Catering scheme

From budgeting to food hygiene - learn all about catering at a residential with our catering scheme

Learn how to cater at a Girlguiding residential event with our catering scheme.

Our catering scheme will equip you with everything you need to know about catering - from planning and buying supplies to hygiene and safety.

You don't need this qualification if you'll simply be helping to prepare and cook food at a Girlguiding event or residential. However, if you're the event coordinator responsible for organising catering at a residential event, you'll need to hold or be working towards the Going Away With licence and module 5 of the Going Away With scheme.

Who can complete this scheme?

The catering scheme is open to all members aged 18 and over, and non-members aged 18 and over who've been recorded on GO as residential occasional helpers.

What will I learn?

This scheme is made up of four modules.

  • Organising catering arrangements: budgeting for food, organising your kitchen and buying ingredients.
  • Food hygiene: ensuring food is prepared safely so no one gets ill.
  • Organising the kitchen: overseeing daily rotas, food preparation and serving, and dealing with any problems.
  • Concluding an event: returning equipment and carrying out post-event administration.

This qualification is assessed practically, so you'll need to plan and carry out the catering for a residential event to complete it. Along the way, you'll be assessed by a mentor, and will need to keep a record of evidence to show what you've done.

How much will it cost?

Nothing. The scheme can be downloaded for free.

Remember: you'll need to organise catering at an event as part of this qualification, so it's important to consider the cost of this too.

How do I get started?

  1. Contact your local commissioner, who'll put you in touch with an appropriate adviser in your area.
  2. Download a copy of the catering scheme.
  3. Your adviser will then help you to find a suitable mentor, who can support you through the scheme.

Download the catering scheme

Download a copy of the catering scheme.