Girlguiding

Hello International Space Station... Girlguiding calling! 👩🚀 In her first official engagement as Girlguiding's Patron, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh joined 100 excited Brownies, Guides and Rangers at a very special event, where girls had the once in a lifetime opportunity to ask astronaut Sunita Williams questions about her experiences in space... while she orbited on the International Space Station around 270 miles overhead. Cool! The event, organised by Radio Society of Great Britain and Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS), in collaboration with the UK Space Agency, Girlguiding Surrey West and Brooklands Museum's Innovation Academy programme, promoted the engagement and involvement of girls and young women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Her Royal Highness chatted with girls about space and their interests in science and technology and was presented with a special Patron badge by young members and Chief Guide Tracy Foster. Brownie Amelia, 10, said: 'Today was amazing. I loved linking up to an actual astronaut in space. I was also really lucky to meet our Patron, HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh. She was very nice and spoke to us about the astronaut and space. It was a real privilege.'

We're proud to announce that HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh is our new patron, and of course there’s a badge to mark the occasion! If you want us to let you know when it’s available to buy, add your email address on the link below! Take a look now! https://bit.ly/47QLlP4

We’re proud to announce that HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh is our new patron. The Duchess’s patronage will continue the tradition of Royal support, following on from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II who was patron from 1953. Like Queen Elizabeth II, HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh has a long-standing association with Girlguiding, starting from being a Brownie. The Duchess has been a passionate supporter of Girlguiding for many years since taking over the role of president from Princess Margaret in 2003. We will be appointing a new president in 2025. Read our statement in full here: https://bit.ly/3TVRkN4

Last week, we held an event on keeping girls and young women safe at The Labour Party Conference, hosted by our Advocate panel! We heard from the brilliant Alexandra Davies-Jones MP about the Government’s plans to halve violence against women and girls in the next decade and the work she’s doing with Ministry of Justice UK. Alex was engaging with the Advocates and spoke about her experiences as a young woman in politics, community champion and now Minister! Our bestie Kim Leadbeater MP was a brilliant last minute addition to the panel, speaking powerfully about the need for a society-wide approach to keeping girls safe (and about her Girlguiding totebag being wielded in Westminster!). We also heard from Anki D from HOPE not hate about the rise of extremism including misogyny, but also the power of communities to build a more hopeful future. Lastly, Angela Duerden from Unite the Union spoke about the power of solidarity and sisterhood, something we know the importance of at Girlguiding!

Today is the start of Black History Month! This year the theme is reclaiming narratives, which highlights success stories while also challenging inaccuracies - 'a space where the rich tapestry of Black history is celebrated'. We'd love to hear how you're marking Black History Month at home or with your unit - share your experiences with us in the comments or at [email protected]. And if you're looking for inspiration, our race equity activities are invitations to celebrate vibrant cultures, mark the contributions communities have made to the UK and for some girls, help them feel seen in a way they might not have felt before in guiding. Find out more about the activities and how to try them here: https://lnkd.in/eTeSXvqF.

Girlguiding advocates Aishah, Robin, Staci, Alwen, Libby and Lydia have been at The Labour Party Conference, taking part in key discussions and using their voices to seek change.   They met with leaders, led panel discussions and connected with Girlguiding partner Google. And they supported Movember and Guide Dogs UK, advocated for free school meals alongside No Child Left Behind and the National Education Union and chatted to Lucy Powell, Leader of the House of Commons and MPs including Neil Caliskan, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Alex Davies, Yvette Cooper, Heidi Alexander, Anna Turley, Dawn Butler and Ed Miliband!   The advocates also attended a discussion with Girlguiding CEO Angela Salt at the Women's Rally, organised by CIPD and 50:50 Parliament, where Angela shared her vision for the future of girls and young women. What an incredible few days!

Girlguiding is for all girls. We want Girlguiding to be a place where everyone feels welcome and free to be themselves. For National Inclusion Week 2024, with the theme ‘Impact Matters,’ we asked our members why inclusion is so important. Hear from Ziva, Frankie, Aïsha-Iman, Hannah, and Seren as they share what inclusion means to them. Watch the full series on our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/3XROxXn Let us know what inclusion means to you in the comments below 👇 #ImpactMatters Video description: Girlguiding members Ziva, Frankie, Aïsha-Iman, Hannah, and Seren share what inclusion means to them for National Inclusion Week 2024. Each member appears individually to express their thoughts on inclusion, with the video concluding with a title slide: ‘Watch the full series on our YouTube channel.’

Advocate panel members Hannah B and Charlotte C share the stories behind the badges on their badge tabs 🌟 Interested in joining the Girlguiding Advocate Panel? Register your interest, and we’ll let you know when recruitment opens: https://bit.ly/3XvhM0V

"Adventure definitely builds courage." - Bethan, Girlguiding leader As the new Girlguiding term gets into full swing, we look at a magical day of adventure at Zip World in Caernarfonshire! 🥾 Learn how girls braved treetop pathways in an incredible forest setting, building confidence together. Read more here: https://bit.ly/3B8hUvL

Advocate Panel members Hannah, Charlotte, and Millie spent the day at the Liberal Democrats Party Conference.   They met with MPs and leaders, engaged with teams from Women Against State Pension Inequality, the Young Liberals, and the Government of Gibraltar, and supported the National Education Union's campaigns against misogyny in schools and for free school meals.   Our advocates were at the heart of key discussions, using their voices to seek change.