Pioneer

'Hi, I'm Maddie but I go by Pumbaa with Girlguiding. I am thrilled to be the chair of Pioneer and have the awesome job of facilitating youth voice and making sure our girls get heard in all things adventure and international. As in my blog for Mental Health Awareness Week, I am super passionate about the power of the outdoors and new experiences so I love being a part of Pioneer that aims to make adventures more accessible and relevant to the girls of today and tomorrow.

We give feedback on any adventurous or international projects and so far we have been involved with Big Gig, Cityscapes Adventure, the accessing adventure fund, lots of badge designing and more! We have begun our second year as a panel, and we had a great time at induction this summer meeting returners and new members face to face, connecting with each other and having our own adventures.

The panel are from all over the UK and get stuck in doing everything from providing insight about how adventure works for their locality, to sharing their opinions on colour schemes. Find out more about them below!'

'I’m a Ranger from a town near Cambridge, and I wanted to join Pioneer because I love being outdoors, trying adventurous activities, going on trips, and enjoying new experiences. I also wanted to represent the voices of girls in my area and help make sure every girl in guiding has the chance to enjoy amazing outdoor adventures and try exciting activities. For me, guiding is about friendship and creating unforgettable memories. My favourite memory is going to Wellies and Wristbands, where I met incredible new friends and had so much fun. In my free time, I love drawing, listening to music, and reading.'

'As a disabled member, I’m also passionate about accessibility and inclusivity within Girlguiding trips and activities and wanted to put my experiences into shaping the future of Girlguiding. I have been on several international trips which have shown me the difference they can make, and the excitement they can bring. I wanted to help give that joy to someone else.'

'I’m absolutely thrilled to be part of Pioneer! As a Pioneer, I want to grow into a confident, creative leader who lifts others up. My goal is to inspire kindness, celebrate diversity, and help everyone feel included. I’m proudly British Bengali, and my culture is a huge part of who I am — it fills me with pride and joy. My favourite colour is pink, and I’m totally into makeup, art and craft, and especially making decorations - there’s something magical about turning simple things into something beautiful. I have a deep passion for traveling, discovering new places, and meeting incredible people. I love making new friends and sharing unforgettable moments.'

'I wanted to be part of Pioneer because I enjoy challenging myself, working as part of a team, and trying new experiences that push me out of my comfort zone. What I care about most in adventure is the chance to grow - whether that’s building confidence, learning new skills, or supporting others along the way. Adventure to me isn’t just about doing something exciting; it’s about discovering what you’re capable of and sharing that journey with others. That mix of challenge, learning, and teamwork is what makes it so rewarding.'

'I wanted to be part of Pioneer because I love travel and adventures! I particularly enjoy skiing and dancing and trying new activities. I think they're fun and I like learning new skills. I wanted to help to influence the future of them in Girlguiding, and to make them as accessible as possible to as many girls as possible.'

'I love reading, acting, jewellery making, and history. I'm in Ravenclaw, my favourite musicals are Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, and Six, and my favourite authors are M.G Leonard, Jessica Townsend, and Sam Sedgman. I wanted to join Pioneer to help other girls have their voices heard, to meet new people, and to have fun along the way.'

'I’m a Guide and Rainbow leader from Cardiff in Wales. I enjoy reading, acting and spending time with my friends. I joined the panel because I thought it would be a good way to make my voice heard and would also be fun!'

'I wanted to join Pioneer because I've always loved the genuine excitement I get when I go on an adventure with family, friends and acquaintances. Within my own view of the world, without some type of adventure in our lives, we miss out on the beauty of the world and the wonderful things that come along with it. Adventure creates spaces outside of our comfort zone where we can succeed or fail, and I love that challenge, because it makes certain experiences unforgettable.'

'I’m a Ranger, young leader and peer educator from Devon, and I joined the panel to have my voice heard in national adventures and experiences. It’s important for me for everyone to have amazing opportunities, from small adventures to going international with guiding.'

'I wanted to be a part of the Pioneer panel because I love travelling and getting outdoors, and I’m passionate about this being something that is promoted to and accessible to all young people in Girlguiding. I’ve enjoyed being able to see all the different ways my voice can make a difference in conversations about guiding.'

