Real role models for young women

Girlguiding has assembled an array of famous former members – including Paralympic gold medallist Ellie Simmonds MBE and journalist Kate Silverton – to pay tribute to the skills, confidence and self-belief they gained through guiding.

The organisation has also launched 10 inspirational videos featuring successful women from a range of careers and backgrounds, to inspire girls to think more widely about their futures and show them that anything is possible.

With the superb success that Team GB’s women have achieved at the 2012 Olympic Games, there’s never been a better time to inspire girls and young women to be all that they can be, especially as recent research found many aged 7 to 21 struggled to name a single famous sportswoman prior to London 2012. When asked which female sportswomen they could name, one respondent said, 'That one in I’m A Celebrity…Fatima Whitbread'.

Britain’s sportswomen have made front-page news throughout the Games and many have become household names and, no doubt, role models, including former guiding members Victoria Pendleton, who won gold and silver in track cycling, and Lizzie Armitstead, who won silver in the cycling road race.

Last year's Girlguiding’s ‘Girls’ Attitudes Explored…Role Models’ report showed girls suffering from an alarming lack of positive female role models, resulting in a narrow range of aspirations for their futures.

One the most shocking findings was that many girls dismissed entire industries and potential careers as "jobs for boys" at a time when youth unemployment has exceeded 20 per cent.

Inspirational women

Girlguiding spent the day with ten inspirational women in a wide range of careers and industries to show girls that no career path is out of reach.

Broadcast journalist Beccy Meehan covers financial news from around the world and presents several shows on CNBC.

She said, 'It’s so important to have a role model, it helps you to form your own ambition. It’s quite reassuring and motivating to see someone that has achieved what you are trying to achieve, to see what other women have tried to do.

'It’s a shame that reality TV [stars] and models have become the women with the highest profile in the media. When I was growing up there were a lot more positive women role models, and I hope that comes back again.'

Watch the Real Role Models videos and see what our former members got out of guiding.

Famous ex-members discuss what guiding means to them

A number of well-known former guiding members have spoken about how being a member had a positive on their lives and equipped them with skills and confidence that they still rely on today.

Paralympic gold medal-winning swimmer and former Brownie Ellie Simmonds MBE said: 'I always enjoyed Brownies when I was younger. It was tremendous fun every time with a seemingly never-ending range of different activities to do, allowing us to have new experiences and develop new skills.'

'It was a place where we began to learn to work as a team, developing the skill of taking responsibility for ourselves and others, while supporting and helping those around us,' she added.

Find out what other famous former members had to say about their time in guiding.

Contribute to the debate on Twitter using the hashtag #RealRoleModels.