ST ​MARY
THE VIRGIN​
Church of England Parish in the Diocese of Chichester
Welcome to St Mary's Church
Scouts & Girlguiding
The Scouts and Guiding groups have close links with St Mary’s Church. Whilst they are non-denominational, the Groups have met in the Church Hall for over 30 years. The Section Flags are displayed in the Church and regular Church parades are held there.
The group is open to both boys and girls and parental help and assistance is positively welcomed. In fact, leaders and helpers are always in demand and, as long as you are fit enough to do the job, there is no upper age limit.
The East Grinstead Groups benefit from two local camp sites, the Scout site at Broadstone Warren and the Guide site at Blackland's Farm. These provide a wide range of activities including orienteering, target shooting, archery, swimming, abseiling, climbing and canoeing as well as camping facilities both indoor and under canvas.
Scouting and Guiding gives young people and adults alike, the chance to have fun and try activities and challenges away from the normal stresses of school and work. The children learn teamwork, leadership skills, respect for themselves, other people and the countryside, and a sense of community – all things that stand them in good stead throughout their lives. Leaders and helpers have the satisfaction of knowing that they have played a part in producing fair minded, responsible individuals while having more fun than they ever could have imagined!
6th East Grinstead (St Mary's) Rainbows - Thursdays
The Unit started in Sept 2007, and has been at capacity since.
2009-2010 sees the group join in with all the other Rainbows, Brownies and Guides in the UK to celebrate 100 years of Guiding! This year we have had our launch event on 6th Sept 09, where 250 members and leaders enjoyed a fun-filled day of craft, magic, pampering and disco dancing - complete with light-up bunny ears!
The Rainbows will be completing their Adventure 100 badge in the Autumn Term 2009. A challenge which will include: a visit to the East Grinstead Fire Station, a visit by a Policeman, visiting the residents of Lingfield Lodge Retirement home to say hello, a Scottish theme evening, making edible sparklers for Bonfire Night (chocolate and sprinkles!!) as well as games, songs, craft and plenty of fun!
The group has spaces on it's waiting-to-join list for girls currently aged 2 or under.
To support the group please when shopping online, do so via: www.easyfundraising.org.uk/6thegr - this way the girls benefit, at no cost to you!
Brownies - Girls aged 7-10 years.
3rd East Grinstead (St Mary's) Brownies - Fridays
The Pack have been on nights away both indoors and camping, they play games, do craft and badge work whilst having fun!
To join a waiting-to-join list or for more information phone Lorrayne 01342 327567.
6th East Grinstead (St Mary's) Brownies - Tuesdays
The Brownies have recently done: their Artist badge, had a BBQ and been on a picnic and games evening. They have been on Pack Holiday to Blackland Farm with the theme of Peter Pan.
The group are looking for a weekly helper to cope with increasing numbers, to find out what's involved please phone Liz 01342 324110.
Guides - Girls aged 10-14 years.
6th East Grinstead (St Mary's) Guides
Recently the girls have been to Blackland Farm to camp, use the activities and take part in a Sport Relief sponsored Abseil!
The Guides have been on a chip walk round town to assess the taste of our chips, been to K2 to go swimming, visited the Fire Station for their fire awareness badge, joined the other Rainbows, Brownies and Guides visiting the Hawth for Panto and gone to WS2008, an international camp for Scouts and Guides from West Sussex and all over the world held at Ardingly every 4 years.
The girls take part in varied activities, from games to Go for It's, Chocolate Badge to Circus Skills.
The group are looking for a weekly helper aged 18-65 to assist the other leaders with activities.
As you can see, all the units at St Mary's are very active, and offer great programmes during the year. All units at present are at capacity, or very near, so it is advisable to put your daughter’s name down for a unit as soon as possible, there are girls on the Rainbow waiting-to-join list as young as 3 months old!
Anyone wishing to support the units financially when they do their online shopping can do so for free at;
www.easyfundraising.org.uk/6thegguides
or www.easyfundraising.org.uk/6thegr for the Rainbows.
All the units join together to collect both the Sainsbury's Active Kids vouchers and the Tesco's Sports vouchers, the Church Hall is a collection point for both. Thank you.
Beaver Scouts are the youngest section of the Scouting family. Beavers are usually aged between six and eight years old, though they can be as young as five and three quarters. Their activities are based around making things, outdoor activities, singing, playing games, going out on visits, investigating nature, listening to stories, learning how to be safe and most importantly, making new friends.
A group of Beaver Scouts is called a Colony, and each Colony can be split up into smaller groups called Lodges.
Beavers have a Promise and Motto, but there is not a Beaver Scout Law. The concepts of the Scout Law should be presented to Beavers through games, storytelling and other informal devices
Our Beavers meet on a Saturday morning from 9.30am - 10.30am at St Marys Church Hall.
If you or your child would like to join our colony please phone our Group Scout Leader Rosemary 01342 317106
Cub Scouts are young people aged between 8 and 10 ½, who make up the second section of the Scouting family, between Beavers and Scouts.
Cubs originally started in 1916 for younger brothers who wanted a "look-in". In nearly a century, the section has constantly evolved and adapted its programme and methods to meet the changing needs of each generation of young people and these days admits girls as well as boys.
Within the pack activities are based around a programme defined by the Scout Association, developing skills and interests that lead, ultimately, to the Chief Scout's Award. There are loads of fun things that you can do as a Cub Scout. You will get a chance to try lots of different activities like swimming, music, exploring, computing and collecting. If you do them properly you will get a badge which you can wear on your uniform.
Our Cubs meet on a Wednesday evening from 6.30pm - 8.00pm at St Marys Church Hall.
If you or your child would like to join our colony please phone our Group Scout Leader Rosemary 01342 317106
6th East Grinstead (St Mary's) Rainbows - Thursdays
The Unit started in Sept 2007, and has been at capacity since.
2009-2010 sees the group join in with all the other Rainbows, Brownies and Guides in the UK to celebrate 100 years of Guiding! This year we have had our launch event on 6th Sept 09, where 250 members and leaders enjoyed a fun-filled day of craft, magic, pampering and disco dancing - complete with light-up bunny ears!
The Rainbows will be completing their Adventure 100 badge in the Autumn Term 2009. A challenge which will include: a visit to the East Grinstead Fire Station, a visit by a Policeman, visiting the residents of Lingfield Lodge Retirement home to say hello, a Scottish theme evening, making edible sparklers for Bonfire Night (chocolate and sprinkles!!) as well as games, songs, craft and plenty of fun!
The group has spaces on it's waiting-to-join list for girls currently aged 2 or under.
To support the group please when shopping online, do so via: www.easyfundraising.org.uk/6thegr - this way the girls benefit, at no cost to you!