SSAGO Blog

October 2025 update

Lara Hagger, Treasurer

Saturday 25th of October 2025

Report

• Freshers' events: It's been exciting to see/hear about all the events happening with new members, and I've been busy providing advice plus the use of our SSAGO event bank accounts.
• Insurance: SSAGO are now insured for another year, and I am in the process of sorting the events insurance for our national events.
• National budget: I have been updating the national budget for 2025-2026 which should be finalised soon!
• General treasuring: SSAGO still has money! Also Money Bunny should have her SSAGO necker by Space Rally...

Aims

• Development fund: start promoting the dev fund to clubs as it's there to be used by our SSAGO members!
• Club treasurers: I want to start sending monthly 'Treasurer Times' emails to committees with the intent to make being a club treasurer something fun and easy to do.
• Bank accounts: hopefully we can get Lloyds to update the account named 'Whitan' to 'Witan' without too much fuss.

October 2025 update

Abi Pain, Webmaster

Thursday 23rd of October 2025

Report

• Broken ground: a new website is under development, starting with membership and clubs.
• Research: investigations have been made on how best to approach some of the trickier areas of the project, such as emails

Aims

• Planning: work with Nem to create a fairly complete set of documents specifying how the new site should work
• Deployment: depending on when they are ready, deploy some of the new website components of the website alongside the old one

October 2025 update

Lucy Smith, Publicity

Thursday 23rd of October 2025

Report

• Got stuck into all things SSAGO and publicity in the summer, promoted during a level results day, and events over the summer. Also had a meeting with Girlguiding over summer about SSAGO and Inspire and what we can do to work together. Had a bit of a mental health break from September to October, but ready to get back stuck into SSAGO!

Aims

• SSAGO goes to spoons: organise another one.
• Publicity: keep up with it.
• Tiktok: record more in batches to have consistent uploads.
• X/twitter: aim to regain access.
• SSAGO supports: get more stuck in with the project.

October 2025 update

Alex Banwell, Charities

Tuesday 14th of October 2025

Report

• -Gained clarity around reps from the charity commission
• -Drafted new versions of the constitution

Aims

• -Get SSAGO registered as a charity before I step down

Introducing Alex Banwell

Alex Banwell, Charities

Saturday 30th of August 2025

Hi, I'm Alex. I am the current SSAGO Charities Officer. I intend to register SSAGO as a charity.
I'd love to hear any suggestions you have, or to just have a chat, so feel free to get in contact, or find me at the next SSAGO rally!

June 2025 update

Jack Woodward, Chair

Friday 20th of June 2025

Report

• Handover: Having been re-elected (while on my Gold DofE Practice expedition) we had a shorter than usual but intensive handover period for the new exec which I led on and which has left us with a strong, and engaged team for the new year. I also attended the web handover with Oli and our two new assistants, helping with SSAGO's current operations and priorities, and also leading the handover of the more general Team Pink responsibilities.
• Charity Application: See the item in reps - unfortunately, this application was rejected for a couple of reasons. We have a remedial plan, that we're asking reps to approve in principle, which I was heavily involved in developing.
• Relationships: We've been maintaining our relationships with our partner organisations, with a joint meeting with the new SAGGA committee, meeting with representatives from the Scouts, and keeping in email communication with Girlguiding. We've also kept in contact with Shivaree - a Dutch led world student scouting event scheduled for next year.
• Preparing for future events: I've also been leading on organising Team Pink Weekend this year, talking to a representative from NorJam about advertising SSAGO there, and helping with booking SSAGO's stall at Gilwell reunion this year

Aims

• Policy, Policy, Policy: We have a summer of policy writing to be getting on with - those that have read my update on the SSAGO Strategy will be aware that there's plenty of policies to develop and write/rewrite for proposal in November, so that will be a big focus.
• Charity Application: Similarly, with reps approval in principle, now is the time to be getting on with this fairly quickly if we want to get it done.
• Projects: We're reaching the time of year where most projects need reviewing, and new project leads appointing - look out for applications for these coming soon!
• Assistant Recruitment: Similarly, we have a few assistants coming to the end of their terms this SSAGO year, so it's time to look at the recruitment process for their replacements, and review their roles and responsibilities.
• Maintaining our connections: SSAGO is currently doing pretty well at maintaining connections nationally and internationally, and I want to make sure this keeps up!

June 2025 update

Ewan Bell, Chair

Thursday 19th of June 2025

Report

• Clubs: In communication with 3 potential new clubs, looking promising!
• Emails: Replied to clubs questions, had issues with getting the emails set up so haven't managed my 72 hour reply aim, however that should be achieved going forwards.
• Members: Worked with club presidents, giving advice for events/teamwork which I look to continue. If you're in a similar position, send me an email!