'I jumped at the opportunity to be a part of Pioneer as I felt that I could help in representing the voice of girls and help shape the future of Girlguiding, for us! Pioneer has enabled me to have an input into a vast range of areas within Girlguiding, from testing out new activity packs to brainstorming for upcoming national events. Through Pioneer, I have had the chance to make great new friends, bonding with them during our action-packed induction weekend! Together, we make exciting decisions that impact Girlguiding on a national level, pioneering across the UK!'

'I care deeply about being part of the Pioneer panel because shaping Girlguiding’s future matters to me in a truly personal way. As a neurodiverse Guide, I understand the vital importance of having diverse voices at the decision-making table. Every time we discuss how Girlguiding should be run and managed, I think about all the girls like me who need their perspectives understood and valued. Making meaningful changes to our organization isn't just about policy - it's about creating a movement where every girl can fully participate and belong. That's why being part of Pioneer means so much to me, it's my chance to make a real difference.'

'I’m a Rainbows and Brownies Young Leader and Peer Educator from Worcestershire. I joined Pioneer because I’m passionate about making adventures more accessible and encouraging girls to challenge themselves. I believe adventure is a great way to learn new skills, make new friends and grow in confidence.'

'I'm a Ranger and Young Leader and I wanted to join Pioneer because I love being outside and meeting new people. It's very important to me that adventures are accessible and fun for everyone. I want to encourage girls to take on leadership roles and make sure their voices are heard.'

'I'm passionate about giving all girls the opportunity to have adventures. I have been in Girlguiding for 8 years.  I am a Brownie and Guide young leader as well as a Ranger and a peer educator. I enjoy going to the theatre and being in school shows, singing and learning the clarinet. I have recently been selected to go to the Swedish National Scout Jamboree in 2026 which will be a great adventure.'

'I wanted to join Pioneer to help girls have the opportunity for Girlguiding adventures, have fun, try new things, learn more about themselves and to meet new people.'

'I’ve been in Girlguiding for most of my life whilst living in England and New Zealand. I’m now a Ranger and a Young Leader back in Brighton. I joined Pioneer as Girlguiding is a very significant part of my life and has given me ample opportunities to be able to travel also, being able to make a difference even if it’s a small one is important to me. In college I’m doing level 3 Art & Design diploma. In my free time I like to listen to music, do art and photography, read books and manga, and play lots of PJSK (my fave Vocaloid is Len). I also very much love badges!'

'Hey! I'm a Young Leader and Ranger from South Wales! You'll usually find me working on badges or finding ways to help the world around me. I've been in Girlguiding since I was a Brownie and I've loved every second of it! I decided to join Pioneer as I wanted more of a say behind the scenes in Girlguiding as I'd like to run my own unit one day. Girlguiding has helped me meet some of my best friends, as well as helping me find my voice as someone with anxiety.'

'I first wanted to be a part of Pioneer as I wanted everyone in Girlguiding to have the same positive experience as I have had, so I joined the panels to help this happen and so I could be involved in the decision process. I also wanted to challenge myself with new adventures and meet new people. I help out at local Rainbows and I’m a Ranger as well.'

'Hi, I’m Tilly. Some of my interests are reading, drawing, sewing and I like watching anime. Other things you should know about me is I’m a lesbian and my favourite book series is Warrior Cats, which I’m nearly halfway through reading. I have been a Guide for a year now and recently got that badge. My favourite badge I have gotten so far is the pride flag one which we got last year for doing a pride bin bag fashion show which I really enjoyed.'

'I'm a young leader for a Brownie and Guide unit in a small village in Devon. I joined Pioneer because Girlguiding gave me the opportunity to go away internationally at a time when my family wasn't able to do this. I want all members of girlguiding to have this opportunity, no matter their background or situation.'

'I'm a Ranger from Northern Ireland and I enjoy reading, music and sports. I applied to Pioneer because I wanted to make sure all girls had the opportunity to have adventures and even travel internationally! Pioneer is a fantastic opportunity for girls’ voices to be heard nationally and help influence the future of Girlguiding!'