Published each March, June, September and December National president Della Salway National chair Eileen Martin
The Trefoil magazine team
Lydia Clarke, Tasha Best, Marie Burgess, Eileen Martin, Sheran Oke, Sheila Leete, Jean Kelly
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
If you would like to advertise in The Trefoil, please write to Trefoil Guild, Advertisements, at the postal or email addresses above
Design and Production
Newhall Publishing Ltd, New Hall Lane, Hoylake, Wirral CH47 4BQ
Tel: 0151 668 0493
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Managing Director Richard Woolliams
Editorial Director Fergus McShane
Managing Editor Gill Hook
Art Editor Owen Moran
Picture Editor Tracey Pocock
Print Swallowtail Print Ltd
Please send all items for inclusion in The Trefoil direct to the magazine team at TrefoilGuild@girlguiding.org.uk.
Hello everyone
I can’t believe that it is now almost 5 years since I wrote my first welcome to you in September 2019. I promised then that I would do as Baden-Powell asked and do my best. I hope I have lived up to that promise.
I shared my vision for the 5 years, which was to grow our membership from 20,000 to 25,000 by every Trefoil increasing their overall membership by 1 member per year. I regret that we are still working on that, due in part to the pandemic, which seems a while ago now. We have tried to achieve this, but there is lots of work to be done by each and every member. Let’s all try to succeed in the vision going forward.
Throughout the 5 years, members have started or continued to work on the Voyage award, bronze, silver or gold, STARS and more recently our 80th Anniversary challenge badge. You can read on page 5 how successful that was. Many of us have had to learn to use Zoom, FaceTime, Microsoft Teams and X (formerly Twitter). How would we have managed without those?
I would like to thank all the trustees and committee chairs, and of course the staff, led by the amazing Marie, who have worked so hard to keep us relevant, up to date and vibrant. As I write my last welcome before handing over to Jean Kelly at the
Annual Meeting in Portsmouth on 8 June, I would like to thank each and every one of you for your support and friendship and I hope you will all continue to offer these to Jean.
With my very best wishes,
Eileen Martin National chair
Meet our new national chair
Jean Kelly tells us all about her guiding life, her sudden introduction to Trefoil and her hopes for the future
Our new national chair, Jean Kelly, is a member of Swan, Marlow Bottom and Kingswood Trefoil Guilds and is Buckinghamshire county secretary and treasurer. Nationally, she’s been Anglia region chair in the past, and currently chairs the finance and general purposes committee.
Jean lives near High Wycombe, is married to a tolerant husband, and supported on Zoom by a large, ginger cat. Before taking early retirement, Jean was an NHS programme manager and in her spare time has a passion for calligraphy and walking holidays.
Jean joined Trefoil by default in 2010 when her friend said, ‘I’m joining the Trefoil Guild and so are you, I’ll pick you up at 7.’ And that was that.
Jean says Trefoil has provided many opportunities, but tells us, ‘I guess my mountain top moment was literally Machu Picchu with Trefoil and Girlguiding friends. But I have also climbed the O2 dome and camped with Trefoil. Most of all, I enjoy doing everything I enjoyed doing with the Guides but without the responsibility!’
Jean says, ‘I was brought up with guiding, being taken by my mum to Guide camp. I returned to Girlguiding in 1989 when I become assistant leader for Windemere Brownies and Guides. Moving south, I volunteered for Brownies and Guides once again.’
Jean is looking forward to working with the trustees and the office team, identifying opportunities for more members to get involved at a national level so that we can make sure that we have the right programme and opportunities for all members. ‘Most of all, I am looking forward to meeting as many members as I can soon.’
You’re all challenge champions
Eileen Martin, national chair, reveals how much was raised through the 80th Anniversary challenge
Well done to you all for helping to fulfil our aim of supporting Girlguiding. Not only do many of you support leaders and units regularly but you certainly rose to the 80th Anniversary challenge in 2023. You held events and had lots of fun and friendship, got involved and active, and gave support.
The trustees agreed when setting up the 80th Anniversary challenge that it should be open to all members of Trefoil and Girlguiding and that any money raised from the sale of badges would be used to support Girlguiding.
Congratulations – so far at least 27,113 badges have been sold, which
has raised £5,422.60. This will be used to support new Girlguiding units through the Trefoil Guild Starter Pack grant. New Girlguiding units can apply for this grant to build up a stock of Girlguiding resources. Unit leaders apply to us and we liaise with the Girlguiding Shop to have the items delivered to a local Trefoil member who brings them to the unit. It’s just one way we support local links with Trefoil and Girlguiding.
The Girlguiding Shop ‘adults’ section has Trefoil items such as snoods and scarves, badges and, for those of you who still like to write letters, Trefoil writing pads and pens. We also have a Trefoil shop on our website selling neckers and badges. Just log in (see page 7 for more info) to your member account and click shop. Happy shopping!
Photo by Caroline Wilson, Cardigan and District Trefoil Guild, Ceredigion, Wales
Photo by Ravi Pooni, Smethwick Trefoil Guild, West Mercia, Midlands
Noticeboard
Bulletins and information for all our members
You asked – we delivered
Feedback from members was that you would like countries, regions and counties to have access to KEY, our membership database, in a similar way to Girlguiding’s GO system. This feedback was taken on board and KEY was developed to give access to the country, region and county chairs, as well as give you your own KEY user. We then rolled out training to these members on how to use KEY and also how to keep your information safe and understand data protection.
