Chiefs at Work

February 2026

Given that February is the shortest month of the year, we’ve certainly jam packed a lot into it! It’s been a month of celebrating the Girlguiding Spirit across the region and beyond. From the echoing history of Westminster Abbey to the windswept wonder of the Isle of Man, from Youth Voices shaping the future to Rainbows waving flags under the Gibraltar sun, this month has been nothing short of extraordinary.

Rona kickstarted the month at Girlguiding Manchester’s County Awards Celebration where she presented Gillian Lewis with a region Chief Award. Denton Golf Club was buzzing with pride as volunteers, leaders, and young members were recognised for their dedication and creativity. It wasn’t just an awards ceremony – it was a reminder of the extraordinary impact ordinary people make every single week.

Rona then headed off to London for the Operational Delivery Group meeting with HQ staff and the other country and region chiefs. They all gathered at HQ to keep the wheels of Guiding turning smoothly. It’s the kind of meeting that rarely gets a spotlight, yet it’s where strategy meets passion, and where discussions that empower thousands of members begin with a shared determination to make Girlguiding stronger, more accessible, and more exciting than ever.

Rona, Tracey, and Kelly (our Executive Manager) then headed to Waddow Activity Centre for a day with some of our regions Youth Voice (Empower) committee members. This meeting brought a different kind of excitement – one fuelled by ideas, debate and the unstoppable enthusiasm of the group. This was no ordinary meeting. We were discussing a blueprint for the future of Girlguiding North West England, and the message was clear: the next generation isn’t waiting to be heard, they’re already shaping what comes next.

A week later, Tracey’s work and volunteering collided, when she transformed the region office into a playground of possibility during the half term STEM Fun Day. From challenges to hands-on experiments, the day was a joyful reminder that science is all about curiosity, discovery and the thrill of trying something new. Young members attending the day left the region office with bright eyes, and the unmistakable glow of “I did it!”

We then had our remarkable virtual Voyage Under the Stars event to celebrate 100 years of World Thinking Day and to raise funds to support Girlguiding British Overseas Territories. Rona spent the day at the Thinking Day Service in Westminster Abbey, with some Guides and Leaders. Steeped in a thousand years of history, the Abbey held a different kind of energy that day as voices rose in reflection and celebration, you could feel the weight of the past and the promise of the future meeting right there in the heart of London. Tracey travelled to the Isle of Man for her Thinking Day – meeting members from the island as they embarked on their Voyage Under the Stars, under Mars, at Peel Cathedral. It was the kind of night that makes you feel small in the best possible way: connected to the world, to each other, and to the Girlguiding family.

And then, as if the month needed one more burst of brilliance, came Tracey and Kelly’s trip to Gibraltar for the Thinking Day parade. The warmth of the Mediterranean sun was matched only by the welcome from local Girlguiding members marching through the streets, sharing stories, swapping badges, and seeing the joy on the girls’ faces. This was Guiding at its most vibrant and international.

From London to the Isle of Man, from Manchester to Gibraltar, this month was one of connection and a celebration. It has shown us just how amazing it is to be part of Guiding North West England!