Girlguiding

"Scouting for girls" redirects here. For the band, see Scouting for Girls.

Girlguiding
HeadquartersLondon, SW1
CountryUnited Kingdom
Founded1910
FounderRobert Baden-Powell; Agnes Baden-Powell
Membership290,468 young people (4–18 years) (June 2022)[1]
Chief GuideTracy Foster (22 February 2023 – present)
Chief ExecutiveAngela Salt[2]
PatronSophie, Duchess of Edinburgh
PresidentVacant
AffiliationWorld Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
Website
www.girlguiding.org.uk
 Scouting portal

Girlguiding is the operating name of The Guide Association, previously named The Girl Guides Association. It is the national guiding organisation of the United Kingdom. It is the UK's largest girl-only youth organisation.[3] Girlguiding is a charitable organisation.[4][5]

Within Girlguiding, participants take on adventurous activities, such as climbing, canoeing, sailing and orienteering[6][7][8][9] and have the opportunity to get involved in camps and international events, including girl-only festivals[10][11][12] and overseas development projects.[13][14][15] In local groups – called 'units' – girls complete badges and challenges that cover topics from circus skills, stargazing and scientific investigation, to first aid, camping and community action.[16]

Each year, the organisation publishes the Girls' Attitudes Survey, which surveys the views of girls and young women on topics such as body image, career aspirations and mental health.[17] Girlguiding is also a campaigning organisation, having supported the No More Page 3 Campaign[18] and lobbied the government on sexual harassment in schools,[19] women's political representation and media sexism.

Guiding began in the UK in 1910, when Robert Baden-Powell, founder of The Scout Association, established a separate organisation for girls.[20] The Guide Association was a founding member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) in 1928.[21]

Girlguiding is supported by around 100,000 volunteers.[22]

  1. ^ "Membership numbers and appeal for volunteers". www.girlguiding.org.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  2. ^ Preston, Rob (9 January 2019). "Girlguiding appoints Angela Salt as chief executive". www.civilsociety.co.uk.
  3. ^ "Information for our UK member organization". World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  4. ^ "Charitable status". Girlguiding UK. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  5. ^ "Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2013" (PDF). girlguiding.org.uk. The Guide Association. p. 7. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  6. ^ Fullarton, Clair (30 September 2016). "Ayrshire North Girlguiding members transform site into adventure centre". Daily Record. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  7. ^ "'The Fastnet Divas' given great support from the Isle of Wight". On the Wight. 17 August 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  8. ^ "Girl Guides return from intrepid adventure weekend". Chester Chronicle. 11 May 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  9. ^ "Guides from Petersfield area enjoy the great outdoors". Petersfield Post. 18 July 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  10. ^ Wild, James (26 August 2016). "Wellies and Wristbands will provide action-packed girl-only New Forest festival". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  11. ^ "Guides delighted to meet popular bands". Worthing Herald. 2 September 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  12. ^ "Clitheroe hosts UK's youngest girl-only festival". Clitheroe Advertiser and Times. 19 June 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  13. ^ Vincent, David (12 March 2016). "Girlguiding members are heading out to help people in Haiti". Ipswich Star. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  14. ^ Hughes, Sam (16 October 2016). "Tavistock's Charlotte Mellor goes on trip of a lifetime". Tavistock Times Gazette. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  15. ^ Mason, Vivien (4 May 2016). "Trip of a lifetime to the Maldives awaits a Chipping Campden Girl Guide assistant". Cotswold Journal. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  16. ^ "Our programme and activities". Girlguiding UK. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  17. ^ Topping, Alexandra (3 October 2016). "Girls as young as 7 feel pressure to be pretty – body confidence study". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  18. ^ Barnett, Emma (9 April 2013). "Girl guides sign 'No More Page 3' campaign". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  19. ^ Burns, Judith (13 September 2016). "MPs seek better plan to fight school sexual harassment". BBC News Online. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  20. ^ "History". 21 February 2005.
  21. ^ "Our history". World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  22. ^ Wilson, Michaela (15 October 2016). "Girl Guides: From gender stereotyping to becoming the 'ultimate feminist organisation'". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 22 May 2017.