Girlguiding announces new deputy chief guide

11 May 2023: Girlguiding, the UK’s largest youth organisation dedicated completely to girls has today announced world record holder, adventurer Sally Kettle has been appointed Deputy Chief Guide.

Sally, who proudly holds the title of being the first woman to row across the Atlantic Ocean twice from East to West, will work alongside Chief Guide, Tracy Foster in her new role.  Sally will help support and empower the organisation’s 70,000 volunteers to deliver its programme and inspire girls to know they can do anything.

Based in Wales, Sally has been involved in guiding since joining as a Brownie. She later went on to become a Guide, young leader and hold several volunteer roles within the charity – including county and Cymru peer education co-ordinator, Rainbow and Brownie unit leader, and chair of the Girlguiding London and South East England (LaSER) ambassador programme.

Sally has been a proud Girlguiding LaSER Ambassador for over five years visiting Girlguiding units across the region to talk about her adventures and inspire girls. In 2020 during the first Covid-19 lockdown Sally was part of Girlguiding’s virtual #AdventuresAtHome festival line-up sharing her tales of adventures including trips to the Amazon rainforest, Galapagos Islands, and being out at sea for 106 days which saw her being awarded the Guinness World Record for the first Mother and Daughter team to row any ocean.

Outside of guiding Sally is an accomplished professional speaker presenter and management trainer with experience across many sectors, sharing many of the lessons learnt during a twenty-year career as an adventurer. She is also a qualified coach and WRAW (workplace resilience and wellbeing) certified practitioner and co-founder and CEO of the Active Pregnancy Foundation which supports women to stay active throughout pregnancy and beyond.

Commenting on her appointment, Sally said: “I’m honoured and incredibly excited to take on the position of Deputy Chief Guide. Girlguiding has been part of my life since I joined as a Brownie. Having experienced first-hand the opportunities and encouragement guiding offers I’m passionate about empowering and supporting Girlguiding’s amazing network of volunteers to ensure more girls have the same experience.”

Tracy Foster, Girlguiding Chief Guide said: “I’m incredibly excited to welcome Sally into her new role as Deputy Chief Guide. Sally brings with her an abundance of enthusiasm, passion, and experience, and I look forward to working together to ensure even more girls get to access the space guiding provides, where they can be themselves, get creative, explore, and have fun.”

With over 70,000 volunteers, Girlguiding has one of the largest volunteer networks in the UK. Support is provided at every level of the charity, from parent helpers and unit leaders running weekly unit meetings right up to Girlguiding’s most senior volunteers, the chief guide and her team, who are responsible for leading the entire network.

There are lots of fun and flexible ways to get involved in guiding, whether it’s volunteering with girls directly or supporting behind the scenes around other commitments. There are also young volunteer opportunities from age ten and up including peer educator roles.

For more information about how to get involved with Girlguiding, the UK’s largest youth organisation dedicated completely to girls, visit www.girlguiding.org.uk.