Future Girl

We want people to take better care of our precious planet, and of the animals we share it with. We want to see a world with less plastic polluting our oceans and affecting wildlife. A world where recycling and reusing things are part of everyday life. We want people to treat animals better – whether they’re living as pets, on farms or in the wild.

We want real action to stop climate change – not just empty words. And we want the people in charge to listen to the voices of young people like us. After all, it’s our future that’s at stake. 

We'll make a difference together

We want everyone - including the people in charge - to pay attention to what we have to say. And we want them to join us in taking action to change things for the better. Everyone should be recycling more and use less plastic that pollutes the oceans.

We need urgent action against climate change to give young people everywhere a better future. 
All animals, whether in the wild or someone's home, should be free from harm. 34,376 Brownies said they want to live in a world where people care about the environment and recycling.

#PlasticPromise

#PlasticPromise was our first Future Girl campaign. This huge girl-led campaign to tackle plastic pollution was launched in September 2019 and supported by science and wildlife presenter Liz Bonnin and expert environmental charity Recycle Now.

An estimated 2.5 billion disposable coffee cups are thrown away in the UK every year. That’s almost 5,000 a minute, or 7 million per day. Girls told us they’re worried about the damage this does to the planet and the animals we share it with.

In response, we took action to motivate people to recycle more and use less single-use plastic. We campaigned for people to make their own #PlasticPromise to make a small but meaningful change to their lifestyle and we told governments to listen to girls’ voices when creating environmental policies, including plans for a deposit return scheme.

113,668 people joined us in making a promise to reduce plastic waste in their lives. And over 100,000 girls across the UK and beyond joined our first Future Girl Acts week – taking part in a special unit meeting activity, writing to their MPs and spreading the word about reducing plastic use.

We’re committed to protecting the planet from plastic, and made our own #PlasticPromise  to become more environmentally friendly in everything we do.

In what other ways are we being planet protectors?

Our programme encourages girls to explore how they can help the environment through activities such as recycling for Rainbows, zero waste for Brownies, and upcycling for Guides. And while some programme activities do require using things like straws, we encourage volunteers to adapt this and use recyclable materials - for example using paper straws not plastic ones. 
 
Read our environmental plan for more on what we’re up to. 

We want to be able to have adventures wherever we find them. Without worrying about being treated differently or feeling unsafe because we’re girls. All of us, including those of us with disabilities, should have places where we can relax and do the things we love doing: welcoming spaces outdoors, safe spaces online. No toys, games or sports should be off-limits or discouraged, just because we’re girls. And women’s sports should be just as visible and just as celebrated as men’s.

We'll make a difference together

We want everyone - including the people in charge - to pay attention to what we have to say. And we want them to join us in taking action to change things for the better.

All girls should be able to play the games, and with the toys, they want. Being a girl shouldn't make anything out of bounds. We need more outside spaces, where we can play and relax safely. Women in sport should be equally supported and celebrated. 17,035 girls in Rainbows said it makes them sad when they are told they can't do something because they're a girl.

Find out more about adventure at GIrlguiding. 

We want to be able to be ourselves – without feeling that we have to look or act a certain way because we’re girls. We’d like adults to be more aware of the many pressures on girls and young women – from school, from friends, from the media – and help us learn how to manage and challenge them.

No one feels happy all the time – we know that. But we’d like to see girls and young women of all types more supported and accepted, as they are. So that we each feel stronger in ourselves and can be the person we want to be, not just what others want to see.

We'll make a difference together

We want everyone - including the people in charge - to pay attention to what we have to say. And we want them to join us in taking action to change things for the better. We need to challenge the media when they spread the message that girls and women should look a certain way.

We want to see women of all body shapes, abilities and ethnicities on the pages of magazines and on our screens. Listen to girls and young women when we talk about the pressures we face - take it seriously and find ways to help. Young people should never feel like they're alone, and we should all be able to get the support we need when we need it. 12,180 Guides said the way women are shown in the media makes it difficult being a young woman today. 

We want to see a respectful world. One where people don’t make fun of, hurt, or leave out others just because they’re different, or because they’re girls. One where we’re able to express ourselves, both online and off, and feel safe when we do.

And one where everyone understands the importance of being kind to each other: online, at school, wherever we are. We want girls to feel safe and supported as they grow up, and as our relationships change – knowing where we can get help when we need it, and not feeling ashamed if we do.

We'll make a difference together

We want everyone - including the people in charge - to pay attention to what we have to say. And we want them to join us in taking action to change things for the better. End bullying and make sure everyone has the support they need if they are bullied. No girl or woman should have to experience sexual harassment.

We want an end to sexist comments and unfair treatment, online and in everyday life. All girls should feel free to express themselves and feel safe when they do, in all situations. 1,663 Rangers want to create a future where there’s no sexual harassment and no unhealthy or abusive relationships. 

We want to see an equal world. One where girls know they can be or do whatever they want to – and where they can see girls and women of all types leading the way. One where we’re all taught useful life skills and encouraged to follow our passions – where no subject or job is off limits. A world where the glass ceiling is a thing of the past.

We want to feel confident in speaking out about the things we care about – and to know that people will listen to what we say, and respect what we think.

We'll make a difference together

We want everyone - including the people in charge - to pay attention to what we have to say. And we want them to join us in taking action to change things for the better.

We need more women as role models and mentors, from all kinds of backgrounds, in all types of work.
Girls and young women should have a say on the decisions that will affect our lives.

We need to smash the gender stereotypes that stop girls doing all the things they want to do. When we're working, we should be treated fairly and rewarded for our talents. 34,376 Brownies told us they want to live in a world where girls and young women can choose to do any job they want.