So how does this benefit you? Now when a member finishes a Trefoil role or starts a new Trefoil role, you no longer have to write to the office to have it updated. Instead, just let your KEY user and county team know and they can update the information on KEY for you. This also means that your county is always informed and updated. For county level roles, let your country or region KEY user know. Guilds should talk to the county KEY user who can help with queries like checking which members have paid subscriptions and can also run reports to show all the members in your Trefoil so that you can check that everyone’s details are correct.
Grants available for members
Along with counties, countries and regions, Trefoil Guild nationally can support a variety of activities that members may wish to undertake, with grants available. See chapter 8 of our handbook for more information on the specific funds available and how to apply. Grants will be considered for existing Trefoil members, Girlguiding volunteers, past volunteers or for carers of a Trefoil member needing support. Trefoil does not normally give grants to Girlguiding youth members but may consider them in exceptional circumstances.
Did you know?
Trefoil has policies and procedures to support members and staff and ensure that everyone has a safe and enjoyable time. We review them regularly and when they are updated, we’ll make sure to let you know. You can always find the latest version of any Trefoil policy, document or form on our website. Our info and resources section has a handy search tool, and we’ve now added an explanation for each document to help you find what you need. Remember to log into the website to get the full information.
Trip to Adelboden
In the March issue of The Trefoil, we said that members of Renfrew Trefoil Guild enjoyed a 6-day trip to Adelboden, Switzerland. Elizabeth Forrest contacted us to say that in fact the ladies were from all over Scotland, not just Renfrew Trefoil. We apologise for the incorrect information.
Logging in with ease
We know that logging in to a website can be a little off-putting. But online security is so important, and we like to keep your data safe. Logging in to our website is simple and
gives you full access to everything Trefoil has to offer. You can pay your subscriptions and buy tickets for events. It is the only way to purchase items from our shop. If you can’t remember your password, you can
Submissions to The Trefoil and website
reset it with a few simple clicks. Our friendly membership helpline team is always on hand to support you too – call them on 0151 668 0493 for help. For more website tips and tricks turn to page 16.
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 September 2024 issue is 21 June 2024
Your snapshots
We take a look at what Trefoil members have been up to
Monkey business
We could not resist recreating the three wise monkeys as we took a moment before we scaled the steps on our fortnightly walk.
Gillian Johnson, Kidderminster Trefoil Guild
Wreath making
Burwell Trefoil Guild held a jolly evening making festive wreaths in time for the big occasion. The basics were supplied and members provided their own embellishment. Despite pricking fingers on holly and difficulty in cutting wire, we all had a great time, which concluded with mince pies and mulled wine.
Linda Larner, Burwell Trefoil Guild
School camping
Members of our guild were invited to lead an indoor ‘campfire’ event at a local school.
Moira Dalmedo, Gibraltar Trefoil Guild
Photo trail Croydon was London Borough of Culture in 2023 and a ‘herd’ of brightly decorated giraffes appeared around the town. Earlier this year, Trefoil members in Croydon were challenged to follow a trail and photograph as many of these giraffes as they could and send back selfies. 5 Trefoils took up the challenge on a very wet day in January, while other Trefoils took the challenge on another date. The charity Crisis is going to benefit from the auctioning of the giraffes.
Janet Woods, Croydon county
Right on target
A group of us enjoyed a trip to Lichfield Archers. We were equipped with arm and finger guards, quivers and arrows by the club members. There were 5 targets, so we took it in turns to shoot. We were each instructed by an experienced member. At the end of the 2-hour session we had a 3 arrow shoot out and Cath was the winner. It was a great opportunity to try something new. Brenda Stewart-Jones, Whittington Trefoil Guild
Burns lunch
Following the Selkirk Grace by our chair and our treasurer addressing the haggis, we enjoyed haggis, neeps and tatties followed by cupcakes and shortbread with tea and coffee. President Sally McMath presented a Girlguiding 50-year brooch to our member Sheila Linkie. The lunch was held in West Lothian Girlguiding County Hall, Bathgate.
Eileen McLean, West Lothian County Trefoil Guild
Back to the 80s
We held an 80s Night Party as part of our 80th Anniversary challenge badge, held just after Christmas, with 13 of us present. We included 80s puddings, quizzes and games from the 80s and dressing up.
Judith Barford, Ringwood and Poulner Trefoil Guild
Air ambulance visit
We enjoyed an airside visit to the air ambulance at Newquay airport. We had to go through passport control to be airside, so brought our passports and driving licences. The helicopter had just returned from a deployment. The pilot chatted through his role and experiences, as did the 2 paramedics. Cornwall had the first air ambulance in the country in 1987. They are currently fundraising for a second helicopter to deal with the rising call outs and new types of journeys and roles they are asked to do.
Beryl Paddison, Newquay Trefoil Guild
Design challenge
For our 80th Anniversary challenge, we took advantage of the expertise of Hannah Lamb, a tutor in Textile Arts at Bradford College and daughter of one of our members, who helped us print silk scarves using leaves, including oak leaves. We decorated our piece of silk with a variety of leaves then sprayed them with water or an iron mixture, wrapped them tightly around a stick and secured each with lots of rubber bands before placing them in a steamer. We took our sticks home to dry and at our next meeting we had our big reveal. There were mixed
results but we could all see the leaves of our designs. It was a very interesting activity and we all now have a wearable silk scarf and a completed challenge.
