Girlguiding Scotland’s youth voice
We’re passionate about making sure our members have the opportunity to use their voice and take action on the issues they care about. Find our more about how we’re doing this through Speak Out and our Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament.
Speak Out
Speak Out is a forum for Girlguiding Scotland members to share their views on the issues that matter to them. Speak Out events are a great way to try new activities, gain new skills and to influence the advocacy work in Scotland.
Each year around 20 Girlguiding Scotland members are selected to be Speak Out champions, acting as spokespeople for Girlguiding Scotland and take on a direct role in shaping Girlguiding Scotland’s campaigning and advocacy work.
We’ve put together a list of amazing opportunities past Speak Out champions have had below to give you a better idea of what we’re about…
- Successfully campaigned to make public spaces safer for girls and young women across Scotland. In partnership with Make Space for Girls, the Own Our Zone campaign was launched in 2023. The champions called for a Scotland where girls and young women feel safe and are welcome outside and in public spaces during the day and night. Where they are not at threat from violence and where they can fully participate in outdoor activities as equal members of society. The campaign achieved tangible policy change, with specific action in the Scottish Government’s Equally Safe Delivery plan on girls’ safety to play in public spaces.
- Met with the First Minister at Bute House to discuss women in politics and the impact of social media on girls and young women.
- Spoken out about period poverty in the Scottish Parliament and on BBC Radio 4.
- Written to MSPs about Scotland’s deposit return scheme.
- Given evidence to MSPs in the Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee on the impact of COVID19 on young people’s employment opportunities.
- Met with the Minister for Mental Health to discuss the impact of poor body image on girls and young women.
- Featured in The Scotsman with opinion articles on pressing issues.
Scotland: for girls, by girls
This year, 21 Speak Out champions aged 14-22 came together from across Scotland to create this manifesto. Passionate about creating change, they each bring their own viewpoints, ideas and life experience.
This is their vision for the future of girls in Scotland.
- Girls deserve a safe Scotland
- Girls deserve equal access to healthcare
- Girls deserve access to learning safely
- Girls deserve to be safe online
- Girls deserve sport and youth work designed for them
Download the plain text version here.
Listen to the audio version below:
Scottish Youth Parliament
We want all young people to get engaged with the democratic process and be empowered to speak out about issues they care about. We have 2 young members who represent us at the Scottish Youth Parliament (also known as MSYPs).
What is the Scottish Youth Parliament?
The Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) is the democratically elected voice of Scotland’s young people. It’s made up of 150 young people aged 14-25 from across Scotland and is a platform for young people to make their voices heard on issues that matter to them.
2 Girlguiding Scotland members aged 14-25 have been elected by members to represent us in Scotland’s Youth Parliament. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for our members to develop their skills beyond their unit and the chance to represent girls and young women across Scotland.
What our MSYPs do
We want all young people to be engaged with democratic processes and feel empowered to speak out about issues they care about. We have two representatives in the Scottish Youth Parliament, also known as MSYPs. Our 2 recently elected MSYPs, Aine and Martha, will represent the views of Girlguiding Scotland members so they can be truly represented on important issues facing girls and young women across the country.
The top 5 things our MSYPs have done in the past:
- Met with a group of guides from Lesotho to share what the Scottish Youth Parliament does
- Presented to local authority decision-makers what community-based mental health services for young people in Scotland could look like
- Attended See Me’s conference on mental health, sharing young people’s views and SYP policy with professionals
- Attended an SQA focus group on the impact of COVID-19 on young people’s education
- Passed a number of members motions, including on the importance of outdoor education centres working with Scouts Scotland MSYPs
Meet our MSYP Support Volunteer…
“I’m Steph, Girlguiding Scotland’s MSYP Support Volunteer. It’s my pleasure to champion the MSYPs as they work to make change through the Scottish Youth Parliament and Girlguiding Scotland. I am on hand as a sounding board, morale booster, and advocate for the MSYPs, ensuring they get the most out of their time in the Scottish Youth Parliament. Not only is this a learning experience for me, but an incredible opportunity for young people to make a tangible difference in our society.”
