Past Innovates

Innocate Brands Hatch 2011

On 21 October 2011, 150 Senior Section members descended on Thistle Brands Hatch Hotel for a weekend of meeting new people, having fun, and to have a say in Girlguiding UK. During the weekend, Senior Section members had the opportunity to try a wide range of activities such as Zumba, backwoods cooking, cupcake decorating and a visit to Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.

Participants contributed to the work of Girlguiding UK in Association Project Workshops, the workshops looked at current work taking place in the association and included discussion on putting girls in the lead, GOLD and large-scale events. Participants were entertained with a Mad Hatter’s tea party on the Friday evening and a fancy dress Narnia-themed disco on the Saturday evening.

On Sunday, participants were given the chance to find out more about the opportunities available to them in the Senior Section and beyond, during the Fringe, a marketplace event. We were also lucky enough to have new Chief Guide Gill Slocombe come and talk to us before we all headed home – exhausted but inspired!

Innovate Accrington 2011

During the weekend of 11-13 February 2011, 150 Senior Section members from across the UK travelled to the North West for Innovate Accrington!
The participants took part in one of 10 workshops, including looking at the use of technology in the form of the internet and mobile apps.

On Saturday night we had a medieval banquet which was attended by many lords and ladies, along with a rather impressive castle which was protected by many knights. Following the banquet there was a disco and the opportunity to watch Heath Ledger in the film A Knight’s Tale. Throughout the evening there was the chance to bid on a number of secret gifts in the silent auction, which along with donations successfully raised over £300 for Live Life then Give Life, a charity which promotes organ donation.

On Sunday participants and visitors were given the opportunity to ‘Challenge the Chief Guide’ Liz Burnley to a game of Jenga, Hungry Hippos or Connect 4 - this proved very popular and brought a new meaning to The Chief Guide's Challenge, which is awarded for completing Look Wider. Participants also had the chance to investigate what other opportunities were open to them in guiding. The weekend ended with an inspirational talk by Charlotte Cooper Beglin who was involved in the airbrushing campaign, and the participants were all give a ‘favour’ to grow the future of guiding.

Centenary Innovate 2010

On 5 February 2010, 200 Senior Section members from across the UK, travelled to Bedfordshire for the largest Innovate yet!

Throughout the weekend participants were given the opportunity to have their say on a wide range of topics affecting Girlguiding UK today, as well as discussing current Girlguiding UK initiatives such as Welcoming All, Social Networking Worldwide, Reach Out and Recruit and the future of GOLD. With the ideas that were generated being fed back to CHQ, participants had a fantastic chance to make their voices heard and really contribute to the future of guiding!

On Saturday night, the venue was transformed into Innovates very own carnival, complete with dancing, side shows, giant inflatables and a surfboard simulator! Participants dressed up in a dazzling array of sequined, carnival-themed outfits, with one group even transforming into a very impressive Chinese dragon.

The silent auction that ran throughout the evening was an incredible success, raising a fantastic £385.39 for breast cancer charities.

Innovate really did combine the excitement and spirit of a guiding event, with the more serious issues that Girlguiding UK faces as we move forward into the next 100 years. As one of the participants said, 'Innovate was a fantastic way to celebrate the centenary and give something back to guiding which is exactly what Innovate 2010 was all about'.

Innovate Dalguise 2008

By Jemma Lindley

Innovate Dalguise was my second Innovate and I loved it as much as my first. It was a long day's travel to the PGL centre near Pitlochry, Scotland, but it was well worth the journey.

Over 100 Senior Section members from all over the county made the trip to Scotland to be part of yet another successful Innovate. The weather wasn't brilliant, in actual fact it rained...quite a lot! However, this didn't damper any of the participants' spirits.

Throughout the weekend participants got involved in workshops including Too Young Too Choose, Hard up not Left out and Girls shout out!. Much energy and thought were put into these workshops and as a result much information is getting fed back to CHQ. We look forward to seeing the fruits of our labours.

The participants got the opportunity to get involved in something they may not have done before these included a trip to Pitlochry town, a trip to a whiskey distillery (dangerous for some!), Bags for bags, Scottish cooking and many of the outdoor adventure activities available at PGL.

Saturday's evening entertainment began with a Scottish Ceildh. All participants dressed to Sparkle, grabbed a partner and hit the dance floor. That evening other entertainments included a screening of Buffy the Musical which meant those who were enjoying the cake decorating and bath bomb making had to endure the wonderful singing capabilities of one particular participant... beautiful!

There was also a silent auction which was a huge success. As a result of the auction and other donations throughout the evening Innovate Dalguise raised £232.63 for the Mental Health Foundation.

Innovate is a great opportunity to have your say about Girlguiding UK. It is also a time to make new friends, catch up with old ones and most of all have fun!

Innovate Wroughton 2008

By Valerie Copenhagen

On the weekend of 7 - 9 March 2008, over 100 Senior Section members headed to Wroughton in the South West, excited and ready to get involved in the first Innovate of 2008.

Participants took part in workshops on a range of guiding topics led by the Planning Team. These included Youth Participation, evaluating the Senior Section CD, social networking and what it means to guiding, human trafficking and looking forward to the future of guiding in 2020 (aptly named 2020 Vision).

There were also opportunities to get involved in balloon sculpting, survival skills, Tai Chi and much more.

The legendary Saturday night was themed heroes and heroines and, still in costume, we listened to Guiding Star winner Samantha Laurilla sing. Thanks to all the people who paid 50p to eat from a 4ft chocolate fountain, we also raised over £250 for the event's chosen charity, Swindon's Womens' Refuge!