Aims

• Members: Get setup for next year memberships, ensuring that everything gets tidied up and works smoothly
• Nasc: Is coming along smoothly, looking forward to seeing everyone there!
• Policy: Work with policy fixers over summer to update factsheets to match current policy

June 2025 update

Rose Moran, Events

Thursday 19th of June 2025

Report

• - I had a great time supporting and attending this year's National ball in Nottingham!
• - I have had catch up meetings with the 2024 elected events to keep up to date with their progress.
• - I have met with all of the new national events (some more than once) to introduce them to running a SSAGO event and run through the process.
• - Started the restructure process of the events resources drive.

Aims

• - To call my 2nd successful SSAGO ceilidh after some last minute changes in rally plans.
• - To work alongside the new web assistants to improve tech and website support going forward.
• - Get feedback from national events as to what they would like to see from the event resources drive.

June 2025 update

Lucy Smith, Publicity

Thursday 19th of June 2025

Report

• Since last reps I have had a hectic few months. Took a small step back from publicity upkeep but I am getting back on the horse now rally is about! Excited to get ads organised for the summer when A level results come out, and hopefully some good promotional tiktoks/videos made at rally/Team Pink weekend that we can use too.

Aims

• Aims for the next year are as follows:
• Media and news team: set this up properly get and it running.
• Girlguiding: continue to help foster the relationship with GG we have begun.
• Social media: keeping on top of posts across platforms including instagram and tiktok and facebook. Explore reintroducing X.
• Rangers/Explorers resources: finish developing what I have began with the resources.

June 2025 update

Lara Hagger, Treasurer

Sunday 15th of June 2025

Report

• Money: SSAGO still has money!
• Document sorting: I've been attempting to find where everything I need as treasurer is in the exec google drive, and organising it so that everything makes sense in my head.

Aims

• Development fund: over the summer, I want to sort out a spreadsheet to track the status of dev fund bids.
• Projects: arrange more regular meetings with the projects I am the team pink lead for.
• Club treasurers: now that new committees have been formed, I want to connect club treasurers with each other.

June 2025 update

Nem Calvert, Webmaster

Saturday 14th of June 2025

Report

• Handover: Had a handover event with Abi and Oli in person to get started in the role
• Discord: Updated discord with the new event roles and supported events in creating their own discord areas. Set up the SSAGO admin server with the newly elected events
• Awards: Updated the website with the awards from this year’s ball

Aims

• Events and Clubs on the Website: Supporting events and clubs with creating and updating their website pages
• Collecting Feedback: Asking clubs and events about useful website features to plan the features to be included in the new website
• Liaise with Digital Assistant: Work closely with Abi in updating SSAGO’s technology (not just the website)

June 2025 update

Abi Pain, Webmaster

Monday 2nd of June 2025

Report

• Handover: attended handover at Gilwell with Oli, Nem and Jack to get up to speed with the current SSAGO tech
• Discovery: started documenting everything that's within our remit and forming a general idea of how to approach things

Aims

• Survey and strategy: work out what people think about the current site and tech and work out what order to do things in so we can get the project properly started!

April 2025 update

Ewan Bell, Chair

Thursday 24th of April 2025

Report

• Handover: Handovers been completed, and I'm now on all systems and fully up and running as Members Officer
• New clubs: I'm in communication with 3 prospective new clubs, which is looking very promising!

Aims

• Reachability: I plan on responding to every members@ email within 72 hours with information, even if that is saying your emails been received and when to expect a proper reply by. I know it can be frustrating when emails get left in the void, which is something I'll (hopefully) keep from happening this year
• Factsheets: I will work with Policy Fixers to modernise Factsheets, insuring all the information within them is up-to-date!
• Supporting Nasc: Nasc is our event over summer, joint with Irish Rovers, which will be going live soon! I'll be working with the Rovers/SSAGO committee to make that event the best it can be!

Introducing Jack Woodward

Jack Woodward, Chair

Tuesday 1st of April 2025

Hello SSAGO! I’m Jack, your Chair for 2025/26.

I joined Scouting at 6 years old, and haven’t left yet - having worked my way up through Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, and being a young leader at Scouts, I’m now a Scout leader, Explorer leader, and Network member! Given that background, joining SSAGO once I started university in 2019 seemed inevitable, and only being lightly involved was out of the question.

Since joining SSAGO, I've been a club treasurer and chair in Liverpool, been on two rally committees - co-chairing Rally of Games and generally assisting in everything for CentenaRally - chaired the Policy Fixers Project and helped organise a multitude of smaller regional and national events, including a fresher's camp and two IOW Revolution contingents. You may also remember me as SSAGO's Secretary for 2023/24, and Chair for 2024/25 - I enjoyed being on Team Pink so much, I decided to carry on!

In my spare time, having completed my MPHYS degree at the University of Liverpool, I'm now avoiding having to leave SSAGO by doing a PhD in Nuclear Materials Engineering, also in Liverpool.

March 2025 update

Lara Hagger, Treasurer

Saturday 22nd of March 2025

Report

• Getting started: attending meetings and getting used to the way everything works in Team Pink, with the aim to be ready to begin my role fully after Goose Ball!

