Do you ever find yourself caught between volunteers who don’t see eye to eye, wishing you had a clearer way to help them move forward?
Have you inherited tensions in a team and felt unsure how to respond without making things worse?
Would you like simple, practical tools you can use to move issues forward?
Disagreements are a natural part of team dynamics — but when handled early and with care, they can strengthen understanding and connection. This interactive workshop introduces Girlguiding Commissioners to the principles and practice of approaching conflict constructively by supporting open conversations and helping volunteers move forward collaboratively.
By the end of the session, you will:
Trainer: Louise Kelly, an accredited mediator with extensive experience in volunteer management and community mediation. She trained with the Open College Network and volunteers with Calm, supporting communities through challenging conversations. Alongside her freelance mediation work with workplaces and voluntary organisations, Louise draws on extensive experience in safeguarding and volunteer management within community projects. Her approach is warm, practical, and focused on creating safe, supportive spaces where everyone feels heard.
Format: Live online session | 2.5 hours | Includes group discussions, interactive exercises, and real-world examples. Sign up here.
Any questions, please get in touch with Abi at abi.frith@girlguidingnwe.org.uk
Celebrating every member 25 March, 2026
We are holding a session focusing on how to be inclusive for all of your members.
In this session, you’ll find out about inclusive decision-making and leadership, and how you can adapt activities and meetings so everyone can have a great guiding experience. You’ll also learn how you can support young members and volunteers and how to report discrimination.
By the end of the session you will:
• Know which forms can be used to support members and volunteers
• Recognise examples of inclusive decision making and leadership
• Suggest ways to adapt activities and meetings
• Know how to report incidents of discrimination
This is an online session that will be taking place Thursday 12 November, 7:00pm – 8:30pm
To book your place onto this session you will need to visit the Learning Platform, click here
Going Away With Training 14 March, 2025We’re holding a Going Away With training session on Saturday 14 November at the region office in Preston, PR2 5PD.
This training is for qualified leaders who want the opportunity to understand the Going Away With Scheme and to start their journey using the on-line platform, working towards final assessment.
If you are hoping to take your unit on a residential event in the future, or are already qualified but want a refresher, this is the training for you.
The training is free to attend, but you must have completed your leadership qualification. This is a uniformed event and is from 9.45am until 3.00pm.
If you have any questions, please contact: chris.joyce@girlguidingnwe.org.uk
To book your place and for more information, click here
Girlguiding North West England: Adapting the Adventure 14 March, 2025This event will help to equip volunteers with the information and tools to support girls with SEN. The day will include a keynote speaker talking about Autism and ADHD in Girls, followed by a number of different sessions to choose from on how to apply this knowledge in the unit – including how to apply to grants, adapting the programme, sensory issues, visual timetables, mental health first aid and Celebrating Every Member.
We are asking that up to two volunteers attend per Division please; to allow as many people to attend as possible and so the information can be shared across each Division.
Tickets for the event cost £10.
Any questions please feel free to email abi.frith@girlguidingnwe.org.uk
To book your place, please visit our Eventbrite
Effective Communication for Leaders 29 June, 2026We are holding a session for Leaders to develop your communication skills.
This course will encourage leaders to think about the bigger impact of communication whilst exploring which style of communication is the best tool or media for communicating in their circumstances.
By the end of this session, you will be able to:
• Be able to think about the ‘bigger picture’ when it comes to communication – body language, tone and active listening and what it might mean.
• Determine which style of communication would be most appropriate for different audiences and circumstances.
• Identify the best tool/ media for communicating for their circumstances.
This training will be taking place Monday 16 November, 7:00pm – 8:30pm
To book onto this training you will need to visit the Learning Platform. Book on here
Safer Guiding 10 July, 2026Join our next Safer Guiding training which is being held on Wednesday 18 November, 7:00pm – 9:30pm
During the session we’ll cover the role of the commissioner in managing concerns, allegations and disclosures. If any of this content may be a concern to you, please let us know in advance of the training.
In order to complete this course, you will need to attend both part 1 and part 2.
For more information and to book your place, click here
Please note: As spaces are limited to 22 per session; please only register if you can definitely attend and ensure that there is strictly one leader from your unit attending. If you have completed the training within the last 3 years, you do not need to redo the training. If you’re unsure when your renewal is due, please check your record on GO, or contact your commissioner.
