HOW TO START
UP A GB COMPANY (POWERPOINT)
Available
on request from GB HQ - CONTACT
US
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WHAT
ARE THE ADVANTAGES TO HAVING A GIRLS' BRIGADE COMPANY? |
... What are the advantages
to having a Girls' Brigade company?
FOR THE GIRLS
- A fun place to meet and make
new friends - It is key aspect of the organisation that members
should have fun and enjoy GB whether they are 5 or 55 (and beyond),
so as well as all the activities on offer there is time to chat, socialise
and play together.
- A safe, caring and non threatening
environment - GB offers Christian teaching and fellowship
in an all female environment, removing the pressure, (often felt at
school especially by older girls), of male peers. This allows the
girls greater freedom to express themselves and discuss issues relevant
to them with their peers and their leaders.
- An opportunity to learn new skills
- Focused around
Spiritual; Physical; Educational & Service themes,
GB
offers a balanced programme
that equips girls with useful life skills and encourages active involvement
in the world around them.
- Personal development -
GB offers girls challenging activities
and new opportunities ,i.e. fun days, competitions, outings, trips,
camps, leadership training,
the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and
Queen's Award - encouraging
both individual effort
and team
working to promote self confidence, self reliance, and self respect.
- The chance to "be part of
something big" - a
world wide organisation, where girls are encouraged to participate
at all levels, locally, nationally and even internationally.
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... What are the advantages
to having a Girls' Brigade company?
FOR THE CHURCH
- An effective mission
and outreach tool -
The Girls' Brigade aim is to help and encourage girls to a personal
Christian commitment through
example, teaching & worship in an informal setting each company
night, often the sole contact with the Christian message for many
girls.
- Encourages participation
of young people in the life of the church - The Girls'
Brigade actively encourages girls to attend church and Sunday school
and creates opportunities to make contact with the wider church family
through special services and events.
- The Girls' Brigade provides
Christian fellowship for teenagers and young women - The
Girls' Brigade offers teenagers and young women a relevant role within
the church, whether working with younger girls or pursueing the challenges
of recognised awards ( D of E / Queen's Award), giving them time to
learn and grow within the church family until the time is right for
them to recognise and confirm their own Christian faith.
- The Girls' Brigade is a youth
organisation with a proven track record - For over a hundred
years the Girls' Brigade has offered programme material, training
and awards tailored to girls and young women. Constantly assessed
and updated the material is age appropriate, dynamic, relevant and
fully supported by a local, national and international network.
- The church has ownership
of it's own Girls' Brigade Company - Although
each Company in Scotland must comply with the rules & regulations
laid down in the Constitution of the Girls' Brigade in Scotland (and
all programme material and training is provided by the Girls' Brigade)
the Church the Company is attached to is responsible for sanctioning
the appointment of any Officers to their Company and for the company's
role within the Church.
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... What are the advantages
to having a Girls' Brigade company?
FOR THE WIDER COMMUNITY
- The Girls' Brigade provides constructive
out of school activities for girls and young women - Focused
around Spiritual; Physical; Educational
& Service themes the girls are
offered a balanced programme to develop their own talents as well
as considering the world around them
- Teaches
useful life skills to girls and young women
- First aid, food hygeine, healthy lifestyles, cooking, personal finance,
survival skills, fire & water safety and car maintenance all feature
in the programme material.
- Encourages participation in the
community - Even
from an early age girls are encouraged to get involved in, age appropriate,
service to the community, at local, national and even international
levels.
- Participation in nationally and
internationally recognised award schemes - Older girls and
young women have opportunities
to participate in The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme and Queen's
Award, both of which have a strong emphasis on service to others.
- Encouraging girls to take on
positions of responsibility - The Girls' Brigade offers a
programme of leadership training for older girls and young women encouraging
them to take on positions of responsibility and promoting
respect for themselves and those around them.
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| HOW TO START
UP A NEW GIRLS' BRIGADE COMPANY |
Background
Information
- Girls' Brigade Companies
as part of a Christian organisation, must belong to a church, or group
of churches (of any Christian denomination) and are governed by the
church(es) that establish them.
- Although each
Girls' Brigade company belongs to a church there is no requirement
to hold the company night meetings on the church's premises if they
are unsuitable. Many GB companies meet in schools, or community halls,
however they are all still linked to a local church.
- A new Girls' Brigade
Company should have at least three leaders willing to undertake GB
Officer training, one of whom is also willing to become the company
Captain.
- Girls' Brigade Company
Captains must be at least 20 years old and be a member of a church
(of any Christian denomination).
- Girls' Brigade Company
Officers must be at least 18 years old and be a member or an adherent
of a church (of any Christian denomination).
- Girls' Brigade Company
Chaplains don't neccessarily need to be the minister of the Church
an elder or member of the congregation can take on the role of Chaplain.
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How
to start up a new Girls' Brigade company ...
