March 2024 update
Jack Woodward, Chair
Tuesday 12th of March 2024
Report
- Reps and the AGM: Finished off Oktoberfest reps, and set up Rally Through Time reps. Started the AGM process by contacting SAGGA, which took longer than expected. Stepped back from the organising of the AGM so I can run.
- Cleaning up actions: There's been a few things that got missed throughout the year, so I've been aiming to finish off my stuff, and make sure everyone else does too as we move into handover.
- Normal Functions: I've been catching up on minutes, making sure everything is published and up to date, approving NaNs, AAs and the odd LEN, replying to any member queries that I can.
Aims
- Handover: Get everything ready for a smooth handover - write up useful info I've learned, update the secretary handover guides where things have changed, etc. Hopefully have someone to handover to.
- Finish off actions: There's still a few actions I need to do, I'd like to get them done before handing over.
- Finish off Reps: Plenty of reports need writing up and other stuff doing as part of the reps process, planning to do that as soon as I possibly can.
March 2024 update
Rose Moran, Events
Monday 11th of March 2024
Report
- Supporting Events: Most of my SSAGO time goes towards providing support and advice to the national events. I have had meetings with all the events and assisted in any way I can. For example, went to a site visit with Rally Through Time and helped Birthday Ball with their risk assessment.
- Event Surveys: Created an anonymous event debrief form and a check up reflection form for event committees to fill in. These so far have been really useful in helping committees to reflect and be honest regarding where they are up to in the planning process.
- SSAGO goes to Spoons: Organised December 2023 SSAGO goes to Spoons as a test run for future events and sorted the badges being sent out or collected at rally so that we are all up to date.
- Event Templates: Started to create new templates for the event resources drive.
Aims
- Supporting Events: Obviously this is the main thing that I would like to continue working on, in particular making sure the new events have clear guidance on what to prioritise and how they would like to continue working with me in the future.
- Demo Event Website: From discussions with previous events, support on how to best understand and great a good website is something that is potentially lacking. Therefore, over the next few months I plan to make an example event page with all the feature you can utilise within an event website so that events can visually see how each feature works.
- Event Templates: Continue to create new templates on the events resources drive in time for them to be test by the new 2025 events.
Manifesto for Chair
Jack Woodward, Chair
Monday 26th of February 2024
Hi, for those of you who don’t know me, my name is Jack, and I’ve been SSAGO’s secretary for the last year. Before that, I was the do everything person at CentenaRally, Co-chair of Rally of Games, President of LUSSAGO 2021/22, and Treasurer in 2020/21. I also helped restart the Policy Fixers Project, including acting as its chair until taking my role as Secretary last year.
Beyond SSAGO, I volunteer at a Scout troop at home, and an Explorer unit in Liverpool, I’ve also got involved with the Scouts 14-24 Redesign Project – since comparing my time in SSAGO against my time in Network has made me passionate about developing successful 18+ provision in Scouting; it’s also a role I’ve used to promote SSAGO to those at the upper levels of the Scouts Programme team.
And beyond Scouting, I’m now in the first year of my PhD in materials engineering, still at the University of Liverpool, studying the glass used for long term storage of nuclear waste.
While I’d like to think I’ve done a pretty good job as secretary, I do feel like it’s time to step up to Chair, for a number of reasons.
Firstly, and perhaps somewhat selfishly, I’ve really enjoyed my time on Team Pink, and I really want to carry on! But we each only have so much capacity, and so some responsibilities land with one role over another, and I’m really interested in moving over to a lot of the more traditional “chair” roles that James has been looking after this year – I’d really like to be more directly involved with working with Scouting, and in particular Guiding, who we’ve struggled to contact this year, for one. I also don’t massively enjoy writing minutes – I hope you’ll agree that I’ve done a fairly good job of it, and that nothing has been too badly delayed or inaccurate, but I find it difficult to contribute to a discussion that I’m minuting, and that’s something I’d like to do more of.
Secondly, continuity. In Liverpool, and in many other clubs, we have an informal rule where the president of the club should have been on committee before. It means we get more continuity between committees (particularly relevant at a time where some assistants are leaving, and the whole structure of the assistants is being discussed). It also means that the person leading the committee knows what to expect, and it gives members confidence that that person knows what they’re getting themselves in for, and that they’re capable of following through with that commitment. I have that first-hand knowledge of what to expect from being on exec, and I know what kind of commitment it takes, and more importantly, I know that I can meet it!
