1. Getting ready for the new programme
Aim:
To give commissioners and advisers the skills and confidence to prepare and support leaders in getting ready for the new programme
Objectives:
Enthuse and energise leaders, including those reluctant to change
Discuss the importance and positive impact of programme change
Discuss how and why people might find change difficult
Develop essential skills and processes to manage programme change within their teams.
Discuss the aims and objectives of the training with the participants

2. We’re going on a journey…
Please show the attendees this short Our Journey film as a reminder of why and how the programme is changing.

3. How did we start our journey?
The ‘Being Our Best’ strategy consultation and a review of our current programme told us we needed to update it to make it fit for the 21st century.
Not enough high-quality activities designed for unit meetings
More activities focused on teamwork, friendship and craft than any other theme
Core programme themes inconsistent
Programme materials don’t reflect a balanced and varied programme
Some activities reinforce stereotypes
Not enough challenge for older girls in each section
The results of the Being Our Best consultation and a programme review approved by the Board of Trustees in 2015 have been fundamental in shaping this project.
There’s been an enormous amount of internal and external research carried out, including the Girls Attitudes Survey, research into 30 other youth organisations, two consultation panels and a Lead Volunteer and Task and Finish Group involved too.
Alongside this, the HQ staff team has also carried out an audit of all current programme materials, measuring activities against a series of quality benchmarks, the Five Essentials and our six core values, as well as looking at badge and resources sales.
Some of the key feedback is shown on this slide.
Girls and Leaders called for a greater focus on adventure, in all its many forms – as well as asking for more ways to take part in social action and to develop important skills for life.
Volunteers told us that they felt strongly that our core programme should bridge between sections and better support transition.

4. Why are the findings a problem?
Not enough high-quality materials to run unit meetings =
volunteer recruitment and retention is affected
Unbalanced/not enough challenge/inconsistent themes =
issues recruiting and retaining girls
Some activities could be more inclusive =
affects girl and volunteer recruitment and retention
Programme renewal is crucial in helping us to achieve our Mission and to Be Our Best, with close links to our current focus on membership growth and retention.
Whilst volunteers highlighted many current strengths in our programme, they also told us that activities don’t always stretch older girls and that the changes in core themes across sections makes transition harder.
Feedback also suggests we need to make sure the programme is challenging and appealing for ALL girls – and that it is always underpinned by the 5 Essentials.
The programme audit also demonstrated how some longer standing activities can reinforce traditional stereotypes, which may be a barrier to recruiting girls and volunteers from diverse communities.

5. What can you look forward to in the new programme?
More high-quality resources for leaders to give girls the programme they want and need
Less preparation work for leaders
More girls and adults will feel there’s a place in Girlguiding for them
Improving our programme is something we have always done periodically, as part of our commitment to continue to change as the lives of girls changes. And although this is the biggest overhaul in decades, this programme renewal will help us do the same.
We all believe in the power of guiding to change lives – we all know that guiding is so much more than an after-school activity or a babysitting service.  And we all believe in putting girls at the heart of what we do in guiding.
And so this is why it’s the right time for us to take a bold step-change and create a programme fit for the C21st and beyond. One that offers girls the skills and opportunities to fulfil their potential and also one that supports and truly values the vital contribution of our volunteers.
Today’s world is one that is, of course, very different to when Guiding first started over 100 years ago, but one where our core values still hold true…
Girls will know that we’ve listened and guiding will be girl-led

6. Activity
This activity aims to help leaders to consider a) that the world is constantly changing and evolving, and (b) the positive impact that change can have.
Finish by linking these changes to programme renewal – that it is good practice to review and ensure that it meets current girl’s needs - and explore some of it’s intended positive impacts:
- A consistent structure to the programme will help with transitions between sections,
- Availability of interest badges for Rainbows and Rangers,
Skills builder badges to enable girls to be challenged at whatever level that are at,
Unit meeting activities to reduce the planning time of leaders,
A more up-to-date programme which reflects the world we live in and is easy to update and add to.
Image from:

7. How readily will volunteers change to the new programme?
10%
Understand what is needed and will do it well whatever we do
80%
Can change if we give them the required support, training and encouragement
However much we invest in them, they will always resist change and not move on
The above statistics reflect how people generally respond to change in organisations. We advise focussing most of your efforts on the 80% who you can have a real impact on and encouraging them to move towards the new programme and make real change.
The bottom 10% are the most vocal and negative. We can often get wrapped up in responding to this 10% and miss the 80% just waiting for help.

8. Change through someone else’s eyes
Activity
Change through someone else’s eyes

9. Scenarios
A Brownie leader doesn’t think that girls will complete interest badges outside of the unit – when will the girls find time and can they really do them without support? However, one of the Brownies in the unit wants to work towards a theme award and she needs to complete a relevant interest badge.
Girls in a Guide unit have heard about the unit meeting activity packs and have asked their unit leader about them. Their unit leader is concerned that doing the activities will change how her unit operates and wants to carry on doing what they’ve always done.
Note on scenario 1: interest badges can be done out of term time. In testing we received feedback that parents loved interest badge activities in the school holidays.
Note on scenario 2: Unit Meeting Activities are optional, but girls won’t be able to obtain a theme award without having done some of them. UMAs can be adapted to suit individual girl’s needs and the new programme leaves plenty of space for units to still do the activities that mean a lot to them such as pancake day activities, camping, cooking etc.

10. Dealing with the threats and barriers earlier identified
Activity
Dealing with the threats and barriers earlier identified

11. Action planning