Information
for individuals
Girls' Brigade Companies
as part of a Christian organisation, must belong to a church or group
of churches (of any Christian
denomination) and are governed by
the church(es) that establish them. Therefore,
companies cannot be started just by an interested individual or group
of individuals independant of a church. However enthusiastic individuals
with a Christian commitment are the backbone of the Girls' Brigade
and are the best people to broach the subject of a new Girls' Brigade
Company with their church or a group of churches in their local area.
The process for
establishing a new GB company should be followed as for 'Information
for Churches' below.
... See the FAQs below for
more information. |
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How to start up a
new Girls' Brigade company ...
Information for Churches
- Contact
the Girls' Brigade in Scotland,
National Director at GB HQ (Contact
Us) who will be happy to discuss the proposed new company
and the affiliation process.
- Agreement must be secured from
the church congregation's governing body and the request then formally
put in writing to the Girls'
Brigade in Scotland, National Director.
- On receipt of the written request
the National Director will then advise on Child Protection procedures
and the church can start the recruiting and vetting processes for
potential leaders.
- The GB Commissioner for the
area the church is in will make contact to advise on training, how
to run a GB Company and local support available.
- On receipt of satisfactory Enhanced
Disclosure Checks for all adults (18yrs+) involved in the
company, GB HQ will issue registration and marketing materials
along with programme material for the 6 week setting-up period prior
to affiliation. A start date can then be agreed between the church
and local Commissioner.
- The Commissioner, (or another commissioned
GB Officer delegated by her), must attend each meeting throughout
the 6 week setting-up period prior to affiliation of the company.
This ensures that there is an experienced GB Officer on hand to help
and advise during this period, as well as being a requirement of the
GB insurers for the new company to be covered by public liability
insurance.
- At the end of the six weeks
if the Company has at least 10 girls, of any age, registered and attending
regularily and on the recommendation of the Commissioner the new Company
can be affiliated to the Girls' Brigade in Scotland. They can then
purchase uniform and other materials through GB HQ.
... See the FAQs below for
more information. |
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| FAQs |
Is
there a 'New Company Starter Pack' available?
- Yes, just contact the National Director to discuss
your prospective company's requirements and HQ will send you a suitable
pack of information and materials.
What
about Disclosure Checks for leaders? - All
adults (18yrs+) involved in the company must complete an Enhanced
Disclosure Check to be processed through the Church, the new Company
is attached to (all Churches have a Child Protection Co-ordinator,
or their equivalent, who will provide & submit the form for you,
and offer any help or advice on the process).
This must be completed and a satisfactory check received by the Church
before individuals can work with children in any capacity.
I've
completed a disclosure check for work / Sunday School, do I need to
comlpete another one? -
At present , yes. This process will change in 2010 with the introduction
of The Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007, but at
present a seperate disclosure check must be completed for each individual
organisation
that you are involved in. The Child Protection co-ordinator in your
church will assist you with the process.
Is
there training available for
leaders? - Yes.
the Division your new company is in will organise training for officers
and helpers. Contact the Divisional Training Organiser or Commissioner
to discuss this.
Can we
pick the name for our new GB Company? - No
it is up to the Division the new Company is in to allot the Company
name, as some Churches have had companies linked to them in the past.
However your input will be welcome at the consultation stage.
What
is the significance of affiliation and why must we be up and
running six weeks before the new Company can affiliate as a GB Company?
- All
new projects can encounter problems. The six weeks before a new company
is affiliated (officially becoming part of the Girls' Brigade in Scotland)
is a set up period. This allows the new company to get into the routine
of running week night meetings and complete a six week badgework programme
that introduces girls and leaders alike to GB. By the end of the six
weeks, hopefully a routine will have been established with a steady
attendance of girls and the new company can be affiliated to GB Scotland
and access the many resources available through the organisation.
The affiliation can be turned into a party night for the girls, to
celebrate the start of their new Company which they helped start up!
Can we
fundraise for our new Company before affiliation?
- Not as a GB Company, however if your Church wants to organise
fundraising events with the clearly stated intent of the funding being
used to start up a GB Company, within the Church, that is fine.
Can we
open up a GB Company bank account before we affiliate? -
No. Any funds raised or donations received for the new Company will
need to be accounted for by the Church the company belongs to until
it is affiliated and can open its own bank account.
Can a
new Company buy uniform, before affiliation? - No, prior
to affiliation a company is still setting-up and unfortunately uniform
cannot be purchased until a Company is established at the end of the
six week period and affiliated as a GB Company.
Do we
have to pay any fees when we're just getting started?
- No. The Annual Membership Fee, payable to GB HQ, covers
each member within GB Companies in Scotland for public liability insurance,
and funds the services provided by GB HQ. New companies are exempt
from paying this for their first year after affiliation.
Is our
new Company insured for public liability insurance then?
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Before
Affiliation: - Yes the Girls' Brigade in Scotland provides
public liability cover as long as a commissioned GB officer is present
every company meeting night.
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After
Affiliation: - Once affiliated GB Scotland provides public
liability insurance cover for your Company.
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