Muriel
Baines, Airedale Trefoil Guild
Inspiring day
Members from all 5 Edinburgh Trefoils came together last September for an afternoon of tea and home bakes. Lindsey Devin, Edinburgh Girlguiding county commissioner, and Morna Macdonald, Trefoil Scotland programme adviser, both gave inspirational talks. A quiz was held and crafts made – all in 2 hours. A lovely afternoon and catch up with friends. Anne Morrison, Inveralmond Trefoil Guild
Under a vest
Two Wiltshire police officers visited our Trefoil this month – to educate, not to arrest! They explained their duties, which cover a wide range of policing, from domestic violence to public disorder. We were intrigued by their jackets, which are hung about with lots of gadgets, including folding truncheons, tasers, cameras, radios, handcuffs and a first aid kit. They allowed us to try on one of the jackets but most of us struggled, as they weigh 28lbs!
Marlene Churchill, North Wilts Trefoil Guild
Tech to the rescue
During a presentation, we all had to use individual laptops, iPads and tablets, as we didn’t have a projector.
Rosemary Oakley, Penrith Trefoil Guild
Special day
3 members of Poole Trefoil made their promise on Thursday 11 January 2024. The ceremony was held beside the statue of Lord Baden-Powell on Poole Quay opposite Brownsea Island. 8 Poole Trefoil members attended. Lyn, Joy and I made our promise and were awarded the Trefoil badge on a beautiful sunny day in January, nearly 83 years to the day after the passing of great founder of the worldwide Scout movement.
Helen Pitcher, Poole Trefoil Guild
Wooden tribute
Venezia Beattie, a member of the Western Jersey Trefoil Guild, was so inspired by the 80th Anniversary badge, she decided to make one – using wood instead of woven materials. The Trefoil Guilds of Jersey take part in the Christmas Tree Festival at the Parish Church of St Peter every year. The badge was on display in front of the Christmas tree – what excellent PR!
Carol Thebault, Western Jersey Trefoil Guild
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.
The best role in Trefoil
Sheran Oke is in her final year as national international adviser. Here, she looks ahead to the future of the role
Well, my final year has just commenced, and I look backwards and forwards to reflect on the experiences and opportunities the role provides. It certainly has not been as I anticipated it would be when I commenced the role in 2019. At that time, we had not heard of the COVID pandemic, isolation and the continued use of Personal Protective Equipment, which for a while became our norm. Not to mention our sudden ability to hold Teams and Zoom meetings to connect virtually with friends and family across the world. At the same time our ability and willingness to travel suddenly stopped – as we rethought how we connected. It was as the restrictions were lifted, taking our new learning, we packed our suitcases again and recommenced our journeys.
Since this time we have been able to hold our annual country and regional advisers conference. Working with the
other 2 national advisers has been an absolute privilege. We have supported the development of the roles of the country and region advisers both as an international adviser as well as being part of the triumvirate country and region teams. This has been a pleasure and making new friends has been a bonus. I can honestly say that no 2 days in this role are ever the same. Having a strong understanding of WAGGGS, structures and regional challenges is key, as you never know what is going to drop into your inbox. Requests for advice and support – not to mention the need for communication and planning for future international opportunity – as well as TRIO weekends and TOPAZ programmes, require liaison with the WAGGGS member organisations along with briefing and preparing the various groups. The most important aspect of the role is the need to provide advice
and support to the national chair and board of trustees on international matters.
My role description sits within the Trefoil handbook but to offer a summary for you:
As national adviser, you are a member of the board of trustees as a voting member and a member of The Trefoil magazine team.
Raise awareness and promote support that the Trefoil Guild offers WAGGGS.
Develop and foster an awareness of the international links that Trefoil has around the world.
Support other WAGGGS member organisations that are seeking to establish Trefoil Guild within their own national organisations.
Develop, plan, and lead international information, opportunity, selection days or weekends like TRIO (Trefoil International Opportunities) to promote and raise awareness of international opportunities.
Promote the Trefoil Guild internationally.
Provide a link for Girlguiding UK on all matters international.
Looking ahead, I see bright sunshine amassed with international opportunity. It’s there for the taking and as national international adviser, enabling these opportunities to become reality is so rewarding. Helping international Trefoil to grow whilst seeing our Trefoil members contribute to the development of international guiding – and at the same time their own personal international awareness and learning – is such a privilege. There are many ways to reach a destination. You may not need a helicopter to help you get there, but it’s there if you need it.
If you have a passion for international Trefoil, an understanding of WAGGGS and ways of working, why not consider applying to become the next national international adviser – it’s the best role in Trefoil!
Trefoil new website – tips and tricks
Tasha Best, office coordinator, takes you on a guided tour of the revamped website
You might have noticed that we have revamped our website – have you checked it out? We’ve been working hard behind the scenes to improve all aspects of our website, not just the way that it looks. Our focus is to make it easier to use for you – our members. It now works better on phones and tablets. Our important information is easier to access. And crucially, the stories from you about being a Trefoil member are the main focus.
