Data Protection Review and Refresh
As we start to return to some level of normality after the pandemic, we thought it was a good time to refresh everyone on some of the key requirements of GDPR so we can ensure we remain compliant against the guidelines.
Data protection is as vital now as it has ever been.
‘The EU GDPR has been written into UK legislation by the Withdrawal Act as the UK GDPR. The EU Exit Regulations applied technical amendments to make the GDPR work in a UK context, but the principles and rules are essentially unchanged. The UK government is committed to maintaining the same high standards of data protection.’- ICO website Jan 2021
The impact of Covid has meant that perhaps GDPR has fallen down our list of priorities, but we must remain compliant and ensure we can always evidence that we have the 7 data principles at the centre of all we do.
The 7 data principles of GDPR – are you following best practise? Can you evidence this? Follow the link to refresh yourself with these key principles of data protection.
Training
Can you remember when you last did your GDPR e-learning? Girlguiding recommend all members and paid staff do this every 2-3 years.
Please encourage all your networks to do the e-learning if they haven’t completed it recently.
Support
A great document from Girlguiding to refresh yourselves with is ‘Resources to support you with GDPR’.
The last bullet point has in depth information on how to report a data breach or a subject access request, which is vital for volunteers to know.
The managing information policy and unit retention schedule documents are also worth a read.
Plus if you need to remind yourself about permissions for photos and sharing them, then please take a look at the sharing photos and videos advice.
If you’re concerned about data protection or need further advice you can contact Girlguiding dataprotection@girlguiding.org.uk or dataprotection@girlguiding-anglia.org.uk
Our County
Essex North East is a large County spreading from Great Yeldham on the Suffolk border encompassing the seaside towns of Clacton, Frinton and Harwich the rural area of Halstead and the London commuter belt including Ingatestone.
We have the benefit of historic Colchester and Chelmsford, the birthplace of radio, as well as rural towns and village. We enjoy the wildlife of salt marshes and mudflats as well as the sandy beaches of the Sunshine coast.
We are proud of our amazing units and volunteers and our county campsite, Riffhams is a back to basic gem.
What have we been up to?
Much like the other counties, due to Covid-19 Girlguiding in Essex North East has gone online. Our fantastic leaders have sorted entertainment and education by running virtual guiding for our units. Guides in Frinton-on-sea were given boxes with crafts and activities for their weekly meetings and other units have invited guests along such as virtual animal encounters, magic shows and story tellers.
Units in Elmstead and Braintree divisions hosted virtual sleepovers and camps to celebrate World Thinking Day, and of course- these included making everyone’s favourite, smores! One of the brilliant opportunities provided by the online world is that we are able to meet with people from further afield- Elmstead Division’s World Thinking Day event included Girlguiding members from Portsmouth and girls from Chelmsford were “visited” by a leader from Canada.
We’ve had some big birthdays too, 1st Writtle Guides celebrated their 100th Birthday and 1st Writtle Brownies celebrated their 60th!
During 2020, our County Commissioner Julie Craven and her fantastic team put together the County Commissioners Challenge 2020 which is a brilliant challenge badge for individuals or units. It featured weekly themes and activity suggestions June to December 2020 and it’s not too late to visit our website to view the challenges for inspiration, and order badges.
GENE Radio Show
Throughout the last year the volunteers and girls have continued to give girls a voice with our very own GENE Radio Show
Gene Radio Show Facebook
Gene Radio show more information
Essex County Cricket
Last year we teamed up with the Essex Ladies Cricket Captain Kelly Castle who ran a virtual coaching session and Essex Cricket in the community have more face to face cricket events planned for our young members.
The Light Project
Girls and leaders from Girlguiding Chelmsford have recently taken part in a ten week on line STEAM project to plan and make an amazing installation. The project was funded by Essex 2020 and the Ragdoll Project, who’s aim to give children a voice through creative arts. The installation, titled “Lockdown Loss and Future Hope” reflects the positive impact that pets have had on the girls’ lives during the pandemic.
“The artwork is dedicated to all our lockdown pets, those that have gone over the rainbow bridge and those that we hope to have in the future”
Snapping the Stiletto Animation Project
We have an exciting partnership with the Snapping the Stiletto campaign, a National Lottery Heritage Funded project which aims to seek equality and challenge stereotypes by sharing and celebrating the stories of Essex women.
