1st Chellaston Guides Report 2025
We continue to flourish with 30 Guides and a waiting list. This autumn we welcomed Izzy who has joined us as a leader-in-training. We are fortunate in now having 4 committed leaders as well as excellent support from parents.
Activities this year have included a hike round Chellaston with chips, a Murder Mystery evening, and lots of crafts, including jewellery making, and cooking, including gingerbread. We held our usual Christmas and Easter parties and a BBQ in the summer. In March a visit from Aquabox encouraged us to think about how we use water, and we were able to contribute to their work abroad with the money raised from selling sweets at the Chellaston Pantomime. We took part in Spirit of Chellaston with a stall. We celebrated Pancake Day, Mother’s Day with a high tea for our Mothers, Halloween and Bonfire nights, and took part in Parliament week in November. Also in November we made models of ourselves in Guide uniform with Jumping Clay. This year’s Skills Builders gained included Communicate, and the Green UMA, and several Interest Badges were awarded.
Trips out, sometimes jointly with the Rangers or other local units, included Thinking Day at the Junior School, with activities from around the world. We enjoyed a meal at Cosmo, and attending Magical Midlands in July, and Jingle Jam, the county party, in December, In the summer we visited Whistlewood Common in Melbourne for some camp fire cooking. In the autumn we learnt some basic Rugby skills with Melbourne Rugby Club. We again spent a summer evening getting to know the residents at Bluebell Park Care Home with homemade cakes, Chocolate Bingo and some singing, and met a 99 year old Guider from the past. In the summer we returned to camp at Oaks in Charnwood, a familiar site, with Guides from Derby and Sinfin. We learnt camping skills and enjoyed some challenging activities, including archery and rifle shooting, the jungle trail and crafts.
We took part as usual in the Remembrance Day parade and service, with Olivia carrying the flag. A wreath was laid by representatives from the Guides, Brownies and Rainbows. The Uniformed Organisations’ Carol Service took place in December as usual and was well attended by most of the Chellaston units and many parents, with each unit contributing to the event. This year we again supported Susanna Wesley House, collecting toiletries and sweets for male refugees in Derby, which were very gratefully received.
Thank you to all parents who continue to support us loyally, by providing lifts and other material support, and by being ready to step in at short notice to help on a Monday night. We are proud of the Guides for their enthusiasm, and their willingness to work together and support each other. The leaders know that leading this Guide group is always rewarding and enjoy seeing the Guides grow and develop over the years.
We are always on the lookout for fresh ideas and experiences for the Guides. If there is anything you can suggest or offer, please let us know. If you know of anyone who would like to take part in the opportunities offered in Guiding, either as a Guide or a Leader, please encourage them.
Jo, Hannah, Izzy & Alison