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Completing AA Forms

A few pointers to ensure your forms get signed first time (and you get the A/Ac back in time)

  • A/A forms should be sent to your District Commissioner 6 weeks before you are due to go on holiday or camp. This allows for people being away.

  • Please list section as well as Holiday or Camp when asked for "Type of Licence" ie Guide Holiday, Senior Section Camp.  If you hold a holiday licence you can put "see below" and circle all licences held.

  • Please list the name of all leaders or other adults going on camp/holiday on your A/A form.  Your District Commissioner signs to confirm that the appropriate checks have been made and she cannot do this without names.

  • If someone is listed as a leader on the A/A form, they cannot sign it in any other capacity (eg District Commissioner, Camp Adviser)

All Guide and Senior Section forms (holiday and camp) should be sent to Isobel Gowers (details in County Directory)

All Brownie (holiday and camp) or Rainbow overnight forms should be sent to Joan Jackson (details in County Directory)

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CAR PARKING AT THE O.A.C.

Photo of court yard at OACAs a result of feedback from numerous sources, we have decided to amend the regulations regarding car parking at the O.A.C.

Winter Season (1st October – 31st March)

The car park will be open to ALL users of the O.A.C. but we would ask Guiders

a) to remind parents that they should drive with due care and attention and that they should remember that children may be walking on the driveway

b) to advise parents that the car park is very small and that they should park considerately and not obstruct the area designated for emergency vehicles

c) to appoint one adult from the unit to act as car park attendant. This person should supervise the arrival and departure of all children from the unit. He/ she should also wear high a visibility vest (available from the Warden).

Summer Season (1st April – 30th September)

The car park should only be used by Guiders and by parents who are bringing or collecting children from camps or residential holidays. Guiders-in-charge of camps or holiday should ensure that regulations 1a-c above are observed.

The car park must not be used by parents bringing children for day or evening visits. On these occasions, Guiders should make arrangements to meet their girls, preferably at a safe point away from the entrance to the O.A.C. (e.g. Forge Dam or Ringinglow Road). We would also recommend that Guiders ensure that the ‘No Parking’ cones are put out around the entrance gates.

Please remember that the Wardens are not car park attendants and that they should not be held responsible for any difficulties that arise with regard to parking.

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Arts and Craft Lovers

Please remember that there are lots of items and equipment to borrow from County for  your event, Pack Holiday, Camp or meeting.

Please contact Liz Wensley (details in County Directory) to book and borrow

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Outdoor team news

If you are planning a camp/holiday or other activity using parent or other non Guider helpers then you will need to get that person CRB checked! There is no short cut! It takes about 3 months. Your District Commissioner has all the details. Also she will need to write on the document check form that this is for a helper at an overnight event and not a new/prospective guider so that when the form comes back to Sheffield from NEE it ends up with the right person. You know it’s through when they get their Unit Helper card. If you have any queries then do get in touch with Liz Murray

Please remember to allow plenty of time for your A/A form to make its circuit, 6 weeks is the suggestion to allow for advisers being away.

Brownie Overnight Experience booking forms are elsewhere in Guide news, especially for those units who normally have no chance of an overnight experience but everyone will be welcome. Offers of help from Guiders and Senior Section members also gratefully received.

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Things you need to know about activities at the OAC

Guidelines and Risk Assessments

Follow this link to get a copy of the risk assessments

This is to give you the chance to read them before arriving at the OAC. Giving you the opportunity to prepare yourself and your group.

Guidelines are included for canoeing, archery, indoor climbing wall, adventure course, weaselling and climbing from the OAC

Risk assessments

Risk assessments are now available for all activities at the OAC, these include:

  • Weaselling
  • Climbing (indoor and out)
  • Archery
  • Canoeing
  • Adventure Course
  • Problem solving/night line/pioneering/shelter building
  • Orienteering
  • Standing camps
  • Indoor accommodation
  • Climbing frame
  • Grass sledging and go-kart
  • Water based activities to include pond dipping and rafting.