Meet our MSYPs
Aine and Martha will attend SYP sittings 3 times a year, which involve debate and discussion around issues that matter to Scotland’s young people. Find out a little more about them here…
MSYP Aine
The issues that matter most to me are prejudiced stereotypes against young girls and disability awareness.
MSYP Martha
As an MSYP I am interested in political and equality issues, especially matters that impact the lives of young women.
Good Guiding Fund
This funding aims to help deliver good guiding, whatever that may look like in your area.
The Good Guiding Fund closed.
Thanks to funding from Girlguiding Scotland and The Gannochy Trust, the Good Guiding Fund will re-open again for round 6 between 19 January 2026 and 1 March 2026.
Units, districts and divisions can apply either for a £500 grant toward an international trip involving girls or up to £500 across 3 of the following categories:
- Meeting place rent (6 months maximum)
- Official guiding uniform (1 item per person)
- Subscriptions
- Resources (including programme materials, badges and equipment)
- Leadership activities including trips for girls
- Training for adults
- Recruitment activities
- If you’re applying on behalf of a district or division, you can also apply for a contribution toward thanks and recognition activities
Counties can only apply for a £500 grant toward an international trip involving girls.
Support to apply
Click the buttons below to read more about each branch of the fund. As well as more information about who can apply and when the funding must be used by, you’ll find sample applications and a blank template form to help you prepare your application.
Apply for support with international Apply for support with other costs
Read more about how the fund has been helping units
Good Guiding Fund general application support
This strand of the Good Guiding fund exists to support units, districts and divisions deliver good guiding in their area. You can apply for £500 across 3 of the following categories:
- Meeting place rent (6 months maximum)
- Official guiding uniform
- Subscriptions
- Resources (including programme materials, badges and equipment)
- Leadership activities and trips for girls
- Training for adults
- Recruitment activities
If you’re applying on behalf of a district or division, you can also apply for a contribution toward thanks and recognition activities as 1 of the 3 categories support you are requesting.
Eligibility criteria
- The fund is open to Scottish units, districts and divisions.
- If you’ve received a Good Guiding Fund Grant previously, you can only reapply if your last grant was offered before 1 March 2024 and you completed the associated evaluation form.
- Grants awarded will need to be spent between 1 January 2026 and 31 July 2026.
- We will only fund up to 3 categories of support per application and 1 application per unit, district or division.
- We can’t fund units, districts or divisions whose accounts are overdue at the time of application.
- If your unit, district or division has a bank account, you’ll need to provide a bank statement which includes a balance and is dated within the last 3 months. If your unit district or division doesn’t have an account, you’ll be able to explain this on the application form.
- Units must apply individually. Where an application covers shared costs, the application should explain which portion of the cost is payable by the unit named on the application.
- Successful applicants will need to return an evaluation form. If you fail to complete the evaluation form, you will need to return the funding to Girlguiding Scotland.
Guidance notes – how to maximise your chances of success
The most common reason for refusing applications is a lack of information. From your application form, we should be able to understand exactly how you will use any funding awarded and the difference it will make to girls or adults.
The application form asks you to tell us how you plan to spend the funding. Here is the sort of information we are looking for in response to this question:
- If you’re applying for rent, what does it cost per meeting and how many weeks are you asking for? (We’ll only fund 6 months of rent.)
- If you’re applying for a trip, where are you going, when will it take place, what skills will the girls gain and how have they been involved in deciding where to go?
- If you’re applying for uniform, which items do you plan to buy, and for whom? (1 person max, official Girlguiding uniform only.)
- If you’re applying for training, what topic, when is it, whose it for and what’s the cost per head?
- If you’re applying for thanks and recognition, tell us what you want to do, when and why and what’s the cost per head?
- If you’re applying for equipment and resources, what do you intend to buy and how much will each item cost?
- If you’re applying for subscriptions, what is the annual subscription for each girl or adult you are asking for funding for (this is the per head cost including local, Girlguiding Scotland and Girlguiding UK levy)?
- If you’re applying for recruitment activities, what will you be doing, when and how many? Who do you hope to recruit from the funded activity?
Other common reasons for refusing applications are overdue accounts (we check this with county commissioners) and failure to provide a bank statement dated within the last 3 months.
