How everyone can get involved in activism

We all have a part to play.

Activism and campaigning is how we make change happen.

What does ‘activism’ mean for us?

In Girlguiding we’ve always described the practical actions that our girls do to help other people as ‘community service’ or ‘community action’.

Activism is about taking practical action to make a positive difference.

The values of our promise and law

Activism is about helping other people, doing community action and supporting girls and young women to be a powerful force for good. Our girls and volunteers share these values too and they are the basis of the Girlguiding promise and law.

Activism in everyday guiding

At regular meetings and special events, our girls and volunteers take part in youth activism through our programme of activities for girls.

You might already be taking part in activism! Do any of the following sound familiar to you?

Examples of volunteering and community action

• Guiding groups taking part in a local environmental project, helping with a local event or appeal, or setting up a coffee morning for their community.
• Girls volunteering to help run units as young leaders or volunteer for other charities they care about.
• Young women supporting community projects in other countries.

Examples of fundraising

• Girls deciding which charity they want to support and organising a fundraising activity.
• Guiding groups collecting sponsorship for an action, for example a sponsored walk to help their unit grow so more girls can join.

Peer education and support

• Young women volunteering to train as peer educators and then supporting others to learn about issues, for example body image.
• Girls in guiding offering their peers support through being a mentor or leader in their group.

Using our voice

• Girls in guiding speaking out on social media, in the press, and to peers and decision-makers to raise awareness of issues that are important to girls.
• Girls using the confidence and skills they learn through guiding to advocate for positive change.

Campaigning

I think one of the biggest benefits of being on the advocate panel is the confidence you get. I tell myself "you’re an advocate, you can do this! You walk into that room and tell those MPs what you think". That confidence comes from the training and the experiences we receive.' - Girlguiding advocate Charlotte

We want to support you to talk directly to politicians and change-makers. Because when you speak out, you make change happen.

Why’s campaigning important?

We know from our research that many girls and young women don't feel listened to by people in power. Through campaigning, you can make sure that key issues you care about are addressed in a real, tangible way. We're here to support you to do that.

Through our advocate panel and other opportunities, girls plan our campaigns, speak out in the press and talk directly to decision-makers. And since you know better than anyone what girls want, we use research like our Girls' Attitudes Survey to make sure our broader advocacy work is focused on the things that affect you.

In future, we want to support more girls to get involved in our campaigns and advocacy activities. Watch this space – from 2026, we’re going to be trying new ways for girls and members of all ages to get involved and make a real difference in girls’ lives!