Finally, as you might be able to tell, I’m really passionate about SSAGO, which I think is vital for every role on Team Pink, but especially the chair. I do think SSAGO is great, but it’s not perfect, and I want to strive to make everyone’s experience of SSAGO as great as I’ve found mine to be, if not better. That’s why I’d really like to work more on events, and hand in hand with that, cross-club collaboration – 2 things which I think are the best parts of SSAGO. Firstly, by continuing something I started this year and promoting working together in regions to do more cross-club activity, then also by encouraging more people to get involved in organising open SSAGO-wide events like the Revolution contingents and the trip to Kander100. I’d also like to encourage more projects to run events (like SSROB did quite successfully last year), which should help get more people engaged with projects too. I’d also like to work more closely with the Events officer than I have this year, to make sure that event committees get the support they need to run amazing events!
I’d also like to challenge some of the negative perceptions of both being on Team Pink, and being on an event committee - I think there's a 
general narrative that exec is a lot of work for no reward, that everyone who does it hates it, and that deciding to join exec is a terrible idea. I think there's a similar thing for events, to a lesser extent - the idea you have to be crazy to want to do them. Yes, they’re both a lot of work, but I also find both sets of roles really enjoyable, and really fulfilling. I’ve been on 2 national event committees, and I don’t regret any of it. I definitely learned a lot from running Rally of Games, and I implemented that and learned more from running CentenaRally, and those are skills I’m really glad to have for the future. The same is, I think, true for my time on Team Pink so far – I’m running again, after all. It’s absolutely a lot of work, but it’s also very interesting work, and I’ve learned a lot from it, while also really enjoying it. Even though exec are at the top of the organisation, I’ve always felt like there was someone I could ask for help or support with anything that was challenging. I’m really glad to have been able to learn from my mistakes, both with events and with exec, in an environment like SSAGO, where everyone will enjoy it anyway, and when things do go badly wrong, everyone’s an adult, most people are understanding, and there’s usually someone around who can help.
I’d encourage anyone that might be interested but isn’t sure to give it a real think, and if you’re reading this before nominations close, I’m happy to have a chat with you about what’s involved and whether it’s right for you. (And I’ll try and be honest about it even if you’re also planning on running for chair, but you may also want to reach out to former chairs, who I’m sure would be happy to talk about their experiences!)
Manifesto for Treasurer
Katie Waters, Treasurer
Monday 26th of February 2024
My name Is Katie and I am from UoBGAS (Bristol). You will often find me on the bar crawl or tearing up the dance floor in the Ceilidh But you will also find me at reps (often with a hangover) I first heard of SSAGO at wellies and wristbands a few years before I was a student and couldn't wait to join. Once I started uni covid had hit and so my SSAGO dreams were shattered. But a year later rallies returned and I've been to everyone since and despite the frost on and in the tent I've loved every minute.
I want to be the next SSAGO treasurer as I think that with the current cost of living crisis ensuring that prices are set at the right level is going to be a key accessibility consideration. With rising prices and stagnant wages and student loans I think that ensuring that the costs of membership and events are set at the right level is going to be key in keeping participation high.
Therefore I pledge to ensure that all of SSAGO's financial decision-making is as transparent as possible so that you know what your money is being spent on so that you have peace of mind that we are doing all we can to keep prices low and satisfaction and safety high.
Whilst I don't come from a maths background I see this as a strength, my parents run a business so I have experience in keeping a balanced cost sheet. I also find that not being a maths wiz means that I have strength in explaining things to people who don't love numbers. I also make a cracking spreadsheet. Some might say I excel at Excel.
I want to ensure that SSAGO has the financial grounding to ensure that the society keeps going for many years to come as I think that SSAGO offers a much-needed opportunity for those who have often given so much to scouting and guiding. It gives a chance to have fun relax and make SSAGO friends. Without the stress of trying to wrangle 30 ten-year-olds around a theme park.
Manifesto for Members Officer
Anna Matthews, Members
Monday 26th of February 2024
Who am I?