How to apply
To help you prepare your application, we’ve provided some sample application forms to download (linked below) and a blank template:
- Division recruitment
- leadership activities (trip to PGL)
- Meeting place rent
- Uniform
- Thanks and recognition
- Subscriptions and resources
Applications are now closed.
We’ll aim to let you know the outcome of your application by 21 November.
If you need help to complete the application form or have questions not answered here, please contact us.
Good Guiding Fund support for international trips
This strand of the Good Guiding Fund exists to supports units, districts, divisions or counties to take part in trips that involve travelling abroad with young member.
Grants of up to £500 are available to to help with to 3 of the following:
- Official Girlguiding uniform (1 item per person only)
- Travel costs including airport transfers
- Accommodation
- Catering
- Activities while abroad
Eligibility criteria
- The fund is open to Scottish units, districts, divisions and counties.
- Funding can only be used to support trips taking place after 1 January 2026.
- You can apply for funding if you already have permission to plan and REN part one signed off when your application is submitted. If you only have permission to plan, your application will be refused.
- You can only reapply for funding if your last Good Guiding Fund grant was offered before 1 March 2024 and you completed the associated evaluation form.
- Adult only trips are ineligible for funding.
- We will only consider 1 application per trip. If multiple units are taking part in the trip, please work together to coordinate your application. This helps to ensure we aren’t double-funding anyone.
- You can apply for up to £500 spread across up to 3 categories of support.
- Successful applicants will need to return an evaluation form within 6 weeks of the trip taking place. If you fail to complete the evaluation form, you will need to return the funding to Girlguiding Scotland.
Guidance – how to maximise your chances of success
Your application should include when, where and how you will be travelling. Is should also give us an idea of the benefits girls will get from taking part in the trip.
If applying for accommodation, travel costs, catering or activities, give as much detail as you can and include a per head costs. If applying for uniform costs please tell us what items you plan to use the funding for.
Please don’t apply for trip-specific wear as we will only fund official Girlguiding uniform.
The most common reason for refusing an application is that it’s been submitted too early. You can only apply once REN part one has been authorised by the international commissioner and Scottish and Scottish chief commissioner. This is the stage after permission to plan.
How to apply
To help you prepare your application, we’ve provided a sample application and a blank template.
Applications are now closed.
We’ll aim to let you know the outcome of your application by 21 November.
If you need any help to complete the application from or have any questions not answered here, please contact us.
Camp CEO 2026 volunteer team
We are looking for enthusiastic individuals to join the team delivering this exciting event!
What would you be doing?
Camp CEO is an opportunity for girls and young women aged between 14 and 18 years old to engage with successful leaders and CEOs from across a range of industries and sectors.
Taking place over a long weekend in rural Perthshire, Rangers and young leaders will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities with industry leaders, predominantly women, to explore their interests and support them as they’re beginning to think about their own professional development and careers.
To deliver Camp CEO, we need a team of volunteers to help us cover a range of roles. Volunteers will work alongside the lead volunteers before the event to help prepare and then carry out their role across the 4-day, 3-night event from 6 – 9 August 2026.
The roles we are looking to fill are:
- 2 house and wellbeing leaders
- 6-8 group leaders
- 2 first aiders
Skills and experience
Some of the skills and experience we’re looking for are listed below, but different roles will need different skills, and you don’t need to have all of these to apply:
- Organisation
- Adaptability
- Communication
- Collaboration
- Time management
- Teamwork
- Experience working with the Ranger age group (alternatively, Guides or young leaders)
- Relevant and valid first aid qualification
- Knowledge and experience of residentials and the associated processes
- It would be beneficial if you have taken part in residential events larger than a unit holiday previously, but this is not essential
You’ll also need to be an active member of Girlguiding Scotland, with an active PVG, safer guiding basics and safer guiding (or Safe Space up to level 3), up to and including the full duration of the event.
Apply now
Find out more and download the application pack today! The application deadline is midnight on Sunday 2 November 2025.
Get more info
If you want to have an informal chat about the role, please get in touch with Rachel Thomas on Rachel@girlguiding-scot.org.uk who can put you in touch with the lead volunteers for an informal chat.
Appointments committee member
Applications are now closed
The role
The appointments committee is responsible for setting and leading on recruitment processes for trustees and other key Scottish level volunteers, and ensuring processes are in place for the induction, development and reviewing the performance of senior volunteers.