Girls across the county were given the opportunity to take part one of two, four-week introduction to online animation. You can find this here and here.
They brought portraits of female role models and self-portraits to life through animation on a tablet. They learned about looping and morphing tips and tricks to make effective and beautiful short, animated videos.
Their final animations will be used as part of the Essex wide Snapping the Stiletto project.
Onwards and upwards
I am sure that most of us will tell you that we have been given some brilliant opportunities and made some fantastic memories which we otherwise would not have, if we hadn’t volunteered our time in the first place. I would like to extend the County’s heartfelt thanks for all our amazing volunteers have done to continue guiding in our area, and keeping our members interested during these difficult times.
As units begin face to face meetings our members continue to challenge both themselves and the girls in their care.
Website
As girls and volunteers across the Anglia region prepare to resume face-to-face guiding, Girlguiding Anglia celebrates the creativity and determination shown by its members across eastern counties during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Members from Girlguiding Chelmsford in Essex have taken part in a virtual project to create a local art installation. Titled “Lockdown Loss and Future Hope”, it reflects the positive impact that pets have had on members’ lives during the pandemic. It was funded by Essex 2020 and the Ragdoll Project, which aims to give children a voice through creative arts. Girlguiding Ideas Hub Chelmsford said, “The artwork is dedicated to all our lockdown pets, those that have gone over the rainbow bridge and those that we hope to have in the future”.
Members of a Brownies unit in Hertfordshire went global for World Thinking Day on 22nd February 2021 by connecting virtually with a fellow guiding troop from West Virginia, USA. Pippa Pearson, leader of the 24th St Albans group, explained that the Brownies were challenged to connect with another unit as part of their Thinking Day badge challenge: “I searched for other places around the world called St Albans, and sent messages to Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA. […] Eleven of our girls met up with eight of their group, and the most discussed topic was favourite foods.” Darcy, one of the Brownies in attendance commented, “I was really excited about meeting someone from guiding in America. It was interesting learning about a different country.”
Six-year-old Grace, a Rainbow from Hertfordshire, has raised an amazing £528 for the Moorfields Eye Hospital as part of a walking challenge set by her unit leaders. Grace walked 26 miles with her 3-year-old brother. “The staff are always so friendly and put us at ease” commented mum, Hannah. Rainbow leader Grace Bantin said; “When I set the challenge, I thought we would collectively raise a couple of hundred pounds for charities… but when I got the update from Grace’s mum I was blown away by her determination!”.
Girlguiding Anglia continues to offer an exciting programme of activities and events and has done so throughout the pandemic by adapting their normal face-to-face offer to a virtual one. Over the last year, Girlguiding Anglia has supported units across the region with virtual challenges and has run two extremely successful virtual events, the Midsummer Virtual Sleepover and the Under The Stars Festival in collaboration with the Royal Astronomical Society.
In celebration of its 50th birthday year, Girlguiding Anglia has launched its ‘Buzz About Anglia’ campaign to engage members during the recovery period. The challenge was inspired by bees and encourages members to be community minded and care for one another. To further the celebrations, Girlguiding Anglia has launched two brand new badges; a 50th birthday badge and a special edition region standard which can be purchased via their online shop.
As a result of the pandemic, Girlguiding Anglia has hundreds of girls across the region waiting to join units and so are actively working on recruitment campaigns for volunteers.
If you are interested in volunteering to support young women across the Anglia region, visit: www.girlguiding.org.uk/get-involved/become-a-volunteer/register-your-interest
For more information on Girlguiding Anglia, visit: www.girlguiding-anglia.org.uk
For more information from Girlguiding on Coronavirus Safety, visit: www.girlguiding.org.uk/making-guiding-happen/coronavirus-keeping-safe
As Covid-19 restrictions gradually lift, Girlguiding Anglia is celebrating the return to face-to-face guiding and the exciting prospect of having adventures indoors and outdoors together again. For many girls it will be just over a year since they last met face to face and a welcome return after months of lockdown and meeting together online. Guiding is providing an invaluable role during this unprecedented time, supporting girls’ mental health and wellbeing during and as we recover from the pandemic, helping to build confidence, have fun and develop skills for their future – which has now never been more needed.