What to look at first
Have you looked at your country or region page? All country and regions have their own sections of the website, with member stories, images and information about the country or region. County pages are also starting to appear. Why not see what is going on in your area. And if you’ve got photos and stories to share, why not share them with your local PR adviser as well as sending them into us?
Our all-important information The Trefoil is our best way of keeping all members updated, and it’s a great place for your stories. But the website comes in handy because it is always kept current with Trefoil policy updates, the Trefoil handbook and important highlights from our board of trustees. To make things easy for you, we have collected all our policies into one place. We have also collected all our forms together, so you can always make sure you are using the latest version. And we’ve added useful information for all of these documents so you know what it is you need to find. If you’re still unsure, check out our handbook as your first port of call for answers.
We need your help!
What else is new?
Some highlights to look at on the new website include ‘our organisation’. Get to know your trustees and country and region chairs. Also have a look at our Trefoil extra! blog – the extra stories from you that you send us. Check out the openings available to you, as members. We have lots of amazing roles to fill, from international adviser to treasurer. We try to ensure that all vacancies go into The Trefoil but due to time constraints they may just appear on the website – so always check for updates. And finally, the website includes our events, programme ideas and opportunities.
Our history page is something we are working on – but we need your help. This page of the website has lots of information about the history of Trefoil Guild, but you might have noticed it is lacking in images. Do you have photos that could fill in these gaps? We’d love you to share them with us.
Away day in… Ripon
Members from North East England enjoyed a day at Newby Hall to celebrate Trefoil’s 80th Anniversary, says Dianne Bollom
What a fabulous day North East England Trefoil had last September when we visited Newby Hall near Ripon to celebrate 80 years of the Trefoil Guild. Newby Hall and gardens are open to the public and contain all sorts of treasures, such as a teddy bear museum, a dollshouse exhibition, a ride-on miniature railway, boat rides and more.
Nearly 300 members from across the North East converged on Newby Hall and were welcomed by the wonderful staff at the venue, who couldn’t have made us more welcome. Most of us made our way
straight to the coffee shop where there was a sea of red shirts and a lot of meeting and greeting old friends. Close to the coffee shop was The Bear House. Apart from the pleasure of recognising all our old teddies and some famous ones like Paddington, Pooh Bear and Fozzie, there was a delightful message from broadcaster Gyles Brandreth at the entrance wishing us a happy 80th anniversary. The doll’s house exhibition was yet another highlight, with examples of every type of house, from cottage to palace, with all their intricate furnishings. Right next to these
collections was a small, enclosed garden with an amazing exhibition of African carvings.
It was a lovely day to be out in the grounds, but we did of course take the opportunity to visit the hall, which was built in the 1690s and is one of Britain’s finest Adam Houses.
Those of us who ventured on to the miniature railway round the grounds discovered it had been renamed the Trefoil Guild Express just for us! Boat trips were popular too, as were the beautiful gardens where we sat and had lunch.
They had promised a private area for us to have afternoon tea together, but we never expected the tables to be set out between the long herbaceous borders leading from the hall to the river. Such a privilege. We were told that the last time this happened was for the wedding of the daughter of the family.
What a tea: sandwiches, scones, jam and cream, lashings of fresh tea and coffee, all served at the tables by a stream of helpful and efficient young staff. Our official birthday cakes –there were actually 10 in order to give
a piece to everyone – were displayed by the central gazebo, which was also kindly decorated by Newby Hall with a celebration banner.
At 4 o’clock, a group of members with 80th birthdays in 2023 gathered and ceremoniously cut the biggest cake, while we sang ‘Happy Birthday’ (to us). Even the beacon in the centre of the circular garden, which was erected to commemorate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, was lit for us as part of our celebrations.
After the tea we gathered for a group picture taken by a drone, again organised by Newby Hall. A truly memorable day for all those able to attend. Huge thanks must go to the local county chair and our PR adviser, who were involved in most of the arrangements for the day, and to the staff at Newby Hall, who couldn’t have done more to make our day a success.
Expect the unexpected
Discover what international opportunities are available to our members during a Trefoil International Opportunities (TRIO) weekend
We are very privileged to be part of an international organisation where we can share our cultures, experiences, and our passion for guiding and Trefoil. Are you interested in finding out more about international opportunities which are available to you – such as the attendance at a National Gathering in Australia as a UK representative, or the opportunities available at our five world centres?
Over the past few years, opportunities to engage in TOPAZ (Trefoil overseas partnerships: adventure with zest) projects have increased; would you like to be part of the team which aims to support the development of Trefoil or guiding, in another WAGGGS organisation in Lesotho, Thailand, or Sri Lanka in 2025? Come along to a TRIO weekend
and spend time with like-minded individuals to learn more about opportunities, and to have some fun! The weekend programme will include information sessions, practical challenges, teamwork and informal discussions, as well as the opportunity to be considered for selection on the TOPAZ programme.
There are 2 TRIO weekends available this year, each which will run from Friday evening until after lunch on Sunday.
October 11-13 at Windy Sayles Guide Centre, Whipsnade, Bedfordshire LU6 2LG
November 15-17 at Abney Scout and Guide Centre, Cheadle, Cheshire
SK8 2NP
The first TRIO weekend will run from the evening of Friday 11 October from 6.30pm to Sunday 13 October 2024
3pm. The location is easily accessible for all Trefoil members, being conveniently located off the M1 and close to Luton airport. Windy Sayles is a fully equipped activity centre with accommodation to sleep over.
