Key Girlguiding dates for parents and carers 2024-2025
Stay up to date with your child’s Girlguiding calendar
Updated 8 August 2024.
Do you want to stay up to date with what’s on the Girlguiding calendar?
Here are some key dates to help you feel in-the-know about your child’s Girlguiding journey. Remember, every unit (local Girlguiding group) is different. So for outings or adventures specific to your unit, contact the volunteer who leads your local unit.
August and September 2024
New guiding term
The new guiding term will start in September around the same time schools go back. Some units across the UK might go back sooner.
Does your child have everything they need for a new term at Girlguiding? We’ve made a list for you, so you don’t miss a thing.
Check out our new guiding term checklist.
Look out for advocate panel opportunities
The advocate panel gives girls a platform to use their voices and seek change to improve all girls' lives. They are a group of Girlguiding young members aged 14 to 25 and their time on the panel usually last 2 years.
The panel recruits once a year so it's a great opportunity for your child to get more involved in Girlguiding and build real-world advocacy experience. As an advocate, your child could have the chance to network with politicians, take on public speaking challenges and even feature in the press for the work they do.
Submissions close to become Girlguiding's leftover legend (2 September)
We’ve teamed up with Knorr® to get girls cooking from scratch, tackle food waste and become Girlguiding's leftover legend!
Whether your child is a Rainbow, Brownie, Guide or Ranger, they can enter our competition to win by creating a recipe using only scrap or half-used ingredients.
Find out how to enter before 2 September 2024. And keep your eyes peeled for Wednesday 25 September 2024 when we’ll name our leftover legends.
Girlguiding Celebrates (29 September)
Girlguiding Celebrates is an event that celebrates all of our members who've done amazing things in guiding. They might have received special guiding awards or been nominated by someone in their area to attend. Now, they'll get to be celebrated with a red-carpet inspired afternoon of guiding joy at ODEON Luxe Leicester Square!
Earlier in the year, parents and carers had the chance to nominate their local volunteers for the amazing work that they do to say thank you.
Learn more about Girlguiding Celebrates.
October 2024
Black History Month
At Girlguiding, our commitment to recognising Black history reaches beyond this month. We have a range of activities in collaboration with The Black Curriculum that girls can complete with their unit.
Here are some of the activities your child might do for Black History Month.
Christmas is coming to the Girlguiding shop
Do you like to start your Christmas shopping early? Our seasonal range of products including gifts will be available from October. Look out for more information later this year or sign up to our shop newsletter for more updates.
World Mental Health Day (10 October)
Our 15th Girls’ Attitudes Survey tells us 89% of girls and young women aged 7-21 feel generally worried and anxious. That’s 11% more than in 2016. Their worries range from money and doing well at school to their appearance, to future opportunities.
Here are some wellbeing activities your child can do with their unit and at home.
International Day of the Girl (11 October)
This is a day recognised globally that empowers girls and amplifies their voices. That’s what we aim to do all the time at Girlguiding so we celebrate it every year.
Could you offer an hour of your time with your local unit to share something that will empower girls? It could be a skill you use for your job or a fun activity you do with your child at home. We’ll also be launching an International Day of the Girl badge you can buy as a parent or carer!
Learn about the different ways you could volunteer.
Brownie PGL Takeover weekend, Newby Wiske (11-13 October)
The final Brownie PGL Takeover weekend of 2024 is in North Yorkshire, at former stately home Newby Wiske! With over 30 acres of open space and all-new 'bunk pods' to sleep in, PGL's newest centre is the perfect place for your child to have an adventure.
Find out more about the weekend and how your child’s leader can take their unit away.
November 2024
Remembrance Sunday (10 November)
This is traditionally marked on 11 November or the nearest Sunday to this date. Some units will choose to commemorate the day with some special activities. You could do some of them at home with your child.
Keep an eye out for our special 2024 remembrance badge in collaboration with The Royal British Legion - 50% of the profits from the badges will go to The Royal British Legion and Poppy Scotland.
Submissions close to create your own interest badge (30 November)
We're working with girls to create 72 new interest badges across Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers. Which means more opportunities for your child to explore new passions and find what they love.
Until 30 November, your child can get involved and design their own interest badge at home.
Read more about how to get involved and create your own interest badge at home. After that, look out for more exciting updates about our new interest badges.
December 2024
Guiding term comes to an end
Your local Girlguiding unit will usually close for the year mid-December, around the same time as schools.
Take this opportunity to reflect on the past year with your child, complete any interest badges or share their favourite Girlguiding moment of 2024!
Here’s how your child can complete interest badges at home.
January 2025
Guiding term begins again
Your child’s unit is likely to follow the same dates as their school’s term time. It might start around the same time as the school term or a bit later.
Be sure to check with your unit leader when they’re planning to go back so you have enough time to get prepared and buy new uniform.
February 2025
World Thinking Day (22 February)
Girlguiding celebrates World Thinking Day every year as part of WAGGGS. WAGGGS is the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts that brings people in guiding together from across the world.
World Thinking Day’s theme in 2024 will explore important issues like environmental sustainability, gender equality, peace, and poverty. Your girl’s unit might have something planned for this special day. Or you could celebrate with them by helping them to earn an environmental interest badge at home.
March 2025
World Book Day (6 March)
The mission of World Book Day is to promote reading for pleasure, offering every child and young person the opportunity to have a book of their own.
Do you know if your child will be dressing up with their school or Girlguiding unit for World Book Day? Find out in advance so you can be prepared.
Here are some strong female characters you child could be inspired by!
International Women's Day (8 March)
We celebrate International Women's Day every year and mark it with a special badge. You'll be able to buy it for your child once it's on the shop next year.
Check out our International Women's Day 2024 - it's still available to buy.