As a member of the appointments committee, you will contribute to shaping the future profile of volunteers recruited for roles at the national level, including trustees and other key roles, as well as ensuring processes are in place for induction, development and review of the performance of the trustee board and its members.
The key skills and attributes that we’re looking for are:
- Experience in 1 or more of the following areas:
- Volunteer recruitment and management HR
- Learning and development
- Equity, diversity and inclusion
- Confidence to speak up and ensure your views are heard
- Capacity to be proactive in researching views, reviewing papers
- Excited to be part of shaping the future and responding to challenges
- Approachable, open minded and flexible
- Committed to our values
We’re for all girls and we want Girlguiding Scotland to be a safe and welcoming space for every person that wants to join us. Our volunteers should be as diverse as the girls that we support and inspire which is why we encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. In particular, we would welcome applications from people with disabilities and individuals from ethnic minority groups.
If you need support to help you apply, or need this information in a printed or other format, please let us know in advance so that we can ensure appropriate arrangements are made.
Apply now
Applications are now closed.
Find out more and download the application pack today!
Get more info
If you want to have an informal chat about the role, please get in touch with Erin John on erin@girlguiding-scot.org.uk who can arrange for you to speak with Alison McLaughlin, assistant Scottish chief commissioner or Denise Spence, chief executive.
Volunteer recruitment display kits
Need more volunteers? Setting up a display in a unit meeting place or another community space is a great way to encourage people to get involved.
To help you do this, we’ve created new display kits for districts and divisions to share. Each kit contains individual images and text that can be put together to create an appealing display.
There’s a suggested layout sheet in each pack to make it as easy as possible to create your display. We’ve laminated the contents too so the kit can be re-used multiple times.
They’re free to order and yours to keep. All we ask is you tell us where and when you use it.
Each kit has been created with a specific audience in mind:
- Retired people
- Students
- Parents and carers that could help run Rainbows
- Parents and carers that could help run Brownies
- Parents and carers that could help run Guides
- Parents and carers that could help run Rangers
Download our handout to see an example of what each display looks like.
We’ll be creating more kits over the coming months through the Volunteer Recruitment Project so let us know if you need something that’s not yet covered.
Need more support with volunteer recruitment?
Contact our volunteer recruitment project team on growth@girlguiding-scot.org.uk to find out how they can support you to create and deliver a district or division recruitment plan.
Lead volunteer for the adventure and development team
Applications are now closed
The role
Are you looking for a new volunteer role? Are you passionate about development and would like to help Girlguiding Scotland by supporting our volunteers to provide our young members with amazing adventures?
The key skills and attributes that we’re looking for are:
At Girlguiding Scotland, striving to be an inclusive and impactful organisation is at the heart of what we do. We recognise that being a great volunteer isn’t just about the skills that you can bring to the table, but also the unique perspectives that come from your background and life experiences.
The key skills and attributes that we’re looking for are:
- Be able to communicate with a wide range of volunteers.
- Be able to work collaboratively with staff in line with the staff volunteer protocol.
- Be able to lead, inspire and motivate a team.
- Be able to work as part of a team.
- Be good at planning and coordination.
- Be able to problem solve and be adaptable.
- Be proficient with the use of Teams and Zoom.
- To be open and approachable.
- Have excellent administrative skills.
- It is essential to have the going away with qualification and other outdoor
qualifications would be advantageous. - It is essential that you have experience dealing with RENs and risk assessments
How to apply
Applications are now closed
Find out more and download the application pack today!
Get more info
If you have any questions about this role, please contact Janice Blair, lead volunteer for volunteer experience, on Janice@girlguiding-scot.org.uk.
Routes
Meet like-minded 18 to 30 year old peers, develop your skills and be part of a supportive community across Scotland
What is Routes?
Routes is a new 6-month pilot project from Girlguiding Scotland, designed to support 18 to 30 year old members and former members living in Scotland. We’re offering Routes to help this group:
- Explore leadership positions by helping you gain relevant experience
- Establish a peer network by connecting with and learning from others across Scotland
- Keep in touch with Girlguiding in a more flexible way
This community is for you to explore the routes available to thrive, whether you’re curious about leadership, reconnecting with guiding, or just want to connect with peers. We’re bringing together people from all over Scotland with a range of experiences, whether you’re a unit leader or peer educator, or doing your Queen’s Guide.
