New guiding term checklist

If you’re brand new to Girlguiding 

If you’re a parent who is new to guiding, check out our parent and carer’s guide to GO to get signed in for the first time. There are plenty of resources to help you begin your Girlguiding journey, including more information about how our volunteers' run units and keep your child safe. 

Is your child moving up a section? 

If your child is moving up a section, your current leader will be in contact with you. Or if you’re moving to a new area, be sure to let your current unit know. Since each unit operates slightly differently, these aren’t always changes that happen instantly.  

While you wait for your child to be registered with a new unit, you can use this opportunity to organise a new guiding uniform or buy her another badge book to celebrate this exciting change! 

1. Update your details in GO  

The first thing to do before the new term starts is to log into GO, our membership system for girls and volunteers, and update your child’s details. It’s important that our volunteers have your updated personal details so that they can share relevant news and keep your child safe.  

Make sure you have the following information filled out correctly:  

• Email address.
• Address.
• Telephone number.  
• Your emergency contact.  
• Check that you’ve got the right photo permissions ticked.

Don’t forget to let us know of any other important updates too. For example if your child has allergies or a health condition, add this to your GO account and let the leader know. They’ll have a chat with you to find out how the unit can help your child to make sure they get the most out of guiding.

The same goes for any additional access needs that will make your child comfortable.

You should also let your leader know if there's a change in who will be dropping off or picking up your child.

Find more guidance to using GO.   

2. Get new uniform

If you’re returning to guiding after a break, now is the perfect time to pick up a new uniform for your child. From the recognisable Rainbow polo shirts to Brownie sashes, you can grab everything you need to make sure your child feels comfortable and excited to start the new term. 

Don’t forget, they may have outgrown their old uniform so you can use our handy size guide to help.

3. Check out your local volunteer shops 

Looking for a way to support guiding on a local level? Or maybe you’d prefer to pick up some second-hand uniform pieces instead? Find your local volunteer shop from one of over 800 across the UK and you can do exactly that!  

4. Learn more about our programme 

Our programme helps us to show girls from 4 to 18 a world of possibilities big and small. One where every girl can laugh and learn and have adventures. It might be the thrill of doing something for the first time. Songs around a campfire. The buzz of getting a new badge. Coming home exhausted and full of stories. It’s a space where she can get creative, explore, become more confident, and most of all have fun. 

They can earn badges at home too. Together, you can think about where your child might start! Use our badge finder to explore what interest badge they’ll tackle first at home. At their unit, they’ll try new things and have fun in a group by doing unit meeting activities and skills builders.  

5. Look at our key calendar dates for the rest of the year

Do you want to stay up to date with what's on the Girlguiding calendar? We've put together a list of key dates for parents and carers for the rest of 2024 and into 2025. It includes when you can expect to see exciting opportunities for your child throughout the year.

Key Girlguiding dates for parents and carers 2024-2025.