The second weekend will run from the evening of Friday 15 November from 6.30pm to Sunday 17 November 2024 3pm. Close to Manchester airport and East Didsbury train station, Abney Scout and Guide Centre is an activity centre and accommodation set in the lovely grounds of Abney Hall, with the backdrop of Cheadle Green.
We welcome your application to take part in the TRIO weekend where you’ll come together with other members to find out more about TOPAZ and other
international opportunities, as well as working on activities that will put your team building, communication, flexibility and other skills to the test. The weekend is designed for you to get involved, have fun and expect the unexpected. It’s the perfect opportunity to find out if TOPAZ is right for you and if you are right for TOPAZ.
The full cost of the weekend is £75. To secure your place there is a non-refundable deposit of £30 payable by bank transfer when you submit your application. The full balance will be due 2 weeks before the event starts. Travel expenses cannot be claimed for this event but food will be provided for participants during the weekend. Ensure you read our booking terms and conditions, which you can find on our website. There are limited places available and so if you are interested in international trips with Trefoil, please fill out the application form fully and pay your deposit, and we will be in touch. See the international page of the website: trefoilguild.co.uk/international
If you cannot submit your form or pay electronically, please contact the office for a paper booking form and the details to pay by cheque: trefoilguild@girlguiding.org.uk / 020 7834 6242 ext 3010.
If you’re interested in international Trefoil but aren’t sure you’re quite ready for an overseas trip, why not start with the TOPAZ challenge and earn yourself a badge?
Squirrels, skittles and wellie-wanging
Be inspired for your own Trefoil fun by these events held at the Gathering last autumn, says Sheila Leete, programme and development adviser
Looking to run a side show event? Why not try some of these activities that were organised for the Acorn Bazaar at the start of Gathering 2023? Each participant held their own record card, with scores added for each activity. While the organisers were recording results, there were sheets of anagrams to solve too.
How many acorns in the jar?
Equipment needed: a closed jar filled with items according to your theme. Make a guess and put the amount in the score box on your card.
Up the ladder
Equipment needed: small step ladder, 3 bean bags. Three attempts to throw a bean bag between the rungs. Only the bag landing the furthest counts.
Can the can
Equipment needed: 8 empty (clean!) cans, 3 bean bags. Knock down as many cans, 1 point per can. All 8 cans down, extra 2 points.
Flowerpot ping-pong
Equipment needed: 8 flowerpots, 8 ping pong balls. Bounce one ball at a time, 1 point for every ball that lands and stays in a pot. 2 extra points for all 8 balls (more than 1 ball per pot accepted).
Hoopla
Equipment needed: 8 cups, 3 hoops that fit over the cups, small prizes (i.e. a sweet), 2 x ‘lose 2 points’ card, 2 x
‘win 2 points’ card. One item under each cup. Hoops must lay flat on table around cup to win the prize or forfeit.
Lego vehicle racing
Equipment needed: board to use as a slope, two boxes with equal number of Lego pieces and 3 or 4 sets of wheels. Allow 10 minutes to construct a car. 1 point for making a vehicle but not racing it, 1 point for making a vehicle, 5 points for completing the race, 10 points for winning.
Peg out the washing Equipment needed: string to form washing line between two chairs, bag of pegs, several items of clothing, timer. Set the timer for 30 seconds, participant to peg out as many items as possible. 1 point per item.
Pin the acorn on the squirrel
Equipment needed: large picture of a squirrel, blindfold, box of tissues if sharing blindfold, picture of an acorn. Blindfold participant to place acorn in the squirrels mouth. 10 points for bullseye, 8 points touching target, on squirrel but not on target 4 points, acorn on target but not the squirrel 2 points. Outside the target no score.
Play your cards right
Equipment needed: large playing cards. 8 cards laid out. Every card turned over, 1 point for every correct guess of higher or lower, 1 point, ace is high. Nothing for a pair! Game over! All 8 cards correct, 2 extra points.
Skittles
Equipment needed: 8 skittles, 3 balls. Lay out the 8 skittles, marking out the distance. With three balls, score 1 point for each skittle down. 2 extra points for a strike.
Wellie-wanging
Equipment needed: playing outside use an adult wellie, indoors use a child’s wellie, a measure. Mark out start line, just 1 chance to wang a welly and the score will be decided by the length of the throw.
Find more programme ideas on our website: trefoilguild.co.uk/programme
Meet a Trefoil
Elton Trefoil Guild is a young group linked to the county campsite, with young-at-heart members who love a badge, says Gillian Kendall
Elton Trefoil Guild was formed in April 2023 by a small group of volunteers based at our county campsite in Nottinghamshire. Whilst some volunteers were members of Trefoil there were a few who weren’t and wanted to be, so that they could be a member of the wider guiding family. We don’t have a set date or venue for meeting – rather we plan our meetings around activities that we want to do, but we are aiming to meet monthly. Even though we are linked to the campsite, members come from all over the county (and
that is a large area if you look on a map). Whilst we are by no means a young group, we are still very young at heart and still want to do the things we enjoyed so much when we were Brownies, Guides or Rangers. Basically, none of us have grown up!