Aims

• Money is fun: I will be a visible presence for all things accounting! Treasurer is usually the role that committees struggle to fill so I want to help everyone be confident with money and show people that it’s a fun position :)
• Power of the group chat: putting treasurers in touch with each other to share woes, frustrations, anger at banking, whatever - and I will do my best to help!
• Development fund: remind club treasurers that they can apply for monetary help if needed, and support them to do so.

Introducing Lucy Smith

Lucy Smith, Publicity

Sunday 16th of March 2025

Hi I'm Lucy and I am the SSAGO national publicity officer for the 2024-2025 term!

I joined Girlguiding at 5 years old and haven't stopped since! I was a Rainbow, Brownie, Guide, and Ranger back in my home unit back at Surrey. Here I also achieved my Young Leader Qualification, my Adult Leader Qualification as a Guide leader and my Queens Guide Award! With my love for the Guiding movement, joining SSAGO was a no-brainer once I had found out about it while volunteering at Wellies and Wristbands in 2022.

Since starting University I have opened a Brownie unit from scratch with another SSAGO member, where we are both co-leaders. I study at Nottingham so I am a SNoG, and was their Secretary for the 2023-2024 academic year. I helped organise the Midlands Freshers Camp 2023, and I am publicity and secretary for Goose Ball 2025, and publicity for Team Pink Rally 2025.

I am currently in my 3rd year of studying BSc psychology at University of Nottingham, but I am on a placement year, doing 2 (!) placements, one in clinical psychology in the NHS, and one in research in public health.

March 2025 update

Joe Barnes, Quartermaster

Sunday 2nd of March 2025

Report

• In the time since my last report, I’ve fully transferred the Shop to the new Square system, and handed over my role to Bee. After Sports Day rally, I organised and transported the majority of SSAGO’s possessions to a storage facility in Leeds to be rationalised and catalogued by the incoming exec. My time as quartermaster is finally done, and although I’m moving on to the Transport Project, the Shop and most of SSAGO’s belongings are still in my house for the foreseeable future… (thanks Bee!).

Aims

• None - I'm leaving!

March 2025 update

Jack Woodward, Chair

Sunday 2nd of March 2025

Report

• Charity Status: SSAGO has submitted an application to the charity commission! We're hopeful that we should be successful in the application after all the work that's gone in over the past few years, but they can take some time in to review applications.
• SSAGO Strategy: There's been some progress on items in the strategy, but the past few months seem to have flown by, and as a result, there's still some items due this month that are likely to be delayed, particularly as we approach a particularly short handover period.
• Assistant Recruitment: We have now decided on which candidates we're going with for the Web and Digital Assistant roles! The aim is for these candidates to meet with Oli for a few days immediately after ball, and go through a detailed handover, then we can confirm them stepping into the roles officially!
• Scouting and Guiding Relationships: Since last reps, we've managed to actually meet with Guiding - they were very keen on a positive looking, and mutually beneficial relationship! There was some brief discussion on the "important legal stuff" around the relationship agreement, but the main focus was on how we can help each other with achieving our aims, which was really nice! We're hoping to build and maintain that relationship, hopefully through the Liaisons officer, but we did also discuss the hazards of annually elected committees when it comes to longer-term relationships!
• Being away: Somehow, since the last report in November, I've managed to fit in a week in KISC, a week in York, 2 weeks in Taiwan, and 3 (non-SSAGO) weekends away - no wonder it feels like it's flown by!

Aims

• SSAGO Strategy: There's a few January/March 2025 points that we haven't yet done, but should be able to get cleared up before Handover, so that would be great to be able to set the new committee off to a good start!
• Handover: We have an especially short handover period this year, just because of when certain holidays fall forced Ball to be quite early, so the plan is to get off the ground running here as soon as results are announced, and we're making some plans to make this period as quick and as easy as possible.
• Finishing up: There's a few things that always come up towards the end of an exec year, that need finishing off, and this year is no exception, so I'd like to get all of that finished before it gets left to next year's committee!

March 2025 update

Beatrice Overend, Quartermaster

Saturday 1st of March 2025

Report

• Since November I have been working to launch members clothings - you can now order Green SSAGO Clothing for collection at Ball. If you are at rally you can find posters detailing how to do this!
• I have also been continuing to restock the shop launching new items such as paracord woggle kits, notepads, SSAGO sporks and SSAGO Croc Charms!
• I'm hoping to use the merch designing workshop to gain insight into what SSAGO wants to see in the shop and launch new badges!

Aims

• Launch Green SSAGO Clothing
• Continue restocking the shop.
• Work out a system for managing rally kit

February 2025 update

Lucy Smith, Publicity

Thursday 27th of February 2025

Report

• I have been continuing my usual publicity, reintroducing the ‘world cup of…’ which has been a great hit! Working on organising a SSAGO goes to spoons. Have been working on some docs to share with guiding and scouting to publicise ssago to rangers/explorers. Helping with usual TP stuff. I also (badly) minuted a TP meeting. Have also re ran for publicity as I love it!

Aims

• publicity: continue working on instagram and facebook posts
• team pink: general TP responsibilities
• Ranger/explorer publicity: continue work on docs to source our to guiding/scouts