Being a leader: the Promise and Law
Understanding the Girlguiding Promise and Law and how they bring everyone in guiding together
The Girlguiding Promise links us to other Girlguiding members and the ten million people involved in guiding across the world.
With interviews from girls and leaders, we look at the importance of the Promise and Law and help you to think about what it might mean to you as a volunteer.
The Promise is a shared commitment that girls and women in Girlguiding can make. It links us to 10 million people involved in guiding around the world!
Brownies, Guides, Rangers and leaders share the same promise, but Rainbows have a shorter promise.
Rainbow: "I promise I will do my best
Brownie: To be true to myself
Brownie 2: And develop my beliefs
Guide: To serve the queen and my community
Ranger: To help other people
Brownie 2: And to keep the Brownie
Guide: Guide Law
When a member makes her Promise, she is promising to:
- be an active citizen of her community and the wider world
- help others – from a kind word to a neighbour, to huge international campaigns
- develop her spiritual side, exploring whatever she believes or cares about, and to respect the beliefs of others
Rainbow: “It makes me feel happy and it makes me feel like I’m in the Rainbows properly”
Brownie: “It’s basically like a commitment to the club or a welcoming”
Guide: “The Promise means to me that you can show commitment to your community and feel like you’re part of something”
Ranger 1: “The Promise is important because it’s a universal thing that we all work towards”
Ranger 2: "But it’s something that you can keep in the back of your mind constantly, It’s just a nicer way to live and respect other people and the world around you.”
Girls and women in Girlguiding can be invited to make their Promise when they are ready, and can make it in a place of their choosing. Most girls make their Promise after one school term, by this point, they will have experienced a range of activities and should feel settled.
Volunteers have to make their Promise to become a leader.
The Law is a set of expectations for girls and leaders in guiding to follow, and is an important part of building the Girlguiding community.
Rainbows don’t have a law, and the Brownies have a shorter version:
Brownie: “A Brownie Guide thinks of others before herself and does a good turn every day”
Guides, Rangers and leaders share the Guide Law:
Guide: “A Guide is honest, reliable and can be trusted"
Ranger: “A Guide is helpful and uses her time and abilities wisely”
Guide 2: “A Guide faces challenges and learns from her experiences”
Ranger 2: “A Guide is a good friend and a sister to all Guides”
Guide: “A Guide is polite and considerate”
Ranger: “A Guide respects all living things and takes care of the world around her”
Find out more
- Watch our videos on the Girlguiding sections and the Five Essentials.
- Read about our Promise and Law and how you can support girls in living those values.
