Team Pink are the team of the Executive Officers and Assistants who are responsible for the running and development of the National Student Scout and Guide Organisation.
Representation
The Exec are here to represent you and help support your SSAGO Journey. If you've got any suggestions, ideas, concerns or questions, just fill in the box below!
Want to see a National Event? Want to earn a badge? Want some support from National SSAGO for your club? Think there's something we should be doing? Let us know!
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Reps Meeting
The next Reps Meeting, where the National Exec, Assistants and all SSAGO clubs gather to discuss SSAGO will be held at ReBuild-a-Rally on 26/06/2023.
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Exec Meetings
The Exec get together at various points over the year to plan and discuss National SSAGO business and any points raised by SSAGO members. The agendas and minutes are always public and your thoughts are always welcome.
The Exec
The Exec, elected at the AGM each year, form the elected representatives of National SSAGO and together work to maintain and develop the running of SSAGO at a National Level
Find out what we've been up to
Chair
James Barber
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 😉).
Secretary
Jack Woodward
Hello SSAGO! I’m Jack, your secretary for 2023/24.
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, IST for the World Scout Jamboree, and Network member at uni (where it actually exists), and at home (where it doesn’t, really)! 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 the last two IOW Revolution contingents.
In my spare time, I'm also a 4th (masters) year Physics student at the University of Liverpool, and avoiding having to leave SSAGO by starting a PhD in Nuclear Materials Engineering in September.
Treasurer
William Burrows
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.
Publicity
Beatrice Overend
Hello,
I’m Bee and I’m a first year PhD student at the University of Liverpool studying plant genetics. Since the age of 5 I’ve been a girl guide and am now a Rainbow leader! I only joined SSAGO in my third year of undergrad but have loved being involved for the last few years! In March I was one of the co-chairs for CenetenaRally - a roll which definitely taught me a lot (mostly just how to function with no sleep).
In my time not spent on SSAGO I’m a keen musician playing in 6 university bands a week and having been the Symphony Orchestra manager and flute choir conductor during my time at Liverpool. When I’m not playing music I’m on the water in some form of boat - mostly sailing boats but have recently taken up kayaking as well.
Members
Gee Barlow
Hi Everyone, I'm Gee, your new members officer.
I'm currently in my third year at Teesside University studying Occupational Therapy.
Although I am fairly new to SSAGO, I would like to hit the ground running, understanding the goings on and offering a new perspective to how things are.
I was originally in cubs in (date not disclosed) however when the group disbanded, I had nowhere else available to attend due to them not being accepting of girls in those days. I then joined as a leader and have been back in scouting for almost 8 years, helping with cubs, scouts and explorers. I'm keen to assist others in achieving their top awards including King's Scout award, Explorer Belt and Scouts of the World Award.
I am hoping that I can amalgamate my own personal experience, professional experience and the voice of others in helping to make SSAGO as inclusive and accessible as possible.
The Assistants
The Assistants, appointed by and working with the Exec, support the running of National SSAGO through filling specific roles and tasks needed to make SSAGO work
Quartermaster
Joe Barnes
I’m Joe, currently studying a PhD in Biomedical Tissue Engineering at the University of Liverpool. I started in Scouting when I was six, and never left; I’ve been in Liverpool SSAGO for 6 years now, on committee for 2 of those and now I’ve stepped up to offer you the best merch around...
I'm always contactable at quartermaster@ssago.org if you have any questions / suggestions!
Archivist
Charlotte Simmons
Hi, I'm Charlotte and I will be taking over the Archivist role. This is my fifth year in SSAGO, and my second as an Indie, having finished at Nottingham in 2020. Whilst at Nottingham I was involved with the archive that SNoGS run in conjunction with the University of Nottingham archives and really enjoyed it, and I believe it's important that clubs are supported to set up and run their own archives if this is something that they wish to do, as well as maintaining and building the national SSAGO archive. I'm really looking forward to getting stuck in to this role and to working with members of SSAGO to build our records for future generations. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions relating to archives either at a national or club level.
International
Conni Schmitt
Hi, I’m Conni, and I’m probably one of SSAGO’s most international members: I am German, have done my undergrad degree in Ireland and am now living in the Netherlands. My first Rally was Chocolate Rally, which was AWESOME. And that is why I applied to become international officer: I loved taking part in SSAGO events as part of an international contingent and want to help others in experiencing this too! So if you’re an international student scout/guide wanting to come to an event, or an incoming exchange student who wants to know what this “SSAGO” thing is all about, or if you’re going abroad and are wondering if we know of any group you could join where you’re going – ask away! I will also try and see if any of the international groups would welcome a contingent of SSAGOers as guests at their camps (I can’t promise but: Irish Rover Intervarsities are some of the best camps you can imagine!).
A bit about me: I first came to scouting because I heard about Roverway and it sounded so great, I just had to participate – and I wasn’t disappointed, I absolutely loved the international atmosphere! And the Netherlands as a country too: Two years later I even moved here, and now I am studying electrical engineering at TU/e in Eindhoven. In my free time I do bouldering and Survival Run (a Dutch sport – think of a combination of Ninja Warrior and cross country running). I am addicted to badges (and as part of the badges-at-home team am helping run badges for SSAGOers to do during lockdown). So far I’ve attended three Rallies, one SSAGO goes Spoons and two other SSAGO camps. And I regularly do my grocery shopping using a unicycle.
Events
Rose Moran
Hello!
I'm Rose and I am your new members officer for the next year. If we haven't met before, I am currently in my 3rd year of a Maths degree at Keele University and hoping to continue onto my masters next year (fingers crossed!).
SSAGO has been a massive part of my life these last few years and I am looking forward to being able to give back to this great community that SSAGO has created. I have been part of Girlguiding since Rainbows and then also joined Scouting when I became an Explorer. While president of Keele SSAGO, I have worked hard to make sure our club is inclusive to everyone and I would like to make sure that SSAGO as a whole uphold these core values in order to create a welcoming environment for both current and new members.
Over the next year, my priorities are; making sure smaller clubs (and new clubs) feel supported and encourage groups to work together, using what we have learnt from virtual SSAGO to continue a more unified SSAGO and make sure there is a friendly and clear line of communication between SSAGO members and the exec.
Charities
Alex Banwell
Hi, I'm Alex. I am your Treasurer for the 2021-22 year. I intend to ensure the smooth operating of SSAGO's finances throughout the next year, as well as trying to improve their efficiency, by turning SSAGO into a charity.
I am a third-year Electronic Engineer at the University of Southampton, and have been heavily involved with Southampton SSAGO since I joined university. I was the Southampton webmaster 3 weeks after joining Southampton SSAGO, and then the Treasurer for the next year. I have been involved in Scouting since beavers, and thoroughly enjoy all things Scouty!
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!
Active Support
Ben Dickinson
Hi, I'm Ben, I'm currently in my third year studying maths at Durham! I have been in scouting since Beavers and never left. I have been in SSAGO for just over 2 years and have been on DUSAGG's committee for both of those! I was also Publicity Officer for Viking Rally, which if you haven't heard about, I'm sure Bjørn will tell you about. Outside of SSAGO, I am a member of SAGGA, an Explorer Scout Leader and District Scout Network Commissioner, among other roles.
As Active Support Officer, I am responsible for maintaining everyone's compass records, ensuring everyone has the necessary DBS checks and other compass related things. Feel free to contact me if you have something to discuss!