9th Bournemouth Leaders Community Trip to India

9th Bournemouth leaders are visiting the WAGGGS World Centre, Sangam, India. It’s a location for international Guiding members to learn, explore, and give back to the local community. The trip is planned for February 2026, falling on the 100 years of Thinking Day celebrations. Thinking day is a time to celebrate the other members from across the world and what better way to celebrate?

We will be interacting and sharing activities with Sangams local unit, the nivedita unit to celebrate their global movement on world thinking day and to build international friendships within girlguiding.

We have a hefty challenge ahead of us to try and raise funds to contribute towards our trip and the combined number to raise looks scary. In true girlguiding spirit we are going into this with a "Girls Can" attitude. We will be working as a team to raise as much as we can and hoping to achieve £1500pp to help with costs.

We will be doing a series of fundraising activities and events over the year for our unit, friends, family and the community and really appreciate any donations along the way!

As leaders, we fund ourselves on camps and trips we take the brownies and guides on. We give up evenings, weekends and annual leave to plan, run sessions and take the girls away! Whilst it’s rewarding work and the girls are lovely, this is an unpaid role.

Get to know the 9th Bournemouth leaders -

From our picture left to right:

SJ - Being a guide leader this one got away without a nickname! Got into guiding whilst at uni and well she got the bug and is now part of the family! Loves thinking of new ideas, giving the girls new challenges, no feat is too big! Loves the outdoors and doesnt shy away from getting the girls up for the dreaded morning fitness class on camp!

Sue- The notorious Brown Owl and known as Roo in rainbows! She is the reason we started all this. 50 years in guiding sparked this journey! Wanting to visit bucket list destination to mark this milestone! Very convincing when it comes to pantos and usually the only one who knows the full plan!

Rachel- Known as Daisy duck in rainbows & Tawny 1 in brownies! Not sure how she got number 1, beating her mum Caroline to it... She has been in guiding since she was a rainbow herself and celebrating 16 years as a leader! She is voted the loudest but it helps when she is doing all those repeat after me songs!

Carloline- Our Tawny 2 in brownies and Minnie Mouse in rainbows! However, she doesnt stop there, also volunteering for an additional brownie unit really keeps her busy! But never too busy to prep a craft or lend a hand or giggle at Tawny 1! Celebrating 25 years in girguiding!

Di- Known as Woody in both brownies and guides! From leading her own unit to being led by her trusted sister (Sue)! She originally embarked Sue on her guiding journey all those years ago when she led her own unit. It was always in the genes clearly! Reaching 30 years in guiding herself! Often the backbone of the kitchen and making the teas and coffees for all the other leaders.

Sarah- The eagle owl of our brownie pack! She was a brownie and a guide with Sue and simply continued on as a young leader and never left. She knows where everything is and every inch of the cupboard ! Hot choc is bevvy of choice and she is a crafty soul!

Thank you in advance for any contribution towards our trip and we cant wait to share the journey with you!