Moving units or sections

Moving up a section 

When your child becomes old enough, they'll be able to move up into the next section of Girlguiding. A section is what we call the different age groups in guiding – Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Rangers. 

Here's when it might happen: 

• Rainbows move up to Brownies aged 7.
• Brownies move up to Guides aged 10.
• Guides move up to Rangers aged 14.

How to move your child up

1. In advance of your child's time to move up to the next section, their current leader will be in contact with you. If you don't hear from the leader, feel free to get in touch with them.
2. After that, you'll need to decide which unit your child would like to go to and what suits your family's schedule best.
3. Your child's unit leader will pass on your child's interest to the new unit via GO, our online membership system. You won't need to sign your child up to Girlguiding again if they're already a member.
4. Your child's new unit will receive the request and she'll be invited to visit or be put on a waitlist if the new unit is full.
5. If your child enjoys the new unit, the new leader will update your child's membership record to show they've officially joined.

When your child is 14, they can move up to Rangers. There's a variety of Ranger units. We know it’s a busy time at this age and some units may decide to meet weekly and others are more flexible and meet once a month. It's important that your child finds a unit that suits them, so talk to the volunteer who runs their Guide unit to find out more about Rangers units in your area. 

When your child is 14, you can also ask them to add their own contact details to GO. They'll receive a dedicated young members newsletter. 

If your child is nervous to move up

Sometimes girls find moving up a section a bit daunting. If your child is worried then you can plan ahead with help from the volunteer who runs their unit.

• Ask your child's leader for information about local units for the next section.
• See if their leader can arrange for your daughter to visit one of their meetings, perhaps with other girls from her unit that are moving up too.
• Many Rainbows, Brownies and Guides have a party at their final meeting to get them excited to move on. Check with their leader if this could be a possibility for your child.

Ready to discover what exciting opportunities are next for your child?

Moving to a new area 

Moving to a new area can be a big change. Staying involved in Girlguiding in their new area is a great way for girls to settle in, make new friends and continue their guiding adventure. 

1. Find a new unit for your child using GO. Instructions on how to do this are in the 'How do I transfer my child to another unit' section of our GO guide for parents and carers. Or call our free telephone number: 0800 1 69 59 01 (weekdays 9am-5pm).
2. Ask your current unit leader to provide you with your child's registration number.
3. When you move to the new unit, pass this number to the new leader who will reactivate your child's record. This way your child's record and guiding history is saved - so you won't need to fill out any more forms.