Hi! I'm Anna (they/them) and I'm a member of BUSAG (Birmingham). I am currently in my final year studying politics at UoB and I'm planning to do a PGCE next year. I have been on BUSAG committee for the last 3 years and recently co-chaired Oktoberfest Rally. Outside of SSAGO I am a leader at my local scout group where I help out at scouts and explorers. I am also a member of Network both at uni and at home where I helped to set up the local network group.
Why vote for me?
Firstly, I feel passionate about seeing SSAGO succeed and want to take an active role in making that happen. I am absolutely obsessed with all things Scouting and SSAGO is no exception! I've really enjoyed my time in SSAGO, I've found my time on an event committee really fulfilling and I'm ready to take the next step.
Secondly, having been a member of SSAGO for the last for 4 years I have a good understanding of how SSAGO works. I have also taken the time to reach out to a pas
t members officer so I could gain a better understanding of the role and its demands, and I believe that I will be able to maintain a balance between my studies and the commitment that is team pink.
Thirdly, I have experience having been on a number of SSAGO-related committees. I have been a member of BUSAG committee for 3 years and have undertaken the roles of publicity officer, secretary and social secretary respectively. I have also been involved in running events having been publicity for Midlands Freshers Camp in 2022 and co-chair for Oktoberfest Rally. Co-chairing rally has given me a great understanding of how the large events work and whilst it is not in the main job description for members officer, I feel strongly about helping support event committees as a member of team pink. Horrifyingly, it has also revealed to me that I quite enjoy doing SSAGO-related admin things (do with that what you will!).
Finally, both within and outside of Scouting and Guiding, I have a huge interest in equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI). I have attended a number of talks discussing ADHD and autism within scouting with the aim of developing my knowledge so that I am better able to support members who might face certain challenges. At university I am a member of Disabled Students Community Action Group where I feed back on accessibility within the College of Social Sciences and help develop better procedures to support disabled students. I have always felt incredibly welcome in SSAGO being queer and disabled myself and I want to ensure that all members feel the same.
Thank you for considering me for members officer and I can't wait to see y'all at rally!
Manifesto for Publicity Officer
Lucy Smith, Publicity
Monday 26th of February 2024
I’m Lucy Smith and I am from SNoGS. I first heard about SSAGO the summer before university while volunteering at Wellies and Wristbands, a lovely fellow SSAGO member showed me how to register my interest in SNoGS! My experience at SSAGO for the last year and a half has been nothing but positive, between meetings with my university club, to rallies and balls alike. And I am running for publicity officer with the aim of promoting SSAGO more, so more people have the chance to make new friends and have new experiences just as I have.
I’m in my 2nd year of study at the University of Nottingham and have found such community in my club, as well as SSAGO nationally. I will be in 3rd year next year, but fear not! Between being a Brownie leader, an avid canoe polo player, SNoGS committee, and committee for Nottingham Nightline, I’ve learnt well how to balance roles between my studies and other commitments. I’m confident I can manage the role of an exec position alongside 3rd year.
I’ve been a member of Girlguiding since the 5 when I joined Rainbows. I have since become a Queens Guide and qualified leader, showing nothing but dedication to the movement. I’m still a leader at my Guide unit at home. Since coming to university I have opened and am co-leading a Brownie unit in Nottingham. I also volunteered at a range of Girlguiding events such as Wellies and Wristbands again (where I promoted SSAGO to younger members on my volunteer team), and Surrey West Scoutabout.
SSAGO life so far
Within my time at SSAGO, my proudest achievement (I think) has been being voted as ‘SNoG’ of the year at the end of my first year. Alongside that great achievement I’m currently general secretary for SNoGS, taking on responsibilities of weekly emails, AGM organisation, committee meeting agendas/minutes, and the SU award applications. My time on committee has been a great learning experience for me, to understand how to collaborate with other committee members. I’ve gained confidence in my ability to lead, put my ideas forward, and into action. I also was on committee for the Midlands Freshers camp this year, which again helped to develop my communication skills further as a lot of this planning took place over summer
What I want to bring to SSAGO
Now down to the nitty gritty. The main ideas I want to bring to SSAGO are as follows: monthly roundups, club focuses, developing resources to promote SSAGO to rangers and explorers, SSAGO TikTok, and support for publicity across clubs. I would also like to aim to make the publicity more accessible, including captions on any videos, as well as photo descriptions and dyslexia friendly fonts where they can be used.
