Our ambassadors
Who our celebrity ambassadors are and why they support Girlguiding
We’re proud to be supported by our celebrity ambassadors.
They help us spread the word about guiding and reach even more communities across the UK. And they campaign alongside us on the key issues girls face today. From authors to adventurers, our ambassadors are proof of all the incredible things girls can do.
Laura Young
Environmental scientist Laura Young, known as Less Waste Laura, joined Girlguiding on the 55th Earth Day.
Following her successful campaign to ban disposable vapes in September 2022, Laura was named Scottish Influencer of the Year by the Scottish Influencer Awards in 2024.
Former Guide Laura helped launch the Eco award with Guides and Rangers in Fyvie, Aberdeenshire in 2025. Laura has also shared her expertise with the organisation and in her role as Environment ambassador will champion girls’ voices on environmental matters at future opportunities.
I'm absolutely thrilled to be supporting Girlguiding as their Environment ambassador. Growing up, Guides was instrumental in shaping my love for the environment and inspiring me to get involved in community projects. It’s an honour to now give back and help empower the next generation of young changemakers. Together, we can make a real difference for our planet!' - Laura Young.
Ashley James
Broadcaster Ashley James supported Girlguiding with the launch of the 2024 ‘For all girls’ manifesto and Girls’ Attitudes Survey then became our ambassador on International Women's Day 2025.
Former Rainbow and Brownie Ashley has firsthand experience of the benefits of guiding and the confidence it helps build in girls.
As an activist and advocate for girls and women, Ashley inspires girls to know they can do anything through championing equality and helping them amplify their voices around topics including body image, sexism and misogyny.
Ashley is a popular commentator and presenter on the award-winning daytime show This Morning, where she regularly dissects the news and she's also a DJ.
I have great memories of my time in Rainbows and Brownies, experiencing firsthand Girlguiding’s positive impact so was honoured to become an official ambassador. It felt special to come full circle. Girlguiding is needed more than ever as it offers a space where girls can thrive and build confidence. Sexism and misogyny are rising and so much more must be done to tackle this damaging harm to girls and women, which is what I will use my ambassadorship to amplify.' - Ashley James.
Anna McNuff
Adventurer and author Anna has been an ambassador for Girlguiding since 2018. Anna, who was a Rainbow, Brownie and Guide, has a catalogue of extraordinary adventures under her belt. These include cycling through all 50 states in the US, cycling over 5000 miles along the Andes and running 1911 miles along New Zealand’s Te Araroa trail.
In 2019, Anna ran 90 marathons across Britain barefoot, meeting over 70 Girlguiding units along the way. Anna has actively supported us for many years. And as an ambassador, she helps to inspire and encourage more girls to discover their full potential, learn new skills and have fun and adventure along the way.
I’m so proud to be a Girlguiding ambassador. Providing opportunities and the space for girls to have fun, challenge themselves, go on adventures and experience the great outdoors - whether its making bug hotels at Brownies, camping, learning to abseil or canoe, it is so important for the development of confidence and resilience. I know that if these girls can take those first adventurous steps, then they will find the space to grow, and soon see what they’re truly capable of. I want to inspire the girls of the UK to be their brilliant selves.' - Anna McNuff.
Katie Zelem
Professional footballer, Lioness and former Rainbow Katie Zelem has supported Girlguiding since 2021. Katie has played for England, captained Manchester United women’s team, after coming through the United youth system. Katie has also played for Juventus and Liverpool. She is currently playing for Angel City in Los Angeles.
As part of Girlguiding’s previous partnership with the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022, Katie met with local Rainbows, Brownies and Guides for a fun training session at Manchester United’s Old Trafford Stadium. She tried out our new football related activities co-created by Girlguiding and UEFA, before being interviewed by Girlguiding members at a girl-led press conference in the grounds.
I loved being a Rainbow when I was younger, and it was great to meet Girlguiding members ahead of the Women’s Euros to help encourage them to get involved with football. I’m passionate about making sure all girls know that they can do anything they put their minds to and working with Girlguiding I hope to inspire more girls to follow their dreams.' - Katie Zelem.
Tori James
Tori James is a professional adventurer, author and keynote speaker. She became president of Girlguiding Cymru in 2018. Tori is the first Welsh woman to climb Mount Everest. She was a member of the first all-female team to ski to the Magnetic North Pole in a 360-mile polar challenge. And she holds the record for the longest open sea kayak in UK waters, which she set with the Beeline Britain team.
Guiding gave me the confidence to try new things, meet new people and visit new places. It taught me that to achieve anything, you needed to make a commitment to yourself and to others. I loved selecting the next badge I would work towards. Achieving one badge made me want to strive for the next. It taught me to set my sight on the next goal. I learnt all the essential camp craft skills through Girlguiding.
My most memorable achievement was gaining my camp permit award and being selected to represent Wales at an international camp in Olympia, Greece. For me, guiding is about fun, friendship and finding out what matters to you.' - Tori James.
Ellen Buttrick MBE
Paralympic rower Ellen Buttrick joined Girlguiding as a Brownie at the age of 7 and has been a Brownie leader herself. Ellen has achieved great success in her career, winning 2 gold medals in the world rowing championships in 2018 and 2019 as well as a gold at the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021. Ellen was then awarded an MBE in 2022 for services to rowing.
My Brown Owl at 5th Roundhay Brownies in Leeds was a fantastic individual and pushed me to believe that I really could achieve anything that I set my mind to. The self-belief and determination that was fostered during my time in Girlguiding has been a driving force in my success as an athlete to date and I want to inspire and empower girls in the same way.' - Ellen Buttrick MBE.