These are available from the OAC via email or post, or from Sue Shelley via email. We hope to get them on the county web site soon.

How to use the risk assessments

Read and take note of anything that may affect the activity for you and your group.  Please do not make any changes to the risk assessments, however you may need to add something that affects your group, e.g. if you have a child with special or medical needs.

Any accidents or incidents that occur during the activity need to be reported to the wardens at the OAC in case changes need to be made to the risk assessments.

When to get a copy of the risk assessments

Do not ask too far in advance of your visit as updates may occur. Three or four weeks beforehand is sufficient.

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Guide Silver Rose Bowl

In 1956 Sheffield County Guiders started planning for celebrations to be held in 1957, which was the centenary year of Lord Baden-Powell’s birth. It was proposed to purchase a silver rose bowl with money to be raised by the units during the year.  The Rose Bowl was then to be presented to the Cathedral in memory of Lord Baden-Powell.

In July 1956 a silver bowl was chosen by the Commissioners and £100 expenditure was approved by the committee.  (The first bowl shown to the then Provost was not accepted),

Thinking Day 22nd February 1957 was the beginning of the celebrations and on that day a special service of re-dedication for all Scouts and Guides was held at the Cathedral.  The Guides who were also celebrating “Thinking Day”, the 69th birthday of Lady Baden-Powell, were led by Mrs John Renwick, Assistant County Commissioner (later to be Lady Renwick).  During the service the bowl was handed to the provost the Very Rev. J. Howard Cruse, by a Ranger, a Guide and a Brownie representing the different branches of Guiding.

It was agreed by the Cathedral authorities that the bowl would be filled with flowers and displayed every Easter and Christmas.  Funds to purchase the flowers were to be collected from each Division in turn.

This has been the situation to date, however it has now changed.  The Insurers will now no longer insure any piece of church equipment that cannot be firmly secured or locked away.  The bowl has no way of fixture and so cannot be left out securely. Following a meeting with the Canon Precentor The Very Rev. Howard Such, who was very keen that the bowl should be on show, it has been agreed that the bowl will be kept in a locked cabinet and displayed for a month twice a year; one of those months will be February.  

Any group wishing to make a visit to the Cathedral to see the bowl should ring and make an appointment. The bowl will be removed from the vault and members can examine it in the Chapter House.  It is well worth a visit.

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Friends of OAC

Friends of OAC was set up in 1988 with 14 founder members.  The aim of Friends is to support  the centre and give people the opportunity to keep in touch with all developments and activities.  Membership is open to people involved in Guiding and to anyone who is interested in the OAC.

Over the years, almost £5,000 has been raised.  This money has been used to buy new equipment, including trek carts, new tables for Plimsoll, fridge/freezer etc and help children enjoy holidays at the OAC.  We meet twice a year - in the Spring for a coffee morning and again, usually in September, for Friends' Day when members have tea and also a chance to look round the centre and meet old friends.  Two news letters are sent out each year.

The minimum subscription is £4 per year.  At present, we have over 50 members but would welcome more.  Application forms are available from the OAC and from Divisions.

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GREY MATTERS Skills Teams

Unit Guiders - GREY MATTERS is able to offer help and ideas at your unit meeting during September, October and November 2005.  Should you wish to book a session, please get in touch with the appropriate person as soon as possible. Their details are in the County Directory

On offer are:

All Divisions - Activities for Dark Evenings at OAC for any unit whatever the weather; ring Jacqui Herbert on 0114 255 4379 and then book your slot at Whiteley Wood.

North and North West Divisions
  • Craft for Rainbows, Brownies or Guides - Audrey Sidebottom
  • International or Guiding Heritage evenings for Brownies or Guides - Brenda Barker

East, South East and South Divisions

  • Craft for Rainbows, Brownies or Guides - Ann Gillingham
  • Hand bell Ringing for Brownies and Guides - Jacqui Herbert
West and South West Divisions
  • Craft for Rainbows and Brownies - Wendy Gould
  • Drama for Brownies and Guides - Dianne Bollom

A small charge will be made if craft materials are supplied.

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