Information for

Leaders

SSAGO, which stands for the Student Scout And Guide Organisation, enables members to continue (or start!) their Guiding and/or Scouting adventures whilst at university. We are part of both Girlguiding UK (GUK) and The Scout Association (TSA) and include groups in around 30 universities across the UK.

Any student at university or college can join SSAGO, whether they’ve been in Guiding or Scouting since they were 5, have never heard of either movement before, or are somewhere inbetween - and there is something for everyone.

As with a Senior Section or Explorer group, every SSAGO club is slightly dif-ferent, but generally our clubs meet at least once a week for different ac-tivities; ranging from the adventurous to the crafty, from games to evenings just relaxing with friends.

Just like other Guide and Scout sections, camping is a big part of the SSAGO culture with 3 big nation-wide camps (called Rallies) a year and many indi-vidual clubs organising their own as well.

For members who want to volunteer as a leader with any section, SSAGO Clubs can help students find a unit in their new area. Local groups are always desper-ate for volunteers, so any time would be helpful and most leaders are sympathetic to students’ work commitments around exams and essay deadlines.

About SSAGO

“SSAGO meetings were a great occasion to meet people outside of my course. There was never any obligation to attend every meeting - but I had so much fun I went to them all anyway! Making friends in SSAGO meant there was always somebody there to talk to if I was missing home too much.”

- Charlotte SmithBangor

This leaflet contains information for leaders of Senior Section and Explorer groups about the Student Scout And Guide Organisation (SSAGO).

It has been designed for leaders of Explorer and Senior Section groups so that they are able to pass on informa-tion about SSAGO to members who are looking to move to university.

If you have any questions please get in touch with the Executive Committee - exec@ssago.org.uk - or see our website - www.ssago.org.uk/.

“Joining SSAGO meant after uni I could go for bigger and better jobs - because I didn’t care where I moved to as I had friends every-where around the UK that I knew would look after me!”

- Gillian HawkinsEdinburgh

“SSAGO has given me memories and friends which will last a for a lifetime.”

- Nicole WhiteLoughborough

SSAGO Executive Committee 2011-12

Chair: Jamie Shirrachair@ssago.org.ukHello! I am Jamie from Loughborough’s SCOGUI. Please, please get in touch with me if you have any questions or queries - I’ll try and help you as best I can. I will always welcome comments, random thoughts and ideas!

Secretary: Robyn Dextersecretary@ssago.org.ukHi, I’m Robyn from Plymouth’s PLUGS, which I helped to set up - so if you need help starting a SSAGO group I can certainly help.

Treasurer: Kirstie Wrighttreasurer@ssago.org.ukHi I’m Kirstie from SCOGUI and this is my third year on the SSAGO Exec! I can usually be seen around at Rally and Ball chatting to every-one and always like to meet new members. Any money related ques-tions just drop me an email!

Members’ Officer: Luke Dixonmembers@ssago.org.ukI’m Luke from Portsmouth SSAGO - I’m the one to contact if you have any questions, comments or suggestions about becoming a member please do not hesitate to contact me via email, phone, letter, IM or carrier pigeon!

Publicity Officer: Becca Toddpublicity@ssago.org.ukHi, I’m Becca from Bangor’s BUGS and I’m here to promote SSAGO - you can help me by telling your members about us! I’m only an email away if you have questions (preferably about SSAGO, but I’m always up for a challenge!)

If you have a question, but are not sure which exec member can best answer it, the whole committee can be reached at exec@ssago.org.uk or on the SSAGO hotline: 0844 4780022

AberdeenAberystwythBangorBathBirminghamBournemouthBristolCambridgeCardiffCentral LancasterDerby

DurhamExeterImperial CollegeLancasterLeedsLeicesterLoughboroughManchesterNottinghamOxfordPlymouth

PortsmouthReadingSheffieldSouthamptonSt AndrewsStirlingStrathclydeSwanseaWarwickYork

SSAGO Clubs 2011-12*

Indie MemberStudents at universities with no official SSAGO Club can join as an “indie” or independant member which allows them to attend national SSAGO events and be kept up-to-date with SSAGO developments.

Start A New ClubStudents looking for a challenge can always start a new club. We have lots of support available for members looking to do this - there are factsheets available on the website (www.ssago.org.uk/) and the committee will always be willing to help.

Universities Without SSAGO Clubs

As the exec committee members and active clubs change yearly, this page has been designed so an up-to-date version can be printed from the resources section of our website: www.ssago.org.uk/

* subject to change. Contact details available from the website.

The national side of SSAGO organises four events each year. They are hosted by clubs who organise them on behalf of SSAGO. Three of these events are known as SSAGO Rallies and one is the SSAGO Ball. Any club may place a bid to host a rally or a ball at the AGM, held during the Spring Rally, and all members present vote to decide which clubs will host the following year’s events.

SSAGO RallyRally is a national camp, held once every term where SSAGO groups around the UK meet up to join in activities, have adventures and make new friends from across the country. They can vary in size from around 100 to over 250 people. The three rallies are held around November, February and July and, as they are hosted by different clubs each time, they offer an unique oppor-tunity to visit new places.

Each rally has a theme chosen by the host club, which is usually worked into the choice of activities and will be the basis of the (optional) fancy dress competition. When booking on, participants can choose which Saturday afternoon activity to do from a list picked by the host club which almost always includes some or all of the following: a walk or hike; a pub crawl; a shopping trip; afternoon off (meaning a free choice of what to do for the afternoon); on-site activities; swimming; and visits to local attractions.

They cost about £25 for the weekend, plus optional extras for some of the activities (however, there will always be activities that are free).

Rallies are a great way to make new friends from around the country, as eve-ryone is always really friendly, and they provide a (hopefully well earned!) break from the stresses of university.

SSAGO Events

“SSAGO was always there when I needed down time between assigments and I met some pretty special people through it too.”

- Bethan CoombeSwansea

- Loughborough SCOGUI Inflatable

Rally 2011 Logo

The SSAGO ball is the more formal side of SSAGO. It marks the official handover from the old SSAGO Executive Committee to the new one and it’s one of the few chances to see other SSAGOers not covered in mud!

The camping of Rallies is not for everyone and this is a chance to at-tend a SSAGO event in a nice hotel; switching heavy walking boots for posh dancing shoes.

The Cutlery Cup is awarded at Ball to a member who has shown outstanding commitment to Guiding or Scouting.

SSAGO Ball

“Organising the SSAGO Ball gave me a welcome break from my intense university course. It allowed me to work with some fantastic people, gain skills and most of all create some fantastic memories. It was an amazing feeling to see everyone enjoying something I’d helped put together and knowing I’d been part of people’s SSAGO life.”

- Kayleigh UrquhartBangor

Please feel free to distribute this leaflet to anyone who would find it useful. More copies can be supplied by emailing the

SSAGO Publicity Officer: publicity@ssago.org.uk.

For more information on anything in this leaflet:

www.ssago.org.uk/exec@ssago.org.uk

0844 4780022

SSAGO have created a badge for Senior Section and Explorer members with challenges designed to increase independence and ability to live away from home. The programme is available from the SSAGO website and Senior Section members can count it towards the Independant Living octant.While this badge can’t be worn on uniform, it is perfect for camp blankets - and, with the many badges that can be collect-ed from campsites visited on Rallies, may be used as an excuse to get a new blanket to fill!

SSAGO Blanket Badge