So, we are planning a camp where we can cook on an open fire, go for a walk (possibly go to the local pub for lunch) and enjoy doing some craft activities. Several have already signed up to do the Voyage award –yes, we still like to work for a badge. We were a bit late coming to the 80th
Anniversary challenge, but this was completed on a very cold day in November, and some even opted to sleep in tents the night before – like I said, we like to get a badge! Everyone brought an activity to share, so it took very little organising. Some of our activities have provided service to the campsite – helping with a Guide incident hike and our recent elf extravaganza for Rainbows and Brownies. We will also be helping with fundraising for the site, as there are some major repairs needed. There are also the usual social events – theatre
visits, book reviews and meals out. We joined our county for the Trefoil Guild 80th Anniversary celebrations and as the youngest Trefoil, we cut the cake with the oldest Trefoil in the county.
The county also have a walking group, which many of our members have enjoyed joining. We plan to offer a longer walk in Derbyshire. We also learnt a lot about guiding in Nottinghamshire on a visit to our Guide HQ archives. One member even found a newspaper cutting from 50 years ago that had a photo of her as a Brownie.
Connections and friendships
Sri Lanka has a very active guiding movement and is the next destination for the TOPAZ initiative, reveals Sheren Oke, national international adviser
Sri Lanka, known to some as the ‘pearl of the Indian ocean’, is famous for producing the finest tea, rubber and coconut. It also has beautiful beaches and the most inspiring people – including a very active guiding movement, which has been registered with WAGGGS since 1917 and has more than 80,000 members.
We, in the UK, have enjoyed a positive reciprocal relationship with the Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association over many years. I can recall in 1987 being part of the UK team visiting the country to support the Polio Plus campaign, which we in Girlguiding UK had fundraised for alongside UNICEF and Rotary International.
Memories of waiting in villages for the health worker to arrive on his bike with his ice-filled bag of vaccines remains vivid in my memory. Administering vaccines in villages to
babies and young children who were so enthusiastic to have access to such medical care was humbling. It was simply a life-changing experience for many reasons, but the connections and friendships we made at that time have enabled us to develop a TOPAZ programme.
In August, four intrepid Trefoil members will be working with the Trefoil Guild Sri Lanka on a programme to promote ‘guiding in the community’, as it is primarily provided within the school system.
This is the first time that we will have directly worked with another Trefoil Guild on an international TOPAZ programme, so I have asked Harshini Perera, the international commissioner for Trefoil Guild, to share with us their story, which you can read on the opposite page...
The Sri Lanka Trefoil Guild was inaugurated with 25 members on August 30 1957, with Ms. Edna Alvis as its founder. Its mission is to foster the spirit of the Guide promise and law in the daily lives of members through personal development, community service and active support of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. Since its inception the guild has been highly active and has ardently supported the Guide movement in addition to its own initiatives. Notably, the guild has achieved affiliation with the International Fellowship of Former Scouts and Guides (IFFSAG). Several members were elected to serve on the IFFSAG committee, leading to numerous opportunities for guild members to
Sri Lankan TOPAZ team
participate in conferences and other international events.
The Trefoil Guild organises a range of activities, including members’ days, outings and service projects, alongside its regular meetings. Last November, the guild successfully completed a service project, providing school books, uniforms and shoes to a junior school in a remote village, made possible through fundraising efforts such as donations and raffle ticket sales.
This year, the guild is planning another service project and has received interest from the Trefoil Guild in the UK on collaborating on a joint initiative called TOPAZ. Our discussions are underway, and there is eager anticipation for a fruitful partnership.
Our team members are busy with their preparations, fundraising and so much more. They are: Jane Causebrook of Danetre Trefoil Guild; Amanda Monsell of Caerdydd Saith Trefoil Guild; Elizabeth Purt of Leeds South West Division Trefoil Guild; and Sally Hollingham of Ridgeway Trefoil Guild.
Sri Lanka Trefoil Guild
Thanks for being a Friend
Looking after Brownsea Island as part of FOGBI holds a special place in her heart, says Carol Head of Corfe Mullen Trefoil Guild
Last year marked 30 years since the formation of Friends of Guiding, Brownsea Island (FOGBI). Prior to this, Dorset Trefoil Guild members had regularly held an annual holiday week in South Shore Lodge, when those attending were divided into groups that carried out duties as they had done when they were in active guiding. I remember teasing my mother when I took her to the ferry and saying, ‘Have you got your passport?’ During these holidays discussions were held and an idea formed to create FOGBI which became reality in 1993.
South Shore Lodge has three bedrooms upstairs named Bulls, Ravens and Wolves and a room downstairs for ‘leaders’ as well as a snug with a bunk bed. There is a kitchen and dining room with an outside ‘ablutions’ block with showers.
In the early days, FOGBI was responsible for keeping the Lodge clean and provided equipment and extras for guests to use. The Scout and Guide Management Team were responsible for booking and looking after the campsite and Lodge and also provided Scouting and Guiding souvenirs at the Trading Post.
