County Team

For those of you I have yet to meet, my name is Jill Elborn and I am Girlguiding Glasgow’s County Commissioner. It is an enormous privilege to lead the organisation that I am so passionate about.

I do think the title sounds very official and is probably better described to anyone outside of Guiding as the lead volunteer! My role within our organisation is to ensure that all of our 3,000 members have the best possible opportunities and experiences. The great news is I don’t have to do that all on my own. Girlguiding Glasgow is exceptionally lucky to have a very dedicated and talented team of Division Commissioners and Advisers to ensure that I am on track!

My role does involve a lot of admin and meetings, however, on the upside, I get to visit lots of Guiding events and units – which is the best part. I love visiting unit meetings, learning new games and activities and meeting the volunteers that make it all happen!  As your County Commissioner I am here to help and support you so please never hesitate to contact me with any questions, queries or suggestions. If I cannot help directly I will know someone that will!

I have been a Brownie Leader with 224th Brownies West Division for 30 years. I thoroughly enjoy watching the girls grow and mature during their time in Brownies before they move on to Guides and beyond.  I was also the West Division Commissioner for a challenging (but enjoyable and fun) four years.

Jill (The County Commissioner) then appointed me as one of her Assistant Commissioners within the County. I am responsible for Business Management & Finance (covering property at our HQ and all things governance and finance related), supporting our County Marketing team and providing support to North West and North East Division Teams.

I joined Guiding as a 7 year old Brownie in Dalkeith Midlothian, I then became a Guide, a Young Leader and then started on my Adult Leadership. At age 18, University took me to Galashiels for 3 years where I became a Brownie Guider and continued to work with Brownies before coming to Glasgow.

Over the next few years I took over a Brownie unit and started a Rainbow unit, both of which I continue to work with today – the reason why I still do Guiding. Over the years I have had many additional roles, including – Assistant Division Commissioner, District Commissioner, and Indoor Adviser.

Within my role as Assistant County Commissioner I lead the County Membership team supporting the County with Join Us, GO, recruitment, training and growth and retention. Further to this I support our South and South West Division teams.

Carolyn has been involved in Guiding since becoming a Brownie aged 7 – which was a very long time ago. Over the years, she has been a Brownie, Guide and Ranger Guider, and now runs the 278th Senior Section Unit in Carntyne as well as being joint Division Commissioner for North East Glasgow.

Outside Guiding Carolyn is Executive Director of YDance (Scottish Youth Dance), the national dance organisation for children and young people in Scotland, a member of Carntyne Parish Church Kirk Session, and Chair of the physical theatre company Conflux.

Senga has been guiding for 33 years and currently takes units for Rainbows, Brownies and Guides.  Over the years Senga has held various positions including District and Division Commissioner, Division Pack Holiday advisor and Mentor.

Senga loves seeing the wee quiet rainbow becoming a confident Brownie and then a Guide with leadership qualities and sometimes a bit sassy!  She enjoys being able to give the girls lots of exciting adventures, new experiences and opportunities and helping them give something back to their communities. Senga has made lots of lifetime friendships through guiding which she is very grateful for.
A memorable experience for Senga was going on an International Camp to Germany as a Guide.

Random fact: Carolyn has an inexplicable passion for American Football!

Senga surprised her daughter by doing a cheerleading dance in her daughter’s dance show.

Lindsay has been Guiding since joining as a Brownie aged 7, opening her own Rainbow Unit at 18 and Assistant Leader at the Brownie Unit she attended.  In addition Lindsay has been Division Commissioner of NW for almost 4 years and taking on the newly amalgamated Division earlier this year.

Lindsay loves making friends of all ages and walks of life and despite assuring everyone she “hates” camping she still manages to get roped in to help, and camp!

Whilst Lindsay has many memorable experiences in Girlguiding, meeting the Chief Guide at Strathclyde Regional Camp and participating in GIrlguiding Glasgow’s international trip to our Our Cabana, Mexico were most memorable.

Karen has been a Guider for over 30 years, initially with Brownies but mainly Guides and Senior section although currently runs all three. Never been a Rainbow Guider – Rainbows scare me!

Karen has held many guiding positions over the years – District Commissioner, Camp Adviser and Baden-Powell Adviser.  Karen has always loved camps and her units have fund raised for and travelled abroad on many occasions. Karen is looking forward to the challenges the Division Commissioner role will bring!

Karen Fraser and Lynn MacDonald have been involved in Guiding in various forms for over 60 years between them, with experience in Rainbows, Brownies, and Guides. As well as being the Commissioners for the South West of Glasgow, they both also run units within the Division and have a passion for helping girls grow into strong, confident, community-minded women.

The South West Division comprises of 5 Rainbow units, 7 Brownie units, 5 Guide units and 2 Senior Section units and stretches from Pollokshields to Penilee. It contains some wonderful parks which come in very useful for outdoor meetings, and is also home to the Science Centre, the Climbing Centre and the Burrell Collection.

Carolyn chairs the County Business Management and Finance team and is also joint Division Commissioner of North East Division. She has been involved in Guiding for over 30 years and has both a Guide and Ranger Unit.

Carolyn oversees financial matters for the County and is able to give advise on any financial matters you may have in your Unit including Unit accounts and Grant funding.

Nicola’s role is to help support members to spread the news about the great things we do in Guiding in Glasgow.

Currently a Guide leader in the South East of Glasgow. This is Nicola’s first position at Division or County level so a complete newbie!  Nicola joined as a rainbow and hasn’t left since so around 20 years.
Nicola loves Guiding because of the opportunities that it gives not only girls and young woman but the leaders that volunteer too. She also love all the friends that you make along the way!

Nicola’s biggest memorable experience is representing Girlguiding UK in a GOLD month long Service trip to Albania and Georgia in 2019 where their team helped develop guiding in their countries.

The chair of Membership Services is currently vacant.  They are responsible for ensuring that all volunteers receive the necessary support to allow them to have the required skills to enable them to fulfil their role. The role is responsible for ensuring the development of up to date high quality Guiding throughout the County, while taking an active role in growing guiding across Glasgow.

You can find out more and apply for the position here