Girlguiding on a budget

Girlguiding is all about giving girls amazing, inspiring, and sometimes life-changing experiences.

From fun weekly activities to adventurous camps, there’s so much to look forward to! 
But we know that, just like any club or hobby, cost matters. So let’s talk about what to expect, what your contributions cover, and most importantly how we make sure Girlguiding stays affordable.  

What are unit fees? 

Every local group (we call them units) collects fees to cover the basics. These are usually paid weekly, every half term, or once a term.

What do these fees cover?

• Rent and bills for the meeting space.
• Craft and activity materials (think glue sticks, science kits, and everything in between).
• Badges and certificates.

Fees vary depending on where you live. For most groups this works out to just a few pounds a week. Your leader will always give you a clear breakdown so there are no surprises. 

Annual membership fee

Once a year, members pay an annual fee to Girlguiding. You might hear this called subs or census.

Units handle this in different ways. Some include it in regular fees, and others ask for it as a one-off payment in February or March. Your leader will let you know how it works for your group. 

This fee helps keep Girlguiding running at every level:

• National: developing activities, badges, and resources; insurance; safeguarding; training; and digital tools like our membership database.
• Local: regions, counties, and districts add a small levy to cover things like volunteer training and camp equipment. 

What about uniform?

Just like schools have uniforms and sports teams have kits, Girlguiding has its own uniform. We recommend that every girl has 1 core item, like a top, but how much uniform they wear is totally up to you.

Worried about cost? Don’t be! Kids grow fast, and we know buying new isn’t always practical. Here’s some ways to find more affordable options.

• Second-hand websites and apps, and local swap-shops.
• Online groups (like Facebook) where members sell or exchange uniform.

If you’d like help finding second-hand uniform, just ask your leader or commissioner, they’ll point you in the right direction. And if you don’t have the uniform, don’t worry. Your child can still take part. 

Trips, camps and extras 

Girlguiding is full of adventure! While weekly meetings are covered by unit fees, some optional activities like camps and trips have extra costs to cover meals, accommodation and transport.

Leaders always aim to keep prices as low as possible and give plenty of notice so you can plan ahead.  

Worried about costs? We can help 

We never want money to stop a girl from joining in. If you’re concerned about any costs, please speak confidentially with your local volunteer team. They’re there to help and can often support you by:

• Arranging flexible payment plans to spread the cost of trips or fees.
• Pointing you towards local support or second-hand uniform groups.
• Finding grants or funding to help your daughter take part. This can include:
  • Accessible guiding grants to help with any costs for girls with additional needs.
  • Travel grants to help cover the cost of trips abroad.

You can also check your country or region’s website for local support: 

• Anglia.
• Cymru.
• London and South East England.
• Midlands.
• North East England.
• North West England.
• Scotland.
• Ulster.

Our goal is simple: we’re committed to making sure cost never stands in the way of enjoying Girlguiding.