Girlguiding CEO, Angela Salt OBE says: “It is wonderful that we can now see a return to face to face guiding after what has undoubtedly been a challenging year. The impact the pandemic has had on all young people will not disappear overnight, guiding and other youth organisations have an important role to play in recovery and continuing to support young people by providing a constant in their world.”
Girlguiding, with support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, will continue to provide a blended offer as restrictions ease, to include indoor, outdoor and online guiding opportunities, creating lots of flexibility for both girls and volunteers across the Anglia region.
Rudy, a Guide leader from Cambridgeshire says; “I’m really looking forward to getting back to face to face guiding so that we can enjoy some of the fun and adventure we are so good at. Many of my girls haven’t actually met in real life as they have joined the unit in the last year so it will be great to see how they react to the activities in real life. Whilst Guiding online has helped my wellbeing throughout the last year, I will be glad to have some normality back and to be able to do the hands-on activities we have so missed. I’m sure the parents will be glad that the mess the girls create isn’t in their kitchens any longer too, and they have to clear up after themselves at guides!”
Similarly, to other youth sector charities the pandemic has had a significant impact on Girlguiding, both regionally and nationally, with a 32% dip in young membership in the Anglia region since 2020, which is largely linked to a significant decrease in young members joining during the pandemic year. In the last year sadly 17,032 young people have dropped out of guiding and 1,484 volunteers have left their roles in Anglia (a drop of 13%) due to the pressure of Covid-19 and personal situations.
With the increasing need to support girls now, Girlguiding is appealing for volunteers in Anglia to help girls and young women through the recovery, providing opportunities for them to have fun, learn new skills and support their wellbeing, whilst enriching their own lives.
Two out of every three members has stayed with Girlguiding during an extremely challenging time, an achievement made possible by the support of its amazing volunteers keeping girls connected during the pandemic by delivering virtual guiding (and face-to-face when restrictions allowed).
“We encourage adults to join the guiding community as volunteers; the benefits of volunteering are fantastic – from meeting new people, to gaining skills and knowing that you are making a positive contribution to the lives of girls and young women, at a crucial time” adds Angela Salt OBE.
Girlguiding relies on volunteers to run local groups in communities across the UK and is appealing now as we begin to ease out of lockdown, for more adult volunteers to join and make a difference to the lives of a new generation of girls and young women, launching a targeted recruitment campaign seeking to motivate volunteers to join where they are needed most. As a result of the pandemic, Girlguiding Anglia has hundreds of girls across the region waiting to join units and so are actively recruiting for volunteers.
Rudy from Cambridgeshire shared why volunteering as a Guide leader is so important to her. She says, “I volunteer for Girlguiding to give girls opportunities to grow into strong independent young women. This past year has shown how resilient the girls are and I can’t wait to celebrate getting back some normality with them.”
Throughout the past year Girlguiding has continued to support and keep girls and young women motivated, inspired and thriving whilst at home with its virtual guiding offer. The charity responded to the pandemic in a matter of days, launching its Adventures at home online hub of activities open to all children and their families across the UK, to help them continue to have fun, build resilience and support their wellbeing. And units turned to virtual guiding to continue supporting girls and keep them connected during lockdown and beyond.
Girlguiding estimates over 188,000 individual girls (over three quarters of members) have taken part in a virtual meeting since the start of the pandemic. The digital divide and other economic factors however have stopped many young people from taking part in guiding. Often these are the young people that have needed guiding the most, leaving many isolated and lonely.
As recognised in recent research by girls and young women, group activities and youth clubs have helped them cope throughout the pandemic. Girls say that being part of Girlguiding during the pandemic has helped them to feel more connected and less lonely (65%), be able to help others (31%) and supported their mental health and wellbeing (47%). (https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/globalassets/docs-and-resources/research-and-campaigns/back-in-lockdown-report.pdf)
If you are interested in volunteering to support young women across the Anglia region, visit: www.girlguiding.org.uk/get-involved/become-a-volunteer/register-your-interest
For more information on Girlguiding Anglia, visit: www.girlguiding-anglia.org.uk