Club based ideas
1. Monthly roundups. this is something we used briefly over my time at SNoGS. The idea that either by submission of a photo and a brief explanation of the meeting/event (or by my Instagram stalking methods), local SSAGO groups can have the opportunity to share
something they have done in the last month or so on the SSAGO Instagram/Facebook. This can be interesting and engaging to members of other clubs as well as a good way for clubs to take inspiration from other clubs activities. Another possible way to increase publicity within SSAGO is more club focus posts, giving insight to different local clubs, how they run meetings and socials, and giving them a chance to share what they like as members of SSAGO. Overall, my aim for this would be to help promote publicity within SSAGO and hopefully help clubs gain inspiration from others and build more of an online community.
2. Publicity support across clubs. Involving reaching out to publicity secretaries and creating a group/discord channel for them to opt into being a member of. The aim of this group would be to work together to share publicity ideas and resources, especially over the summer ahead of the freshers fairs. A chance to share tips and advice, do’s and don’ts, and the opportunity to learn from other’s experiences. I think building this small community as well as a bank of beneficial resources developed and shared from it can also be helpful to publicity officers on both local club committees and national exec in the future.
3. I would also work closely with the publicity teams of rallies and balls to help get the word out about the events across SSAGO social media platforms to hopefully boost attendees.
Publicity external to SSAGO
1. As well as publicity within SSAGO, I want to help promote SSAGO externally also. Generally speaking our main way to get new members into our clubs is by freshers fairs. And majority (not all) of the time freshers tend to be younger adults who may be active on a platform known as TikTok. I believe that by catering to the younger audience through the platform of TikTok is a great way to grab the attention of our target audience. By engaging with appropriate trends (considering scouting and guiding values, as well as SSAGO values), it can be a great way to engage with possible future members.
2. As previously mentioned, I discovered SSAGO through volunteering at Wellies and Wristbands. At the time I was a ranger and had never heard about SSAGO before. I would love to work to develop resources based around what SSAGO is like, what we do, a brief insight into rallies/balls. I’d then work to distribute these to local SSAGO clubs that they can distribute to their local Ranger and Explorer units, as well as resources to distribute to national scouting/guiding events that may have a high engagement with rangers/explorers.
I am passionate about SSAGO and want to do what I can to help publicise SSAGO, allowing more people have the chance to experience the friendships, the fun, and the opportunities I have had the luck of experiencing as a SSAGO member.
November 2023 update
James Barber, Chair
Tuesday 28th of November 2023
Report
- Charity Timeline: due to delays liaising with The Scouts, I have been unable to meet this aim. This aim will now be incorporated into the SSAGO Strategy piece of work.
- SSAGO Strategy: started working on the SSAGO Strategy, to set some objectives for SSAGO over the next 3 years. This incorporates the Charity, Complaints Policy and Bar Policy aims.
- Secure SSAGO's Financial Position: without any massive intervention, helped partly by the membership fee increase, SSAGO is in a much stronger financial position going forwards. Work is continuing on improving SSAGO's accounting, which will help us continue on this and plan to build reasonable reserves.
Aims
- Secure SSAGO's Financial Position: work to establish a robust plan to make SSAGO's accounting procedures better and work with a new treasurer to resolve other issues.
- Develop a Charity Timeline: publish a transparent timeline for SSAGO becoming a charity within the first 100 days of office (07/08/2023) - replaced.
- Relaunch the SSAGO Shop: work with the Quartermaster to relaunch the SSAGO Shop within the first 100 days of office (07/08/2023) - complete.
- Rewriting the Complaints Policy: working to simplify the Complaints Policy and working with The Scouts to formalise their involvement with it.
- Introducing a Bar Policy: a policy to ensure bars at SSAGO events have the correct licenses and members staffing bars have adequate training around alcohol laws.
November 2023 update
Rose Moran, Events
Tuesday 28th of November 2023
Aims
- I published my previous few reports incorrectly and so my November 2023 report is below (see February 2022). Thanks!
November 2023 update
Alex Banwell, Charities
Tuesday 28th of November 2023
Report
- Continued to have discussions on, and work on the constitution.
- Contributed to team pink where it has been helpful.
