Advocates

Our advocates influence the direction of Girlguiding's advocacy and shape our research

The advocates seek change to improve all girls' lives.

The advocate panel gives girls a platform to use their voices and seek change at the highest levels. Our advocates are a group of Girlguiding young members aged 14 to 25 that lead the direction of Girlguiding's advocacy and research.

What do advocates do?

Advocates talk to MPs and other politicians, act as media spokespeople for Girlguiding and speak at many types of events.

They learn new skills and discuss issues that matter to them and their peers. They've focused on body confidence, the representation of girls and women in media and politics, education, violence against women and girls, young people’s mental health, and loads more! All of the advocates come to the group with different perspectives and ideas but they are all passionate about issues that affect girls and young people.

Here are some examples of what the advocates do: 

Our advocates take action against sexual harassment in schools - they put pressure on the government to take action got heard. As a result, the government launched an inquiry. We continue to call for more action.

Our advocates speak out about online harms- they marked Safer Internet Day 2022 by speaking at an event in parliament on the importance of a safe and positive experience for children and young people online. 

Our advocates lead the Girls' Attitudes Survey - they shape the questions and they make sure people in power hear what girls told us by speaking to the media, contacting politicians and writing blogs.

Our advocates attend party conferences - they attend important parliamentary meetings and events to provide evidence of what life is like for girls in the UK.

Our advocates represent Girlguiding on the British Youth Council - our delegation works with the other BYC young delegates to campaign for change and to improve young people's lives. 

If you'd like to find out more, please email [email protected]

How to get involved

Applications for this year are now closed, but we will be recruiting again in autumn 2024 - so keep your eyes peeled!

Meet the advocates

Abbie, 21, Scotland

Abbie, 21, Scotland Second year advocate

Abbie has been a member of Girlguiding for over 15 years. She joined as a Rainbow aged 5, and progressed through all the sections to her current roles as a Brownie leader, district commissioner and advocate. Abbie joined the advocate panel as she wants to ensure that the opinions of girls and young women are heard where and when it matters.

Abbie is passionate about mental health and wellbeing because it's something that affects everyone, particularly girls and young women. She's also passionate about ensuring youth voices are heard by decision makers, because they are the future.

Charlotte, 16, LaSER

Charlotte, 16, LaSER First year advocate

Charlotte has been a member of Girlguiding for 10 years. She started in Rainbows, progressing through Brownies and Guides before becoming a Ranger with aspirations of becoming a leader. She joined the advocate panel as she is passionate and dedicated to influencing and making meaningful change for girls and young women. Charlotte is passionate about LGBTQIA+ visibility and representation, especially in lesser-known identities. She's also a proud feminist and environmental activist.

Charlotte, 22, North West

Charlotte, 22, North West First year advocate

Charlotte has been a member of Girlguiding for 17 years. She started as a Rainbow and has progressed through the programme to become a Guide leader in Liverpool. She joined the advocate panel because she was motivated by the opportunity to raise awareness of neurodiversity. She's passionate about encouraging girls to pursue their dreams regardless of whether the career is stereotyped. Charlotte is 21, has graduated from the University of Liverpool with a law degree and is currently studying for her solicitors qualifying exams.

Eibhlinn, 17, Ulster

Eibhlinn, 17, Ulster Second year advocate

Eibhlinn has been a member of Girlguiding for 11 years. She started at 5-years-old in Rainbows and is now a Ranger. She's the advocate for Ulster and joined the panel to stand up for girls’ rights and encourage them to speak up for what they believe in. Eibhlinn is passionate about women in politics and history, and wants to inspire more girls to take up leadership roles and to break gender stereotypes.

Ellan, 26, North East

Ellan, 26, North East Second year advocate

Ellan has been a member of Girlguiding for over 15 years. She started as a Guide, progressing to Rangers and becoming a young leader, and now an adult leader. She joined the advocate panel as she wanted to give all members a voice to speak up for what they believe in. Ellan is passionate about the issues of mental health, disability inclusion, acceptance and accessibility, gender equality and violence against women and girls.

Eloise, 18, North West

Eloise, 18, North West First year advocate

Eloise has been a member of Girlguiding for 13 years. She's 18 and is currently a Ranger and Brownie leader in Cheshire. She joined the advocate panel in 2023 in order to share her experiences after progressing through all the sections of Girlguiding and work with other advocates to shape the future of the organisation. She's passionate about breaking down the stereotypes placed on women, particularly in professional jobs, and encouraging them to have high aspirations.

Emily, 18, North West

Emily, 18, North West Second year advocate

'Girlguiding encourages and empowers and has instilled in me the confidence and passion to speak out and fight for positive change. I am thankful for the opportunity to work with the panel to confront the problems we as girls and young women face, representing the voice of Girlguiding. I am passionate about ensuring equality of opportunity and access to safe spaces, while working to create a better and safer world. I hope to inspire and empower girls to speak out, and to make a real difference in the way feminism, girls and women are perceived.'

