Tips for travelling with Guiding Groups in London

Tip 1 Make sure every girl has your details on them 

Wristbands are ideal, or a tied on label, don't rely on stickers that peel off jumpers and lose ink in the wet.

When we have taken our Brownies to London we always put a wristband on them.  It has the name of our Leader In Charge on it and our Brownie Unit mobile phone number on it.  Never write the child's name on it.  This would make it much easier for a stranger to 'befriend' a lone child and lead them into a false sense of security.

With Rangers I made sure they all had both leaders mobile numbers in their phones and I gave them all a small laminated card with our numbers, the emergency number and the number of the place we were staying.



Tip 2 keep photos of the girls with you 

Get permission from parents and take a photo on your phone of each girl on the day, this will help you if you need to show it to someone and it can also be transferred electronically for police distribution if needed.


Tip 3 make sure they know what to do if they are separated from you 

Tagging up a child is one thing, but they have to know what to do it they find themselves alone or lost.  A good set of rules is:

1) don't panic

2) stand still, chances are your leader or parents aren't far away and will come to you quickly.

3) if definitely alone ask someone in uniform for help, preferably Police but transport worker if at a station.

4) if you can't see a policemen, go into a shop and ask for help.

5) if there are no uniforms, no shops, ask a lady with children to help you.

6) remember my phone number is on your wrist, ask them to call it.

7) if on a tube, get off at the next stop and stand at the wall, I will come to you.  Ask a transport worker (uniform) on the platform for help.

8) if you are on a tube station alone and we are on the train, stay where you are, stand still at the wall, we will come back to you.

Make sure your girls know their rules about what they must do if they find themselves alone or lost. Remember to reassure them that whilst they need to know what to do, it is highly unlikely to happen and shouldn't worry about it.

Tip 4 make your group visible

Get your girls to wear something distinctive, bright neckers, flowers in their hair, same coloured caps, something to help you identify them in a crowd.

Tip 5 High ratios for younger children

For younger groups have a higher adult to child ratio than the mandatory ratios for very busy places like the tube, 1 to 2 is fantastic for brownies if you can get enough adults.

Allocate children to adults so each adult knows exactly who they are watching whilst on the move.

Tip  6 keep counting

Count, count, then count again!

Tip  7 think about how to walk in groups

Walking through parts of London can be hard, some parts get very congested on the paths.  It is easy to get split up.

When walking in a group have one adult responsible for being at the back, try to ensure you don't get gaps and the person at the front should stop occasionally to allow a 'regroup'.

Tip  8 Pre-plan moving around on public transport

Understand how you will manage public transport as a group before you start on the journey and explain it to the girls too.

When getting on and off the tube or trains have one adult allocated to be last off platform and last off train/bus/boat.  They do a quick visual check themselves before getting off and on.

When your group gets off a tube or train, all walk to the wall and stand still until the initial rush has died down, head count and group walk to the barriers.  It is much less stress if you don't try to move with the initial train rush, even in rush hour there is a minor lull between trains.

Get them ready to leave a boat before your stop and count them both before you get off and after you get off. (It's not as time consuming as it sounds)

Tip 9 think about your loo stops

Have a look at my London Loos for Guiders to help you along.

Tip 10 Think about your Risk Assessment

Remember to think about your Risk Assessment.  Don't just copy one someone else has written but reading others can help you think in the right direction.

Here are some of the ones I used for my Rangers on a weekend visit:

The group may get split up at any part of the weekend. One person may be left alone.

Regular head counting and regrouping to clarify next stage instructions. Each Girl will have the trip organiser’s mobile telephone numbers on them (on a card handout and have been told to add it to their phones if they have one.).  For specific greater risk times (like tube travel) a separate hazard is identified 

Party member may get injured

Will be carrying a ‘mobile’ first aid kit with plasters and bandages for immediate first aid.  A check has been made of where the A&Es are closest to the areas we will be in.  Guys (near Westminster) has minor injury 8-8.  St Thomas’ (near Tooley street)  has A&E.  The Royal Free is very close to Pax Lodge.  In event of serious emergency one adult would go with casualty, one adult would stay with group.  Emergency Contact  would be called and parents contacted..

Separation Hazard Train travel to and from London. Leaving part of the group behind.

Train is straight to London with no changes. Head count at the start and finish of the journey. 

All tickets are booked with pre-booked seats. Each girl will have trip organiser’s mobile telephone number.

Separate collection/travel arrangements will be made as appropriate.

Separation Hazard Travel on the underground

Each girl will have trip organiser’s mobile number with them. One leader will be given last on/last off responsibility. Strict instructions to be issued that if separated to get off at the next station and stand against the wall of the tube station until the rest of the group arrive. 

Personal safety Hazard Monopoly Challenge

Route around London to visit streets via tube, bus and foot. Reminder of road sense rules and remaining alert. Both with traffic and personal possessions.

Staying overnight at Pax Lodge, WAGGS Centre

Risk assessment as per Pax Lodge

Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace

High level of security is already in place at this event. Take particular care not to get separated in crowds outside palace whilst waiting to go in.  Head count after the event prior to leaving

Tate Modern

Commercial risk assessment for premises must be in place. Girls may get split up. Have set meeting place and time agreed in advance.  Each girl will have trip organiser’s mobile number with them. 

