LEADER - OFFICER
HOW TO BECOME A GIRLS' BRIGADE OFFICER
 

Information for Brigaders & Warrant Officers -

Brigaders - You should speak to your Captain about Leadership Training courses in your area. For details of what Leadership 1, 2 and 3 courses are about, see the Brigader page. Once you have successfully completed Leadership 3 you will be a Warrant Officer and can then progress to Officer Training.

Warrant Officers - As a Warrant Officer you will have successfully completed the Leadership 1, 2 & 3 courses and this will allow you to undertake a shortened version of the Officer Training, as some of the course content will have been covered in the earlier training sessions. Ask your Captain to find out about the Officer Training courses in your area. (There is a Divisional Training Organiser for each Division and she'll keep your Captain up to date with which trainings are running and when. )

... See the FAQs below for more information.

 

Information for people outwith the Organisation -

If you wish to become a GB Officer, you should apply to the Captain of the Company you wish to join who will then arrange the necessary paperwork.

The most practical route is to register as an Auxiliary Helper with the Company and complete the necessary checks and forms for that position. Once all these checks are satisfactorily completed this allows you to work with the GB Company as an Auxiliary Helper, while you undertake your Officer Training, (which can take up to a year).

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How to become an Auxiliary Helper

On successful completion of the Officer Course, and on the recommendation of the Church your Company belongs to, you can be commissioned as an Officer in the Girls' Brigade.

... See the FAQs below for more information.

 

RM1 form & guidelines for Captains registering a new Officer
 
 

FAQs

What's the difference between an Officer and an Auxiliary Helper?

  • OFFICER
  • An Officer receives formal training from the Girls' Brigade, (as well as the Church Child Protection Training), before being Commissioned by the Church as an Officer in the Girls' Brigade.
  • At her commissioning service she states publically her Christian belief, her intent to uphold the aims and principles of The Girls' Brigade and through reliance on God to look after and guide the girls in her care.
  • Officers undertake to continue with training throughout their service. Their service is recognised by GB, and the Church that appoints them, and they are eligible to receive long service awards.
  • An Officer wears a uniform to identify her as part of the organisation and all it stands for.
  • Officers are eligible, sometimes with further training or service, to apply for any roles within GB from Company Captain to Divisional, National or International roles and can also apply to represent GB at Company, Divisional ,National or International levels at events or meetings, e.g. ICGB (The International Conference of Girls' Brigade)

 

  • AUXILIARY HELPER
  • An Auxiliary Helper will receive Child Protection Training through the Church their Company belongs to. They will also receive, through GB Scotland, a short training module about the Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003 and how it relates to the policy and procedures of GB Scotland.
  • They can be very involved at a Company level but the opportunities to be involved in GB at a Divisional, National or International level are much more restricted than they would be for a Commissioned Officer.

Every Company requires at least two Commissioned Officers for insurance reasons and cannot be run wholly by Auxiliary Helpers.

Is there an age limit? - Yes , you cannot be commissioned as an Officer in the Girls' Brigade before the age of 18, and you cannot become Captain before the age of 20. However at present there is no upper age limit to becoming an Auxiliary Helper, an Officer, or a Captain in Girls' Brigade Scotland, you just need to be young at heart!

Do I need to fill out forms to become an Officer? - Yes, four forms as detailed below;

  • RM1 Form (supplied by GB HQ): to register you as an Auxiliary helper, and the Company you are attached to, with GB Scotland.
  • Enhanced Disclosure Scotland Check Form: to be processed through the Church, the Company you are joining 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 the RM1 Form, Basic Officer Form and Name Badge Form can be completed and submitted.
  • Officer Training Record: This is a form which records your progress through Officer training and will be signed off by the Divisional Training Organiser once you have completed all aspects of the training.
  • Name Badge Form (supplied by GB HQ): to apply for the identity badge that must be worn at all times when working with the girls.
    (click on the link for Captains above if you require more details)

Do I need to provide references to become an Officer? Yes, at the very start of the process you will be asked to supply the names and contact details of two individuals who can testify to your character. (These should be independent individuals, e.g. teacher, doctor, employer or minister, not friends or relations.)

