Girlguiding-inspired experiences: reaching more girls, where they are

Why it matters

Girlguiding’s 2025 Girls' Attitudes Survey found that girls aged 11–18 in guiding are, on average, 28% more confident than other girls in the UK. That’s a powerful reminder of the impact of safe, supportive spaces, and why we’re working with new partners to reach girls in schools, communities and online spaces.

By 2035, we want every girl to have access to Girlguiding inspired experiences, no matter where they live or go to school.

Partnering with #BeeWell

#BeeWell runs an annual wellbeing survey in around 300 schools across Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton (HIPS) and Greater Manchester. Together, we’ve delivered Girlguiding-inspired enrichment activities in 3 HIPS-based schools – shaped by girls, for girls. Find out more about #BeeWell and Girlguiding-inspired projects.

We listened to girls who told us traditional guiding didn’t feel like a space for them. Their insights helped us design experiences that are fun, empowering, and confidence-building – but most importantly, meet girls where they are.

What we’ve done

In July 2024, we launched a pilot in collaboration with youth-centred programme #BeeWell. The pilot ran for 7 months, from December 2024 to July 2025, involving 47 young people across 3 schools.

2 schools had in-house facilitators, while Girlguiding provided an external freelance facilitator, Stacey Miller, for the third. All facilitators worked closely with the girls, school staff, #BeeWell and our Girlguiding project coordinator to co-create sessions that reflected girls’ ideas and needs.

Together, they explored challenges like self-esteem and school attendance, and developed creative solutions. Activities included mapping emotions, brainstorming project ideas and exploring anxiety – all led by the girls themselves.

In one of the schools, #BeeWell data highlighted low self-esteem among year 9 girls. With support from their facilitator, the girls fundraised during the school’s fundraising and wellbeing week, by selling rose bouquets for International Women’s Day and organising a non-uniform day. This enabled them to lead on events, including running a strawberries and cream ‘sale’, personalising high-vis jackets to steward and direct guests, and supporting a music event. They even ran photography for the day!

What girls told us

It was great to get together and do something big for other people – just us girls.'

The feedback from girls who took part in the pilot speaks volumes:

• 100% said the workshops were fun.
• 94% felt safe to ask questions and share their opinion.
• 100% liked that the sessions were just for girls.
• 94% said they learned new skills – most commonly mentioning confidence.
• 97% said the sessions improved their wellbeing.
• 87% said the sessions improved their confidence.

What we’ve learned

This pilot has shown us that when girls are trusted to lead, create and connect, their confidence grows and so does their sense of belonging.

Teachers and facilitators also saw girls step up in ways they hadn’t before. When girls were given the freedom to shape their own experiences, they responded with creativity, enthusiasm and leadership.

What’s next

We’re now exploring how to scale up the Hampshire pilot and offer similar experiences to more girls across the UK.

We’ll continue working with schools, partners and facilitators to deliver sessions that meet girls where they are – especially those aged 14+, a group where we often see a drop-off in engagement with our core guiding offer.

This is just the beginning. We’re excited to keep learning, growing and reaching more girls through Girlguiding-inspired experiences.

Want to find out more?

Find out more about Girlguiding-inspired experiences.