Who we are
Download this
page as a PDF
Girlguiding UK is the United Kingdom's largest voluntary
organisation for girls and young women, with about 575,000 members
including about 65,000 trained volunteer adult Leaders.
'Girlguiding UK' is an operating name of The Guide
Association.
The Guide Association:
- is incorporated and governed by Royal Charter.
- is a registered charity (number 306016).
In this section:
Statement of purpose
Girlguiding UK enables girls and young women to develop their
potential and to make a difference to the world.
Top of page
Aim of guiding
The aim of guiding is to help girls and young women develop
emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually so that they can
make a positive contribution to their community and the wider
world.
Top of page
Girlguiding UK and World Guiding
Girlguiding UK makes guiding available in the United Kingdom,
its Crown Dependencies, its overseas territories and in British
communities overseas, to every girl and woman who wants to take
part.
There are Girl Guide Associations in all 53 countries in the
Commonwealth. Most are independent and a small number are Branch
Associations of Girlguiding UK.
Top of page
British Guides in Foreign Countries (BGIFC)
Where a British community exists in another country, Girlguiding
UK units may be formed with the permission of the local
Association. British Guides in Foreign Countries (BGIFC) is an
integral part of Girlguiding UK with its own Commissioner and
support structure. It is administered in a similar way to the other
Countries and Regions in the United Kingdom.
Top of page
World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS)
Girlguiding UK is a founder member of the World Association of
Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), which currently has ten
million members in 145 countries. All WAGGGS member organisations
share a number of common principles:
- commitment to the ideals embodied in a Promise and Law
- membership that is open to all girls and women irrespective of
faith, race, culture, nationality or any other circumstance,
provided they are able to understand and are willing to make or
work towards making the Promise
- membership which is voluntary
- independence from any political organisation
- membership which is self-governing, with freedom to formulate
its policy and put it into practice.
Top of page
Guiding's distinctive Method
Girlguiding UK believes in the value of learning by doing. This
is put into practice through a Method with five interlinking
elements, known as the Five Essentials of guiding:
- working together in small groups
- encouraging self-government and decision making
- a balanced and varied programme
- caring for the individual
- sharing a commitment to a common standard
The Guiding Method is delivered to young members grouped by age
into four sections: Rainbow Guides, Brownie Guides, Guides and
Senior Section members. Its principles apply to all members,
including adults. Details of the section and volunteer structure
can be found in Structure.
All female members of Girlguiding UK are occasionally referred
to using the generic term Guides.
Top of page
The Promise
Adults, Senior Section members and Guides work towards making,
or reaffirm, the following Promise:
I promise that I will do my best:
To love my God,
To serve the Queen and my country,
To help other people
and
To keep the Guide Law.
A further responsibility of a Senior Section member is:
To be of service to the community.
The Brownie Guide Promise is:
I promise that I will do my best:
To love my God,
To serve the Queen and my country,
To help other people
and
To keep the Brownie Guide Law.
The Rainbow Guide Promise is:
I promise that I will do my best to love my
God and to be kind and helpful.
Top of page
Wording of the Promise
Members who are of foreign nationality and who are temporarily
or permanently resident in the United Kingdom may make the Promise
in the following way:
I promise that I will do my best:
To love my God,
To serve the country in which I live,
To help other people
and
To keep the [Brownie] Guide Law.
Where, in a religion, God has a name which is more commonly
used, that name may be substituted in order to make the Promise
more meaningful to each girl or woman.
In these cases it is recommended that the Leader discusses the
wording of the Promise with the girl and an adult with parental
responsibility for her.
Top of page
The Laws
The Guide Law (for Guides, the Senior Section and adults)
is:
- A Guide is honest, reliable and can be trusted.
- A Guide is helpful and uses her time and abilities wisely.
- A Guide faces challenge and learns from her experiences.
- A Guide is a good friend and a sister to all Guides.
- A Guide is polite and considerate.
- A Guide respects all living things and takes care of the world
around her.
The Brownie Guide Law is:
A Brownie Guide thinks of others before
herself and does a Good Turn every day.
The Rainbow section does not have a Law.
Top of page
Constitutions
There are constitutions that govern various organisations within
Girlguiding UK as required by the current legislation for the
country within which they are operating.
Top of page
Links with other childcare and youth organisations
Girlguiding UK is a recognised part of the UK's youth service
provision and is affiliated to or linked with other organisations
within the childcare and youth sectors.
Top of page
The Trefoil Guild
The Trefoil Guild is part of Girlguiding UK but has a separate
constitution and is independently administered.
The aim and objectives of The Trefoil Guild are:
- to give practical, financial and moral support to Guiding and
Scouting
- to keep alive among members the spirit of the Guide and Scout
Promises and Laws
- to carry that spirit into the communities in which members live
and work.
Top of page
Page last updated: 8/24/2010