Aims
- Consitution: Continue working to update the constitution to be a workable proposal to become a charity
- Charity: Submit an application to register SSAGO as a charity
- Accounts: Ensure the accounts are charity-compliant so that we can register as a charity
November 2023 update
Beatrice Overend, Publicity
Saturday 25th of November 2023
Report
- This term I've been doing quite a bit of behind the scenes work. SSAGO goes to spoons badges have been sorted and are now being handed out. New uniform badges have been ordered and added to the shop. We have sorted a new merchandise order and tested them with our Explorer group merchandise. This means SSAGO clothing can be available very soon.
- Publicity wise I have attended a local Girlguiding event talking about what's next after Rangers and how SSAGO plays a role in over 18 guiding. I've been advertising the agm and helping advertise for new exec.
Aims
- Produce new merchandise and sell it in the shop
- Visit different SSAGO clubs and increase awareness of who team pink are and what they do.
- Source a new supplier for personalised clothing.
November 2023 update
Jack Woodward, Chair
Friday 24th of November 2023
Report
- Emails: I've been sending and replying to lots of emails, from general queries to the notifications for the many camps and adventurous activities everyone has been getting up to this term!
- Events: I've been attending every event I reasonably can (plus a few it I reasonably shouldn't have made it too) and had a great time representing Team Pink! I've also been working on building multiple separate contingents for Revolution next year!
- Meetings: I've been organising and minuting lots of Team Pink meetings, plus going to event meetings where I can, and basically doing every other meeting you can think of!
- Complaints: Led Team Pink on managing complaints.
- WSJ: I represented SSAGO at the WSJ. Despite not being what anyone expected SSAGO (with SAGGA's help) was able to step up and help the UK contingent by organising the SSAGO Olympic Park Challenge!
November 2023 update
William Burrows, Treasurer
Sunday 19th of November 2023
Aims
- Accounts: Started to work through the backlog of previous years accounts with the help from others. These will be in the style that will be accepted by organisations e.g Charity commission.
Introducing James Barber
James Barber, Chair
Wednesday 2nd of August 2023
Hi, I'm James and I'm the Chair of SSAGO for 2023-24. I've been a LUSSAGO member for the last couple of years, on the committee for CentenaRally, run a few national/regional events and starting SSROB: the SSAGO Strategic Rail Operations Branch. My main goal for this year is to help SSAGO stay on course through the ongoing Cost of Living crisis as well as reopening the dialogue on how/if SSAGO should proceed with becoming a charity.
My door's always open for new ideas/suggestions, and please come and say hello at rally or ball (as long as I've had a coffee 😉).
June 2023 update
Beatrice Overend, Publicity
Sunday 25th of June 2023
Report
- Working with quartermaster to sort final shop problems.
- New merch designs are in process, publicity packs are in process.
- Ssago support - need to have a meeting with Ben to discuss how to get this up and running again.
Aims
- Produce SSAGO Publicity Packs for freshers
- Introduce new lines to the ssago shop
- Work the SASU Manager to promote and set up SSAGO Support
June 2023 update
James Barber, Chair
Saturday 24th of June 2023
Report
- Making lots of progress: working on lots of small projects and supporting Team Pink on their projects.
- Handling complaints/issues: supporting Team Pink in dealing with issues and complaints as they arise.
- Team Pink Task Management: implemented a new Discord-based system for managing tasks throughout Team Pink.
- Relationship with The Scouts: working with new contacts at Scout HQ to improve our relationship and for support with becoming a charity.
Aims
- Secure SSAGO's Financial Position: work to establish a robust plan to make SSAGO's accounting procedures better and work with a new treasurer to resolve other issues.
- Develop a Charity Timeline: publish a transparent timeline for SSAGO becoming a charity within the first 100 days of office (07/08/2023) - on track.
- Relaunch the SSAGO Shop: work with the Quartermaster to relaunch the SSAGO Shop within the first 100 days of office (07/08/2023) - on track.
- Rewriting the Complaints Policy: working to simplify the Complaints Policy and working with The Scouts to formalise their involvement with it.
- Introducing a Bar Policy: a policy to ensure bars at SSAGO events have the correct licenses and members staffing bars have adequate training around alcohol laws.
June 2023 update
Charlotte Simmons, Archivist
Saturday 24th of June 2023
Report
- March-May: After largely taking from late March until late May off from Archives matters due to personal reasons, I spent the end of May easing myself back in and catching up on general team pink stuff.
