Everything you need to know about training units

Hear how county commissioner, Dawn, boosted the number of leaders and new units in Gwent county by opening a training unit.

What’s a training unit?

A training unit is a flexible space where volunteers can get unit experience and complete their leadership development programme. The leadership development programme (LDP) is a self-led, flexible learning journey for anyone who wants to become a Girlguiding leader.

Watch the video below to hear a story about Dawn’s training unit.

How does it work?

Here’s how training units can work:

• A volunteer enquiry coordinator role for each division or district is created and 1 or more training units are set up. Usually, it will be a unit that’s already running and ready to accept leaders in training.
• Trainings units are like any other normal unit that exists to give girls aged 4-18 amazing experiences. Just with extra volunteer numbers of leaders in training!
• When potential enquirers register to volunteer, the enquiry coordinator will get in touch to discuss volunteering. If they want to complete our LDP, they are placed in one of the training units to get real-life experience of running a unit.
• Once they’ve completed the LDP, these new leaders have the qualifications they need to set up and move on to open a new unit. They also have a support network of Girlguiding volunteers from the training unit as well as other new leader peers in the same position, to ask questions as they set up their own unit.

Example from Dawn, county commissioner and unit leader based in Gwent, Wales

The first Girlguiding training unit was created by Dawn, county commissioner and Brownie leader in Gwent county. This was because Dawn noticed some of the following recruitment challenges in her area:

• Potential volunteers not being contacted quickly enough.
• Difficulty placing leaders in areas where they needed to be.
• Some units leaders didn’t want to break up the dynamics of the units.

After noticing these challenges, Dawn developed a volunteer enquiry role for each division and set up training units. Let’s hear more from Dawn about how the scheme works:

‘To fix the issue with the volunteering recruitment, we came up with an idea of having training units. [These were] certain units who were very welcoming and receptive, had good volunteers, good ethos, good mentoring skills and they were a nice, friendly unit.

‘We did a pilot study with myself and Sue. She came into my unit to learn the ropes, to learn how to become a leader, with the proviso of opening her own unit.

‘It’s evolved slowly and it’s started to gather momentum now. It’s really good fun. They [the leaders in training] get a great experience and you get a bit of a rest. It’s lovely to see the children’s faces because they get another person’s perspective, they get another person’s life experience that they can bring into the units. It mixes things up a bit.’

Sue is now a proud leader of 2 new units: 15th Newport E.Maingee Brownies and Guides.

The support continues. I think that’s what people setting up a new unit need to realise. You’re never ever going to be on your own in guiding. The year [working with Dawn in the training unit] made me very grounded in what I needed. But when I don’t know something, I know a girl who does.' - Sue, unit leader for 15th Newport E.Maingee Guides.

Let’s break it down

Here’s exactly how Dawn started to set up a training unit system:

1. Dawn started a pilot study with a leader in training, Sue.
2. Sue attended Dawn’s weekly Brownie unit while completing her LDP. She took part, led sessions and had the opportunity to ask questions. Dawn guided her along the way with the different courses and leadership trainings, making sure Sue was completed prepared for setting up her own unit.
3. Meanwhile, Dawn recruited for volunteer enquiry coordinator roles for each division so they could discuss with other people, like Sue, when enquiring to volunteer about joining the training unit model to complete their LDP.

I joined Dawn’s unit and went to Brownies every week. Sometimes I took part, sometimes I led sessions and I watched what went on. I asked questions. I went through the training slowly, with little nudges from Dawn. She guided me along the path I had to take and she made sure I was completely prepared for when I set up my own unit.’ - Sue, unit leader for 15th Newport E.Maingee Guides.

What are the benefits?

1. Encourages more people to become a Girlguiding leader and feel confident running their own unit with the supportive environment of a training unit as they complete their LDP.
2. Supports volunteer recruitment and means more girls are able to join the fun of guiding because there’s a pipeline of unit leaders ready-to-go. It’s also a great opportunity to open units in diverse areas.
3. Builds a supportive network of unit leaders across district and divisions. Just like with girls, this collaboration makes learning new skills more fun! And the connections last once they’ve set up their own unit. Plus, the shared responsibilities in the training unit means more time for fun, learning, planning and reflection.

Sue did a phenomenal job with Dawn. I couldn’t really quite believe they were going to do it. It’s a fast track. Having a specific training unit is a really good model.’ - Kathy, unit helper for 15th Newport E.Maingee.

How do you promote it?

Dawn says how important it is to have a volunteer enquiry coordinator role to promote and organise local training units:

Make sure you have a good volunteer enquirers coordinator because they play an absolute pivotal role in putting the right people into the right units and making it work.’ - Dawn, county commissioner and Guide leader who created training units.

Jen, enquiries officer and GO coordinator for Gwent is exactly that!

My role mainly entails contacting new enquiries. My philosophy is, we do it on day 1. If there’s a new enquiry, they have a welcome email.’ - Jen, enquiries officer and GO coordinator, Gwent.

Set up your own training unit

Thinking of setting up a training unit in your county, district or division? Have a conversation with your volunteer enquiry coordinator in your area about how this could work or think about recruiting somebody into this role.

My advice for any other leaders or commissioners looking to put this into practice is that it’s so much easier than you think it’s going to be. It works really well. It does grow Girlguiding in your areas. Pick the right people in your team for the job.' - Dawn, county commissioner and Guide leader who created training units.

In the meantime, there are other things you could be doing to give potential volunteers a warm welcome and inspire them to become a leader and set up new units:

• Host a warm welcome event.
• Bring them along to your unit for a meeting.
• Promote opportunities for potential volunteers to complete the leadership development programme (LDP) together in one unit.
• Offer your unit to be used for ‘top-up’ learning for assistant leaders or people who want to refresh their Girlguiding knowledge.
• Show this welcome video at your recruitment events or send it to those interested in joining.