I've filled out the Enhanced Disclosure Scotland Check Form, can I work with the girls now? - No, you cannot work with the girls, even in a supervised capacity, until notification that a satisfactory check has been received, by the Church.

Do I, or my Company need to pay a membership fee to GB HQ on my behalf? - Yes. The annual Membership fee paid to GB HQ ensures that you are covered by public liability insurance. It is a set fee for all members of Girls' Brigade Scotland and it is between you and your Company whether you pay it or they pay it for you, but it must be paid.

Do I wear a uniform? - Yes, the Uniform for a GB Officer is the suit, however you can wear a white GB polo shirt, navy GB sweatshirt, and navy joggers or trousers for activities. (See Mail Order - Officer's Uniform for details, prices and photographs) Your Name Badge should be worn at all times when working with the girls.

Can I attend Divisional / National GB meetings? - Yes, you will be made most welcome

Can I be elected to Divisional / National posts? - Yes

Can I take part in Divisional / National events and trainings? - Yes (Take part? Don't stop there- you can help organise them!)

Can I do camp / camp co-ordinator / canvas camp training? - Yes

 
ABOUT GB OFFICER TRAINING - WHAT DOES IT INVOLVE?

Officer Training is there to give you the skills you will need for all aspects of your service as a Girls' Brigade Officer.

Obviously this will vary from Officer to Officer and Company to Company, so you are assigned a tutor, (a commissioned GB Officer preferably from a Company other than your own - to give you another viewpoint) who will work out a programme with you, best suited to your needs and help you through each aspect of your training.

The training is presented in modules which means the format can be flexible to suit your circumstances and how you learn; evening sessions; weekend sessions; can be discussed and agreed between yourself, your Tutor and your Divisional Training Organiser. Some modules may only be a half hour training session, some will be things you do in your own time, some may be an event you attend and some may be things you have already done!

Don't be put off, there are no exams and you don't need to be academic, the training is about you being equipped with the practical knowledge and skills you will need as an Officer.

To complete Officer Training you must earn 25 credits, these are made up from:
Core Subjects
These subjects are compulsory and must be covered by all trainees. (However, if you are a Warrant Officer, you will have already covered some of the topics * during Leadership 3 Training, giving you exemptions and enabling you to undertake a shortened version of the Officer Training)
  • GB Knowledge
  • Administration & Meetings
  • Faith Journey
  • Developing Relationships*
  • Understanding Young People*
  • Leadership Unit 1 - Groups
  • Leadership Unit 2 - Learning Styles*
  • Safe & Sound*
  • Planning & Evaluating*
  • Equal Opportunities
  • Resources & Funding
Completion of all the Core Subjects (whether at Leadership 3 and/or Officer Training) will earn you 10 credits.
Practical Activities
In consultation with your tutor you will select 5 practical activities most useful to you or best suited to your circumstances, from a list of 25 options.
Examples are: - Experience another Youth Organisations activities / Face the challenge of learning a new skill / Make visual aids for a group / Organise a games night / Prepare a worship session / Write an item for a Company display
Completion of 5 Practical activities will earn you 5 credits
Training Options
In consultation with your tutor you will select 5 training options most useful to you or best suited to your circumstances, from a list of 19 options.
Examples are: - Badgework for Explorers OR Juniors OR Brigaders / Craft / Communication / Food Handling / Outings & Trips / Special Needs Adaptation
Completion of 5 Training Options will earn you 5 credits
Skills Accreditation
Knowledge and skills are not only gained from the training provided within the Basic Officer training programme, some will already have been acquired from previous training events, either with GB or outside agencies, or life skills, and these can earn credits too.

Examples of skills with certificates (or part of recognised training courses): - Queen's Award / Sunday School Teachers' Training Course / First Aid Certificate / Minibus Permit / GB National One Day Training

Examples of life skills: - Drama / Dance (experience of a drama or dance group) / Cooking, Baking or Catering for groups ( you may do this as part of your job or as a hobby) / Musical interests or Crafts (again this could be a hobby or club you're involved in)
The remaining 5 credits are made up from Skills Accreditation, OR undertaking additional Practical Activities OR additional Training Options OR a combination of all of these.
 
MORE QUESTIONS? - CONTACT US

 

(Page checked & updated 14/08/08)

 

LEADER_EXPLORER
The Girls' Brigade Scotland