Grace, 19, South West

Grace, 19, South West First year advocate

Grace joined Girlguiding as a Rainbow in 2008, and, at 19, is now a leader in training. They joined the advocate panel wanting to bring education and acceptance around the topic of disability inclusion. Grace wanted to speak up on behalf of Girlguiding members to create a more accessible world for young women and girls. She's passionate about creating equal opportunities for all as she realised many young people are not recognised for their support needs. She believes that everyone should have access to reasonable accommodations and support so that they can have adventures, learn and thrive in life. Grace also has a strong interest in providing more provision for girls in sport, protecting the environment and women in STEM.

Hannah, 18, Anglia

Hannah, 18, Anglia Second year advocate

Hannah is a 17-year-old Girlguiding advocate who has been in Girlguiding, first as a young member and now as young leader, for over 10 years. They're particularly passionate about improving the lives of LGBTQ+ girls and young women and supporting members’ mental health so that everyone can grow into their full potential.  They joined the panel so that the views of people in their local guiding units could be heard, no matter how young the member is.

Hawa, 22, Anglia

Hawa, 22, Anglia Second year advocate

'Being an advocate gives me the ability to draw attention to such problems as maternal and child health. It also allows the opportunity to meet with like-minded people, passionate about lobbying for solutions to these issues.'

Katie, 17, North East

Katie, 17, North East Second year advocate

Katie has been involved in Girlguiding for 9 years and has progressed through the sections to become a young leader. She's passionate about supporting girls and helping them to achieve whatever they want to despite the challenges they may face. She's passionate about supporting neurodiverse girls and young women and finding ways in which girls can progress and find skills that allow them to make the most of what they love, and providing a space where girls can just be girls.

Jiya, 16, Anglia

Jiya, 16, Anglia First year advocate

Jiya’s role within Girlguiding is as a young leader. She is 16-years-old and resides in Hertfordshire. Jiya joined the advocate panel to represent Girlguiding and give all girls the power of a voice. She’s passionate about encouraging more women and girls into STEM industries, as well as ensuring everyone has access to the food they need.

Lucy, 18, South West

Lucy, 18, South West Second year advocate

Lucy is 17-years-old and from Gloucestershire. She's been involved in guiding for 11 years, initially as a Rainbow, progressing through Brownies and Guides, and is currently a young leader. Lucy joined the advocate panel in 2022 to represent the views of Girlguiding, and ensure the voices of all girls and young women across the UK are heard. She's particularly passionate about reinforcing the belief that girls can do anything, and ensuring all girls and young women have what they need to fulfil their potential.

Lucy, 16, North East

Lucy, 16, North East First year advocate

Lucy has been a member of Girlguiding for nearly 10 years. She started as a Rainbow then later progressed through Brownies and Guides, before finally becoming a Ranger. She joined the advocate panel to inspire other young women to speak up about issues that are important to them. Lucy is passionate about ending period poverty and dismantling the stigma surrounding periods, as she has seen the negative impact these issues can have on girls and young women.

Lydia, 16, Midlands

Lydia, 16, Midlands First year advocate

Lydia is a 15-year-old Ranger who has been part of Girlguiding for 11 years. They joined the advocate panel because they are passionate about recognition of women’s contributions both throughout history and today and encouraging women to support each other by breaking down barriers put upon them by others. Being part of Girlguiding makes her feel confident and supported as she is surrounded by likeminded young women.

 

Mary, 18, Midlands

Mary, 18, Midlands Second year advocate

Mary is 17-years-old and has been in guiding for 4 years. Her late start in guiding didn't dampen her dedication to its message, having joined Rangers not long after Guides. She's now a Brownie volunteer working towards her leadership qualification. She's an advocate to give back to an organisation that has given her so many opportunities to get out into the world and grow closer to nature. Her passion lies in fighting misogyny, patriarchy and gender stereotypes.

Megan, 21, Cymru

Megan, 21, Cymru First year advocate

Megan is a 21-year-old advocate who has been a member of Girlguiding for over 15 years. She has experienced all sections of guiding from Rainbows through to leadership level. She became an advocate because she's passionate about giving girls a voice and promoting the issues that are important to them. Megan is particularly passionate about gender equality, mental health, promoting diversity and inclusion for all and the environment.

Millie, 16, South West

Millie, 16, South West First year advocate

Millie has been a member of Girlguiding for 11 years. She began as a Rainbow at aged 5 and is now a Ranger, young leader, and peer educator. She is 15-years-old and from Dorset. Millie joined the advocate panel to speak up about issues affecting girls and young women that she is passionate about, and give a voice to all members of Girlguiding. She is passionate about opportunities for girls and women in STEM, erasing the stigma around periods, and recognition of girls in extreme sport.

 

Molly, 21, South West

Molly, 21, South West First year advocate

Molly has been a member of Girlguiding for over 15 years. She joined as a Rainbow and progressed through Brownies and Guides, and she now holds roles as a Brownie leader and peer educator in Hampshire West and LaSER regions. She joined the advocate panel as she wants to enable girls and young women to have a voice and a space to learn and grow together and as individuals. Molly is passionate about the education system for girls, sexual harassment within schools, women in sport and the importance of mental health and wellbeing for all members.

Niamah, 17, Anglia

Niamah, 17, Anglia Second year advocate

'As an advocate, I want to build upon the work of Girlguiding and continue to provide girls with a safe space in which they can express themselves freely. I also look forward to reframing the narrative surrounding women in the media.'