“In a girl-only space, girls can just be girls,” said Lynn Lock, one of the Unit leaders in Girl Guiding. She explained that, especially for young women today, there is immense pressure to behave and look a certain way.
Through Girl Guiding, girls find a haven where they can be themselves, free from external pressures. They have a mission to teach girls to express themselves, form life-long friendships and have a voice.
The Girl Guiding organisation was formed by Robert Baden-Powell in 1910 and was even involved in WWII. According to a 2022 report, the organisation consists of 300,000 members and 70,000 volunteers. Some former guides include Queen Elizabeth II and other royal family members.
Lynn continued to explain that although Girl Guiding is a well-known organisation, most people’s knowledge of guides is based on a stereotype that they are old-fashioned. She stated that guides are so much more. They have been uplifting the community spirit and taking part in social and environmental campaigns. For example, they took part in tackling online abuse, media sexism and period stigma.
Apart from these, Girl Guiding centres around learning new skills and embarking on thrilling adventures, and sometimes, it is just about having fun. Volunteers like Lynn help girls develop skills like teamwork and leadership, encouraging them to celebrate differences and mix with all kinds of girls. The organisation also funds those who can't afford its activities.
If you are interested in volunteering or becoming a part of the guides, you can sign up at the Girl Guiding website: www.girlguiding.org.uk
Lynn concluded that as unit leaders, they have a mission to teach girls that “Girls can do anything”.