If you’re a volunteer who has previously completed a safe space training, you only need to do this course when your highest level of a safe space expires. So if you have a safe space levels 1 and 2, you’ll only need to do safer guiding once your level 2 expires. This training must be renewed every 3 years.
Zoom Details
If you booked on the Learning Platform: The Zoom joining information should be emailed to you. Emails will be from noreply@learningpool.com
If you booked on Eventbrite: The Zoom joining information should be emailed to you. Emails will be sent from Eventbrite and should arrive 7 days before the session.
If you don’t think you’ve received the Zoom link, please check your junk folder, and contact northwesthq@girlguidingnwe.org.uk at least 2 working days before the session is due to take place.
Celebrating every member 3 July, 2026We are holding a session focusing on how to be inclusive for all of your members.
In this session, you’ll find out about inclusive decision-making and leadership, and how you can adapt activities and meetings so everyone can have a great guiding experience. You’ll also learn how you can support young members and volunteers and how to report discrimination.
By the end of the session you will:
• Know which forms can be used to support members and volunteers
• Recognise examples of inclusive decision making and leadership
• Suggest ways to adapt activities and meetings
• Know how to report incidents of discrimination
This is an online session that will be taking place Wednesday 18 November, 7:00pm – 8:30pm
To book your place onto this session, click here
Let’s Get Mentoring 10 July, 2026Join us for our next Let’s Get Mentoring session.
This webinar is aimed at leaders who are thinking of becoming a mentor or want a refresher on the mentoring process after a break.
By the end of the session you will be able to:
• Describe the purpose and skills of a Girlguiding mentor
• Explain the role and how it fits with the Leader development programme
• Complete check-in meetings effectively and complete check-in sheets
• Know the Leadership Development Programme and understand your role in the process from start to finish.
This online webinar will be held on Monday 23 November, 7:00-8:30pm.
Please note, this course is only for volunteers who are aged over 18.
To book your place, please visit the Learning Platform by clicking here.
Commissioner Drop-In 4 September, 2026These are open to all Commissioner roles at all levels and will be held on Zoom.
We wanted to create a space for all Commissioners (including Assistant and Deputy Commissioners) to come together and learn from each other and share your experiences.
Each session will have a specific topic/update for 20-30 mins, with time afterwards for air and share and Q&A. All the links to the meetings can be found on the website. The first few will cover:
Wed 25 Nov – Succession planning & how to produce a good handover
Thurs 28 Jan 27 – Conflict resolution
Mon 22 Feb 27 – REN forms & GAW
Tues 23 Mar 27 – Supporting your leaders in training with the LDP
Any questions please feel free to email abi.frith@girlguidingnwe.org.uk
To book onto the Wednesday 25 November session and for more information, please click here
Safer Guiding 10 July, 2026
Join our next Safer Guiding training which is being held on Wednesday 25 November, 7:00pm – 9:30pm
During the session we’ll cover the role of the commissioner in managing concerns, allegations and disclosures. If any of this content may be a concern to you, please let us know in advance of the training.
In order to complete this course, you will need to attend both part 1 and part 2.
For more information and to book your place, click here
Please note: As spaces are limited to 22 per session; please only register if you can definitely attend and ensure that there is strictly one leader from your unit attending. If you have completed the training within the last 3 years, you do not need to redo the training. If you’re unsure when your renewal is due, please check your record on GO, or contact your commissioner.
If you’re a volunteer who has previously completed a safe space training, you only need to do this course when your highest level of a safe space expires. So if you have a safe space levels 1 and 2, you’ll only need to do safer guiding once your level 2 expires. This training must be renewed every 3 years.
Zoom Details
If you booked on the Learning Platform: The Zoom joining information should be emailed to you. Emails will be from noreply@learningpool.com
If you booked on Eventbrite: The Zoom joining information should be emailed to you. Emails will be sent from Eventbrite and should arrive 7 days before the session.
If you don’t think you’ve received the Zoom link, please check your junk folder, and contact northwesthq@girlguidingnwe.org.uk at least 2 working days before the session is due to take place.