Your friendships in guiding

Updated 18 November 2024.

Girls in Girlguiding are up to 23% more confident than the UK average.

And Girlguiding volunteers' happiness is 5 times higher than those who volunteer at least once a month elsewhere. 

We know how important the friendships you make are in guiding. So we want to give them a big shout out! 

From meeting your bestfriend in Brownies or volunteering with a unit, take a look at our members creating special memories together over the years. 

New BFFs!

We asked parents and carers on Facebook to share stories about the friendships their child has made through Girlguiding.

Did you know girls can bring friends to unit meetings? For girls who might feel a little shy or who love sharing new experiences, bringing a friend can be the perfect way to start making memories together. (Be sure to check with your unit leader first!)

One member told us how a friend introduced them to Brownies back in 1985 — and now, nearly 40 years later, they’re still part of Girlguiding!

Friendships that start at Brownies can blossom into something truly special. One parent told us about her daughter’s amazing connection with a friend she met in Brownies.

‘My little girl has become such great friends with a little girl called Niahm which has led to such a beautiful little friendship, because of their neurodivergences, that they see each other outside of brownies. They really support each other.’ – Becca

Memories for a lifetime

Girlguiding brought 2 leaders together from across the UK and now they're celebrating 27 years of friendship!

Guiding brought us together @ Challenger 97. Camp buddies to Pen pals to besties! Even though we live so far apart (Aberdeen to Ayrshire)- movie nights and a lot of memes get us through till we can get together in person. 27 years this summer and its been so much fun 💜🤣 pic.twitter.com/edZhsSrAF8

— Corrin McNair (@CorrinMcNair) January 27, 2024

Esme shares snaps of her fun memories with her friends:

hundreds of friends have been made pic.twitter.com/i48fOTI34j

— esme🏳️‍🌈🌗 (@esmeisanerd) January 27, 2024

From Brownies to bridesmaids

Brownies is the beginning of so many friendships. Some of you told us that they even went on to join your wedding party as bridesmaids! Caroline, who was a Brownie, Guide and leader at Girlguiding, reflects on this picture from her special day.

'2 of my bridesmaids - I was a Brownie with one and a Guide, Ranger and leader with the other. We still talk about pack holidays and camps. 35 and 21 years of friendship with each of them!

And my sister who I was a leader with. We both went Brownies and Guides and were leaders. You can tell we’re in Girlguiding from this picture I thought! Team work and [it was] a mission to do up my dress! ' -Caroline

Advocates and adventures

Phoebe, who used to be a member of our advocate panel, shared this lovely photo of her and her friend, Francoise:

'Francoise and I met when we joined the advocate panel together in 2019 - we clicked instantly and have been friends ever since! From speaking at Westminster for Safer Internet Day to enjoying our Advocate weekends in London, our latest adventure has been a trip to Thailand together. We know there will be many more trips to come in the future!' - Phoebe

Another young member, Ellie, shared these pictures from an international trip to Serbia:

‘I have made so many friends through Girlguiding, including the 15 amazing young people I met through a Midlands International Trip to Serbia who are all friends for life. Getting to know incredible people I wouldn’t get to meet without Girlguiding is a privilege!’ - Ellie 

Eloise, a young member in the Midlands, is grateful to her leaders for the friends she's made.

'Me and my friends met at a Rangers camp arranged by my leader last year. Without Girlguiding I wouldn’t have met these wonderful girls and have awesome opportunities. I'm always grateful for my leaders and my friends.' - Eloise

Finding friendship through volunteering

Our volunteers find joy in watching girls make friends and grow in confidence. Through their hard work and joint mission to help all girls know they can do anything, our volunteers create their own friendships too.

'I met my very best friend in the world through volunteering as a leader with Girlguiding Chatteris District. Lottie is more than just a friend: she is my world, my sister and the other half of my soul.' - Kirsty

Could your next friendship be found in Girlguiding? Find out more about becoming a volunteer.