At Girlguiding Scotland, we’re trialling Routes to support people in this age group, encourage them to step into leadership roles and raise the profile of 18 to 30 year olds across Girlguiding Scotland.
Routes is a pilot project from Girlguiding Scotland as part of the Transformational Leadership Project. It’s been co-produced with 13 members of Girlguiding Scotland who are 18 to 30 years old. We’ll be trialling it for the next 6 months until the end of 2025.
What does Routes involve?
Routes offers 3 flexible ways to get involved, depending on what works for you:
- Routes: Connect. Join the WhatsApp community, made up of multiple interest-based groups. Join the ones that matter to you! Whether you want to connect with people in your local area, others doing their Queen’s Guide or peer education or those with similar interests, there’s a space for you.
- Routes: Develop. Attend online interactive, sessions designed to help you build skills, learn something new and meet your peers across guiding
- Routes: Meet. Come along to in-person meet-ups to build real-world connections and friendships
Whatever aspect of Routes you engage with, you’ll find support, inspiration and new friendships.
Because this is a new project, it will grow and evolve around what the Routes community want. You’ll have a voice in shaping what we do.
How do I join?
The easiest way to keep up to date with everything going on is by joining Routes: Connect or checking below to see our upcoming events. To keep everyone safe in the WhatsApp community, we need to verify you and your connection to guiding before you join.
- Fill in the registration form below.
- We’ll check your details to verify you are a current or former member. This can take up to 5 days, and may take slightly longer for people who are no longer members
- Once you’ve been verified, you’ll be invited to join the WhatsApp community!
Don’t want to join the WhatsApp community? You can sign up for all Routes: Develop and Routes: Meet events at the bottom of this page and on the Girlguiding Scotland events page.
Sign up for Routes: Connect
Click below to register and join Routes: Connect!
Upcoming events
Routes has been developed as part of the Transformational Leadership Project. Find out more about the project here and get in touch by emailing hello@girlguiding-scot.org.uk if you’d like further information on this project.
Your legacy gift will help girls to thrive
Together we can support girls now, and in the future, to learn, grow and enjoy adventures.
Girlguiding gives girls across Scotland the chance to try new things, take on challenges, and grow in ways they never expected. By leaving a gift in your will, you can help ensure future generations of girls have the same chance to discover who they are – and who they want to become.
Your legacy gift will give more than you can imagine. It can create a safe space for girls to discover and be themselves. A place where they’ll get creative, become more confident, have fun, and think big and be bold.
When they make memories that will last a lifetime. When they feel the thrill of doing something for the first time. You’ll be a part of girls’ journeys!
Once you’ve looked after your loved ones, we would be honoured to be a part of your legacy if you decide to include us in your will.
Making your will
Making a will can be simple and doesn’t have to be expensive. You should visit a solicitor to have your will created.
- In Scotland, you can call the Law Society of Scotland on 0131 226 7411 or visit lawscot.org.uk
- If you live in England or Wales you can contact The Law Society on 020 7320 5650 or visit lawsociety.org.uk
- If you’re in Northern Ireland, you can contact the Law Society of Northern Ireland on 028 9023 1614 or visit lawsoc-ni.org
To leave a gift to Girlguiding Scotland, please reference “Girlguiding Scotland” in your will and use registered charity number SC005548.
If you already have a will and want to include Girlguiding Scotland in your legacy, you can contact the solicitor who helped to create your will and they can help you make changes.
More information about leaving a gift
If you would like more information about leaving a legacy to Girlguiding Scotland, contact us and we can help. Anything you share with us will be kept confidential.
- Contact us via email
- Call us on 0131 226 4511
If you have any questions about the event or need help booking please email hello@girlguiding-scot.org.uk.
Post a thank you on our wall and pack it with positivity!
Help us celebrate every member, whether they’ve organised a great day out, helped you with admin or brought some inspiration to your area. We know our members go above and beyond and there’s loads to be thankful for.
Post your thanks
