership and responsibility for the well-being of our charity. This engagement can take various forms, from volunteering within Trefoil and Girlguiding, or for local initiatives and even participating in community meetings and events. All of these things help to create awareness and instil confidence and pride in being a member of Trefoil Guild. Engaged members are more likely to collaborate, share ideas, and work together toward common standards and goals.

Building communication

Communication is a bridge that connects all of our members, does not discriminate and is fully inclusive within both Trefoil Guild and the wider community. Effective communication is key to understanding and harmony amongst us all. It enables us all as members to appreciate different perspectives, celebrate diversity, and find common ground amid

differences. Open dialogue nurtures an environment where concerns can be voiced, differences addressed, and resolutions reached while allowing individuals to grow and feel heard. Platforms for members to express their views and contribute to their country, region, counties and Trefoil include meetings, planning sessions, surveys, sending in articles along with signing up to task and finish groups - to name just a few. Being heard on the right platforms in an open, friendly manner is where we become more adaptable, capable of navigating challenges with a unified front and being proud members of Trefoil Guild.

Nurturing Trefoil Guild through use of communication

The intricate dynamics of communication and engagement helps to create harmony, appreciation of us all as individuals, and what we each have to offer as a Trefoil member. It also allows and helps new members feel welcomed and encouraged to share and grow with Trefoil. It is the ability to connect, understand, and actively participate in this journey that transforms our guilds into thriving, resilient ones that continue to thrive over the years. By fostering open dialogue, embracing change, and building bridges of understanding, members can create environments where individuals feel heard, valued, and most importantly connected.

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Trefoil Guild Holidays

The Perfect Blend of Adventure and Leisure!

Tailor-made for Trefoil Guild members, these trips are the perfect opportunity for individuals or small groups to travel with like-minded people from across the UK, all supported by a Venture Abroad Tour Manager.

With an exciting itinerary of visits and excursions, comfortable half-board accommodation, flights and coach arrangements in your destination all taken care of, now’s the time to make memories, new friends and explore the world!

Trips available in Autumn 2024 and Spring 2025...

The Azores

Spend 6 days exploring the beautiful island of Sao Miguel, aptly referred to as the ‘Hawaii of Europe’!

Spectacular waterfalls, botanical gardens, and natural hot springs

Pineapple and tea plantations

An exciting whale and dolphin watching excursion

And so much more...

Adelboden

Spend a week exploring this spectacular region of Switzerland – a true Guiding ‘bucket-list’ destination!

Memorable pinning ceremony at WAGGGS World Centre, Our Chalet

Leisurely boat trip on Lake Thun

Cable car ride to Schilthorn for spectacular panoramic views

And so much more...

From: 6 days/5 nights 7 days/6 nights

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Over The Wall is a UK based charity founded by actor Paul Newman, for children and young people (8 - 17) with serious illness and disabilities to discover a world of mischief and magic. Providing a safe place to step outside of comfort zones, establish friendships and build confidence through meaningful and exciting activities.

Over The Wall volunteers help create an unforgettable camp experience empowering our campers to be brave, take risks and push themselves further than ever with activities such as climbing, archery, dance parties, arts & crafts and more!

Sign up to volunteer and make a difference this summer.

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Over The Wall is a UK based charity founded by actor Paul Newman, for children and young people with serious illness and disabilities to discover a world of mischief and magic. We provide a safe place to step outside of comfort zones, establish friendships and build confidence through meaningful and exciting activities.

These amazing experiences are in-person at residential camp, and also available online with Camp in the Cloud. And what’s more, it’s all free!

It’s not that the children say, “Thanks for a wonderful time.” It’s that they say, “Thank you for changing my life.”

- Paul Newman