Leaders & Helpers

Girlguiding UK would not have survived for 100 years without the amazing contribution of volunteers. More than 80,000 adults currently volunteer with Girlguiding UK, contributing over 10 million hours each year. In return, Girlguiding UK offers training in practical skills such as event management and first aid, whilst helping to develop additional skills such as leadership, team building and diversity awareness.


Whether it’s by running a unit, or organising fundraising, or generating publicity, volunteers have made Guiding what it is today. And of course, the more volunteers we have, the more girls we can welcome into Guiding.

If you’re interested in volunteering, in any capacity, you can read more at www.girlguiding.org.uk, then contact us by email, or by calling 0800 1 69 59 01. Whether you can offer a regular weekly commitment, or an hour or two every few months, we would love to hear from you.

Life as a Leader (Claire, aged 26)

I started volunteering as a Unit Helper with a Brownie Unit in Oxfordshire in January 2010. I wasn’t a Guide myself (although I was a Brownie, as you can see!), but fast-forward 18 months, and I couldn’t imagine being without Guiding! I am now a qualified Unit Leader (Snowy Owl), and I also run our unit’s website and volunteer with a group dedicated to promoting Guiding across the region. It has been a real honour to work with the Brownies, and I’ve been amazed at how much they have grown in confidence in the time I’ve been with the unit, and how much they have begun to blossom into strong young women. My own confidence has increased a lot too, and I’ve developed loads of important skills – leadership, organisation, communication – which I know will serve me well through everything I do. I’ve just started training to be able to take the Brownies away on camp, which I’m sure will bring lots of new challenges!

In my spare time (when I'm not involved with something to do with Guiding!) I work as an Editor for an educational publisher.