In 2007, the 100th anniversary of the Experimental Camp on the Island, a new building was erected to include showers, toilets, Trading Post and education room with decking to provide space for visitors to enjoy the view over Poole Harbour. This was a major change and gave the site an added attraction for Guiding and Scouting visitors to the Island. These visitors come from all over the world and, if they are in England, they have to visit Brownsea! The Trading Post, run by volunteers
from FOGBI and Scout Support teams, opening daily during the season March to October. Being able to share the island and listen to stories of those people who visit has always been special to me and my colleagues. Stories of ‘when I was a Cub, Scout or Guide...’ are a joy to hear and make our daily duties a pleasure.
Although management of the site is now the responsibility of the National Trust, our FOGBI members have many happy memories of cleaning, spring cleaning, raising funds to improve South Shore Lodge and assisting with its upkeep. Good fun was had cleaning, washing floors, changing curtains – all in the spirit of guiding –and I am sure members who helped will have tales to tell.
Staying for a holiday in South Shore Lodge is a magical time, especially when all the day-visitors have left the
island. The peace and tranquillity of being able to wander round to admire the views without being disturbed by noise, and seeing red squirrels and deer wandering around at dusk, is very special. I do hope that those of you who have already been there will be able to share the experience and those who have not yet managed to make it to the island will do so in the near future.
Achievements
Award for Eleanor
The first Beaconsfield Trefoil Guild meeting of 2024 saw a special visit from Morag Mason, representing Girlguiding Buckinghamshire, to present Eleanor Wilson with her 40-year service award. Eleanor was a keen and enthusiastic Brownie in her hometown of Kirkcaldy. Her first adult role in Girlguiding was with 5th Beaconsfield Brownies where Eleanor spent 10 years as a leader. She helped establish Rainbows in the area, then joined 1st Holtspur Brownies as Brown Owl. She shared her guiding experience and enthusiasm as Beaconsfield district
Service award
commissioner for 7 years and as division commissioner for South Buckinghamshire. Latterly, she has continued to support Girlguiding in administrative and mentoring roles and as secretary of the New Guide HQ committee during years of fundraising and continues to serve as the managing committee secretary. Eleanor has shared the fun and friendship that she first enjoyed as a Brownie with countless girls. Her years of service to Girlguiding also represents 40 years of service to her community. Eleanor says, ‘It has been a good 40 years. It still gives me pleasure to see everyone enjoying the District Days and other events when all the units meet up. Everyone has been very friendly. I really enjoyed teaching the Brownie badges and seeing the girls learn new skills.’
Val Bye was presented with her 60-year service brooch at the Hampshire East Awards Afternoon in February. She began as a Guide in Grantham and then a Guide and Sea Ranger in Portsmouth. She volunteered with a Guide unit in 1963 and completed her pre-warrant training to become a leader with 2nd Paulsgrove Guides. In 1988 she opened the first Rainbow Unit in Horndean Division and was with them until 2021 when she joined 1st Horndean Rainbows where she is still a very active leader. During that time, she was a leader with 2nd Hartplain Guides. Val says that her greatest pleasure has been working with the girls throughout the years and forming special friendships with other leaders. She is also a very active and supportive member of Horndean Trefoil Guild and makes a great cuppa!
Heritage support
Members of Gibraltar Trefoil Guild supported the Gibraltar Heritage Trust with its fundraising event. The trust is responsible to the people of Gibraltar for the preservation and enhancements of all aspects of Gibraltar’s heritage, which includes promotion culturally and educationally.
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.
Canal adventures
A day trip on a wide beam is a great way to embrace the water category of Motivate, says Rosie Healy
Looking for a novel day out for Newbury Trefoil Guild last year, we hit upon the idea of a canal trip on the Kennet and Avon. Some members had already enjoyed a day trip the previous year on one of Bruce Boats’ wide beams (based at Great Bedwyn, not far from Marlborough) but wanted to spend more time exploring a different stretch of the navigation.
So, on a sunny Thursday last autumn, a couple of carloads of our members turned up at Bruce Boats spacious car park and boarded ‘Diana’. A few of our members use walking aids and one was in a wheelchair. Ramps were deployed to facilitate boarding and the wheelchair lift eased the descent to the saloon. Volunteer crew introduced themselves, explained the safety rules and encouraged those who wanted to, to take a turn at steering and help at locks.
full-sized kitchen – or galley – and soon we were under way, chatting happily amongst ourselves, barely noticing we’d arrived at a lock.
All were quite surprised at how spacious ‘Diana’ was, having lots of comfy seating, 2 accessible toilets plus a well-equipped galley. At the pointy end of the boat was another lift, which meant that our wheelchair user could easily access the outside foredeck, furnished with 4 patio chairs.
A couple of Trefoil members popped the kettle on for a quick cuppa in the
A small group soon got a bit closer to the action than anticipated as we slid into the first lock. They watched in wonder at 19th century technology still in use today as the gate paddles let in a cascade of water from the canal above us, allowing the boat to rise up gracefully past moss and tiny plants that had miraculously made their home in some miniscule crevices in the mortar. The fresh smell of mossy aerated water was invigorating. As
we gently cruised past fields and remnants of ancient settlements we watched red kites gracefully soaring overhead while an elusive kingfisher darted ahead to momentarily land on a nearby branch as it surveyed its lunch options.
A couple of members had a go at steering – one recalled a time on holiday some years ago when she had a go at the helm and she soon got back into the swing of it. Another, who had lived by the water as a child dreaming one day of having a boat, relived that dream as she soon got the hang of steering it ‘the wrong way to go where you want’. The smile on both their faces was heartwarming.