- Club queries: I have responded to a few queries from various clubs regarding archive matters - if you ever have any queries regarding club history (which may be mentioned in the national SSAGO archives), or anything related to your own club's archives, please do get in touch with me and I will do my best to help you.
Aims
- Archives online: To finally make archive online a reality - I'm not totally sure about the how of this because if I'm honest, I'm a bit of a technophobe, but I'll be looking to make some real progress on this in the coming months.
- Supporting clubs: Continue to help and support clubs with archive queries
- Coronation helpers: I am planning on collating stories from those ssago members who were involved in helping at the Coronation.
- Archives stories: I will also be collating stories from wider SSAGO regarding a variety of events - from the Jamboree this summer all the way down to local camps. Now feels like a good time to do this as we fully get back to normal after the pandemic.
June 2023 update
Ben Dickinson, Members
Friday 23rd of June 2023
Report
- Volunteering Events: I have been adding SSAGOers to the scouts membership system, processing their DBS checks and making sure they are ready and able to support events with young people!
- Agreements: I have been rewriting the agreements between SSAGO and the scouts and the guides.
- Under 18s: I have been supporting clubs with new under 18 members, provinding advice and support around under 18s attending club activities, events and freshers camps
Aims
- SASU Membership: I will be keeping the SASU membership up to date, adding and removing people as required, and ensuring people do their training!
- SAGGA: I will continue to talk to SAGGA and attend their committee meetings.
- Scouts and Guides: We are looking at renewing out agreements with scouts and guides to better reflect our needs and practies
- Handover: Having recently appointed Charlie as my successor, I will be doing a handover with him to get him ready to take over at ball!
June 2023 update
Jack Woodward, Chair
Friday 23rd of June 2023
Report
- It has been an incredibly busy month and a half since Ball, both personally and with SSAGO stuff, so here's a brief snapshot!
- Finishing my degree: I've been through my last exam period, sat my last exams, and officially finished my Master's degree - now on to the PHD in October!
- Scouts 14-24 Redesign Project: I've joined the Youth Panel working on the Scouts project to completely redesign the Explorers and Network provision. While theoretically completely separate to my SSAGO role, I've talked about SSAGO enough that I'm being interviewed about SSAGO as part of the research phase!
- Emails: I have sent and received lots of emails, including lots of NaN forms and Adventurous Activity Notifications making clear that SSAGO is getting up to plenty now that tern has ended! Also dealing with lots of other things, including complaints and incidents, handovers/getting things set up for Treasurer, Indie rep and Associate rep, helping to co-ordinate WSJ merch, and some general queries that don't quite fit in a category.
- Switzerland: I have also visited KISC, met with Oli, both constructively for SSAGO and to have a lot of fun, and completely failed to not do SSAGO stuff while on holiday (mainly because a lot of stuff for reps wasn't done before hand - including this report, which I'm writing from Geneva Airport, before flying to Rally).
Aims
- Reps: I'm aiming to make the post event part of ReBaR reps go much more smoothly than the pre-event part, and now that I kind of know how much time it takes, I'm aiming to be much more on time/ahead of schedule for Reps at Oktoberfest!
- Scouts: I'm aiming to actually work with scouts at HQ level to build a positive relationship which should benefit SSAGO - I'm hoping involvement in the 14-24 Redesign Project will help with that, and that a SSAGO presence at Gilwell Reunion will also support that effort. I'd also like to start the effort of doing the same with GirlGuiding, but don't currently have as convenient a pathway to pursue that.
- SSAGO Policy and Factsheets: This was on my aims in my last report, and I didn't get a chance to even think about it, so I'm carrying it over. There's plenty of issues with out of date factsheets that need updating, and some policies that were originally based on Scouting policies that have since changed, and so could also do with updating.
June 2023 update
William Burrows, Treasurer
Sunday 18th of June 2023
Report
- Accounts- Getting settled into the new role. Just completed the mandate papers and currently waiting for Lloyds to process them.
Aims
- Accounting: To improve the way SSAGO reports its accounts
Introducing William Burrows
William Burrows, Treasurer
Tuesday 16th of May 2023
I'm Will from Aber, your treasurer for 2023/24 .I'm a 3rd year economics student and have been a SSAGO member since 2020 and a committee member at Aberystwyth for the past two years.