Tip 12  Take Badge Swaps with you

There are plenty of opportunities to swap badges, especially if you are going to visit Pax.

Tip 13 Don't Panic

Taking groups to London is not as hard as it sounds, mostly it's just common sense. 

Top Tip:  Make Mountain Top Moments - safely

When we went to the Jubilee we couldn't take many adults with us because of the rules for the enclosure (still within ratio rules though) , but it meant when we walked down the Mall we really would find it hard as the crowd started to surge. 

We made the most of our Young Leaders and 'allocated' the Guides to them whilst we leaders had the Brownies and over all responsibility for all.







I spoke to a wonderful Scouter on the phone just before we walked down the Mall at the front of the procession, with 250,000 other people behind us. He said "Put all your older ones around the outside and walk as a box.  As the crowd start to run from behind close ranks and they will run around you and not split you up."  Clever man, he was right and that box formation kept us together in the crush.

We didn't lose anyone, but I did see a very pale looking brown owl that had lost a girl, it does happen.  I'm sure she will have had her girl labelled up and there were so many police around that day no child could be lost for long but I think the labelling is key to a quick reunion.

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Guides in Paris 2023

It's been 8 years since I did an international trip with Guiding and this summer we went to Paris again. It was a county trip, on a similar format to the one I'd been on before and I was responsible for only a handful of Guides (of the 150 that we took), so apart from the obvious worries of responsibility it was really quite stress free. 

It was a very early start on the first day and a full day's travelling, but it all went smoothly.  

The next morning we headed into Paris and climbed the stairs to the second level of the Eiffel tower. Security was much tighter than any time I'd been before and it actually made for a much more pleasant experience underneath the tower.  

It was really lovely seeing guides every which way I turned, even these ones that were completely ignoring the view and concentrating on the best wi-fi spot. 

After we had a  headcount (A very common happening!) and a picnic we headed to the river bank for a boat tour.

 

The Eiffel tower was in her glory, whilst poor Notre Dame is still looking rather sad for herself. 

After the boat tour we had a coach tour and went around the Arc de Triompe a number of times!

And Guides took over the supermarket on the way back to our base. 

After a pool swim and the campfire in the evening you'd have thought we were all rather exhausted but the guides still needed nagging to bed for the big day the next day!

Disney!

So the girls I had this time were much younger than the ones I took last time and we weren't confident to leave them conmpletely to their own devices, this made for a different Disney experience to the time I brought Rangers, but I think it was actually more fun and I did more rides - including the Indianna Jones 360 loop! 

The park was at capacity but the queues were considerably shorter than UK theme parks.

Whilst I was enjoying myself immensely, I still couldn't shake off the deep feelings of guilt that Disney is totally about excess, fun, and an awful lot of environmental damage whilst a huge proportion of the world doesn't even have access to clean water.

These were not feelings I shared with anyone, no one wants a Debbie-Downer when the parade of happiness is passing by!

Back to base for the last night disco and packing ready for a long day of travelling again

This was a great trip, well run by the main leader Guiders. 

These international trips, or any Guiding residentials, offer so many development opportunities for the girls - making new friends, independence, new cultures, and they usual come at must cheaper prices than anything schools offer because we are all volunteers that run them. I used my work holiday and paid the same as the girls to take them away - and I would do it all over again! 

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Camp isn't all rush

At Wellies and Wristbands I slept inside the training centre on a proper bed because of the state of my back. But the Rangers were given a pitch at the top of a steep hill about as far away as they could be from the main building.

Each morning I got up early and showered in a lovely, long hot shower in my ensuite, but don't mention that to the campers, they get all huffy about these things! and walked up to the camp site, sat with a cup of tea and waited for the world to wake up.

This meant my Rangers got a cup of tea in bed.  It's a way to say thank you for how they help me out with carrying my bag and generally being great girls.

It's lovely just sitting, waiting to hear the first zips of the tents.

There is usually time, especially at large scale events where activities are lead by other volunteers, to sit and chew the fat or perhaps plan a few meeting nights.

It's not just the leaders, the girls like to have time to chill and will seek out a quiet area to do it.  Down time can be as important as up time.

I spotted this leader tucked away between tents having a mid afternoon recharge well there were a lot of bands to be dancing to later!

Each evening as the girls and our other leader bedded down, I walked back to hall.  On the last night the moon was a gorgeous orange.  There were muted conversations coming from tents, torch lights swinging back from the toilet blocks and a dampness coming down in the air.  It's a special part of camp.

On the walk to my tent late on the last night at Charnwood 2011 I saw the longest, clearest shooting star, it summed up everything about how I felt at the time.  I really can't describe what a lovely feeling it is on a dry, warm camp night after the girls are starting to quieten down, but all Guiders that camp will know what I mean.

But sometimes those early mornings, provide the most beautiful moments.

There really is something very special about being out and about, waiting for day of activity and fun to start and yet feeling that you could freeze time just for a while to soak up the tranquillity.

At Wellies and Wristbands Waddow, one lady went around the dry stores on each camp site at about 5:30am and put on the boilers for hot drinks when the campers woke up.  It seems like such a chore and I was so grateful to her but I could wish to be that lady, happy to have nature to myself, just for a while.

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