Volunteer roles working with girls

Find your ideal role if you want to volunteer with young people

Choose from these hands-on volunteering roles that make guiding happen.

There are plenty of roles working directly with young people in guiding - whether you've got tons of experience with us or none. Take a look at the role descriptions to see which role suits you best. Then register to volunteer with us to find out more about guiding near you and to get the ball rolling.  

Roles based in a unit

Unit leader 

Get creative, have fun and be an inspiring role model to girls and young women. As unit leader, you'll be responsible for running the unit, leading a team, and planning and delivering a high-quality programme of activities and events. 

This is a key role that works directly towards the aims of Girlguiding. If you've got what it takes to be a unit leader, we want you! 

Unit leader role description. 

Young leader 

If you're aged 14-18 you can become a young leader. In this role you’ll join a Rainbow, Brownie, or Guide unit team developing your skills in leadership, communication and team working – all of which make impressive additions to any CV. 

Young leader role description. 

Young external volunteer 

If you're working on your DofE or a similar volunteering programme, and aged 13-18 you can join Girlguiding as a young external volunteer. You'll go to unit meetings, with the volunteer team and plan and run amazing activities for girls. 

Young external volunteer role description. 

Unit helper 

If you're enthusiastic about giving girls opportunities for fun, friendship, challenge and adventure then you'll make a perfect unit helper. You'll provide valuable support to the unit leadership team. And you'll be key in providing the extra help needed to make unit meetings and events happen. Plus, you'll get to know the girls and other volunteers, and be part of the Girlguiding community. 

Unit helper role description. 

Supported volunteer 

This role would be suitable for anyone who would otherwise not be able to carry out the full responsibilities of a volunteer role without support. You will not have any responsibility for safeguarding and do not need to complete a safe space training. As a supported volunteer, you’ll be supported by an individual volunteer supporter and they’ll tailor their support to your needs. You can find out more about the individual supporter volunteer role here. 

This role will only be assigned in exceptional circumstances in agreement with teams at Girlguiding HQ.

Supported volunteer role description. 

If you need this role in your unit 

If you believe you know someone who would benefit from this role, email [email protected]. 

When you're filling out the form, remember to involve the volunteer and their prospective supporter as much as you can. They need to know about any possible changes to their role in guiding.  

Before completing this form, we recommend you complete an adjustment plan together. This can help answer some of the questions in the assessment form. 

Once you've submitted the form, the inclusion team will work to help you find the most suitable solution. They might need to ask you some questions or see if other adjustments might work better. 

Download the assessment form 

This role cannot be applied to a volunteer's GO record locally. You must follow this process and contact our inclusion team. Once this has happened and it's been decided that the role is suitable, then our compliance team will apply this to the right GO record. 

If you have any questions about this role, contact [email protected]. 

Individual support unit helper 

As an individual support unit helper, you'll support a young member with additional needs to access Girlguiding safely and enjoyably. You don't need to be a current member to take this role - we're looking for adult volunteers, ideally with experience of working with or supporting young people with additional needs. The role will be tailored to the young member’s needs, so what you'll do will depend on who you are working with. 

Units will be recruiting volunteers to this role as and when needed, to support a specific young member. 

Individual support unit helper role description. 

Roles that aren't based in a unit

Peer education coordinator 

As peer education coordinator, you'll promote and support our programme of interactive training delivered by our young members to their peers. This is a chance to use your excellent communication and organisational skills to provide practical support to our amazing network of peer educators in their training and as they deliver sessions. This is a chance to be part of something special! 

Peer education coordinator role description. 

Supporting leader 

A supporting leader is able to remain involved with Girlguiding as a qualified leader, without being attached to a specific unit. This is a brilliant opportunity for flexible volunteering as a way to support girls and leaders in your area, helping out when needed. 

Supporting leader role description. 

Young leader coordinator 

As a young leader coordinator, you’ll support our young leaders and young external volunteers aged 13-17 to grow their leadership skills. You’ll help them be fantastic role models to the Rainbows, Brownies and Guides they volunteer with. You’ll be able to work in a team to provide amazing opportunities to the next generation of leaders. 

Young leader coordinator role description.