This week is #IWillWeek, an annual celebration of the power of young people in shaping their communities and society through social action.

At Girlguiding Scotland we know young people have the power to lead change in their communities. As Scotland’s largest organisation for girls and young women we have 40,000 girls who take part, in 3,000 units across Scotland, led by 9,000 volunteers taking the time to make this happen. Girls take what they do in guiding with them as they grow up. Everything from working in a team, to taking the lead, to speaking out on issues they care about. It helps them develop the skills and confidence to become the young women they want to be. And to make a difference to the world around them.

Speak Out is Girlguiding Scotland’s youth voice programme. Launched as part of the Year of Young People in 2018, Speak Out is girl-led and the Speak Out champions influence the direction of our advocacy work. Each year, up to 20 Girlguiding Scotland members aged 14-25 are selected to be Speak Out champions. Our champions have had some amazing opportunities, including meeting the First Minister to discuss women in politics and the impact of social media on girls and young women, spoken about period poverty in the Scottish Parliament, and met with the Minister for Mental Health to discuss the impact of poor body image on girls and young women.

Our Speak Out champions in 2023 launched their campaign ‘Own Our Zone’ seeking to make public spaces safer for girls and young women across Scotland. They achieved tangible policy change through the Equally Safe Delivery Plan, featuring specific action on girls’ safety to play in public spaces.

This year’s cohort of Speak Out champions have developed a manifesto for girls ahead of the Scottish General election in 2026. We spoke to one of our current Speak Out champions Elsie, aged 14, about her experience.

“I feel really lucky to be part of Girlguiding Scotland’s Speak Out programme. It’s been such a special experience, not only because I’ve met an amazing group of girls my age, but also because I’ve grown so much myself. Being in Speak Out has given me the confidence to use my voice, and that’s something I know will stay with me for the rest of my life.

“When my Speak Out peers and I worked together to create our manifesto, the skill I used most was communication. It wasn’t just about saying what I thought, it was about really listening to everyone and then collating our ideas into the manifesto. Communication is something we all do every day, but it can feel really challenging when you’re talking about mature or sensitive topics. It can feel even harder for girls and women, because so many of us have had experiences where we haven’t been listened to, or where it felt like our voices didn’t matter. That’s why for me and my peers, communication during Speak Out feels like such an important skill – to make sure everyone’s views are heard and included.

“As a group, we’ve learned how to speak out clearly and confidently. We’ve realised that advocacy doesn’t just mean standing up for ourselves, it also means speaking up for people who can’t, or who might find it difficult. Doing this together has been powerful, because we’ve been able to encourage each other and show that when girls and women come together, our voices are stronger. For me personally, these experiences have also built my leadership skills – I now feel more confident speaking in a room full of people, and I know I’ll be listened to.

“I think what makes Speak Out really powerful is that we’re learning these skills while we’re still young. If girls my age are already being taught how to advocate, communicate and lead, then we’re starting from a stronger place for the future. And it’s not just about us as individuals, it’s about the wider impact. Having these opportunities to builds the foundations for more gender equality in leadership, because if girls grow up knowing their voices matter they’ll carry that confidence into adulthood. Together, we hope that means more women in leadership roles, making decisions and inspiring the next generation to do the same.”

Read more about Speak Out and the 2026 manifesto here