Those of us who still remembered from our Brownie days how to tie a
reef knot behind our necks soon learned how to actually use the round turn and 2 half hitches we’d learned as Guides. We found a grassy spot to moor alongside and secured the boat before enjoying a wonderful lunch spread.
At the end of the day, all members expressed their delight at being able to enjoy the beauty of the Kennet and Avon from the water, and our restricted mobility member commented that this day out had been ‘like having a holiday’. What a great way to embrace the water category of Motivate.
Your letters
Find out what other Trefoil members have on their minds
Past and future
Trefoil Guild Anglia has been proud to be home to 2 of our Girlguiding heraldry advisers, so it is no surprise that heraldry continues to be pursued by enthusiasts here. The Anglia heraldry group has been meeting at Hautbois for many years. As the 2023 gathering attracted the best attendance since before the pandemic, we decided to formalise the group into a new Anglia Heraldry Trefoil Guild.
Heraldry is the study of coats of arms. You’ll find examples all over the place, from your local team or school to the gateway of the local manor house. The last set of coins of her late Majesty’s reign featured the Royal Arms. King Charles has included the heraldic flowers of the nations of the UK on his new £2 coin. And of course, there are many examples in our county badges and Girlguiding standard flags, which is how many of us got interested in the first place. Using Hautbois as our base, we explore churches, houses, towns and villages in search of history and heraldry. We learn to use the resources effectively, discuss our discoveries, try our hands at heraldic art and round off the days with heraldry-themed games. Heraldry
links the past with the present. Our first guiding standards had the high aim of a linking Guides to the ancient code of chivalry, to inspire our girls to follow the principles of the knights of old. And we continue to make new standards, parade with them, to represent us as we are now.
Wendy Ingle and Antonia Kyle, Anglia Heraldry Trefoil Guild
Guiding led to rewarding role I read the feature in The Trefoil about volunteering and you asked to hear from members who volunteer in different roles. In addition to being a unit leader with Brownies, I also volunteer with the London Ambulance Service (LAS) as an emergency responder (ER). In addition to training, this involved me doing at least 16 hours a month on duty in a marked, blue-light car with another volunteer, responding to 999 calls.
I am fortunate to be able to do this role, it’s one I don’t think I would ever be doing in the capital if it wasn’t for guiding. I grew up in the Yorkshire Dales and trained as a chef. I came to London after being offered a job
running the kitchen at Pax Lodge. I thought I would stay in London for six months. That was November 1999. I stayed at Pax Lodge for 2 and a half years, and I haven’t moved back. I now work full-time in the LAS 999 control room, a job I became aware of after volunteering with the British Red Cross.
ERs are trained volunteers who attend a range of 999 calls in bluelight response cars. I do two 8-hour shifts a month. When I arrive at the ambulance station, I meet up with my ER crewmate before checking the car and equipment together ready for our first call. We attend a variety of calls, which can include cardiac arrest, chest pains, breathing difficulties and traffic accidents. We are often the first to arrive on scene and provide help and support prior to the ambulance arriving. We then work alongside the crew as part of the team.
We never know what our day might bring and can include anything from CPR or controlling bleeding to a reassuring holding of hands. I find the role rewarding and like the fact that I might be able to help make a difficult moment in someone’s life a little better than it might have been.
You can find out more about emergency responders by searching londonambulance.nhs/uk
Heidi Carnall, Middlesex South West Internet Guild
Email your letters to us at trefoilguild@girlguiding.org.uk or write to the contact details on page 2.
Pot luck quiz
1Alberta is a province in which country?
2What did the Romans call Scotland?
3The first successful vaccine was introduced by Edward Jenner in 1796 – which disease did it guard against?
4In tennis, what piece of fruit is found at the top of the men’s Wimbledon trophy?
5How many members of Parliament are there?
6Which nuts are used in marzipan?
7Which vitamin is the only one that you will not find in an egg?
8Which meat is used in Glamorgan sausages?
9Which vegetable was Popeye’s favourite?
18What is the art of stuffing animals for preservation? A little bit of everything – how well will you do?
10
In what year was the first episode of Coronation Street shown?
11Who is the only singer to have performed more than one James Bond theme song?
12Which singer was known amongst other things as ‘The King of Pop’?
13Tom Cruise is an outspoken member of which religion?
14What is the chemical formula for table salt?
15Which country is the origin of the cocktail Mojito?
16How many players are in a Rugby League team?
17Who was the youngest British prime minister?
The answers to this quiz will be in the September issue of The Trefoil and on the Trefoil Guild website from 1 August 2024
Trefoil Guild gifts and clothing
Girlguiding is your one-stop shop for ethically sourced gifts and clothing for Trefoil Guild members.
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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 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 Spring 2025...
The Azores
Explore the beautiful island of São Miguel, this destination promises the perfect measure of excitement and relaxation!
Spectacular waterfalls, botanical gardens, and natural hot springs
Pineapple and tea plantations
An exciting whale and dolphin watching excursion
And so much more...
Adelboden
This spectacular region of Switzerland has something for everyone – a true Guiding ‘bucket-list’ destination!
Memorable pinning ceremony at WAGGGS World Centre - Our Chalet
Leisurely boat trip on Lake Thun
Explore beautiful Bern, the capital of Switzerland!
