Top tips for recruiting and welcoming students

Our student volunteers have a huge impact on girls across the UK, while juggling everything student life throws at them.

As part of national Student Volunteering Week (9-15 February 2026), we want to say a massive thank you to all our amazing student volunteers. 

And it’s not just our young members who benefit from the time they give. As you’ll know, guiding can help students gain confidence, learn new skills, and even decide what they want to do next. 

So if you’re thinking about welcoming more students into your unit or behind-the-scenes, we’ve put together some helpful resources to make recruiting and supporting them even easier. 

Helpful resources 

Student recruitment materials 

You can now let students know about all the skills they’ll gain through guiding. Our develop your life skills poster is free to order from our online shop, and perfect to take to freshers’ fairs! 

Volunteer recruitment tool 

Our volunteer recruitment tool is now live! Volunteer recruiters can list the roles you need, so students looking for opportunities near them can apply directly. Find out who can use the volunteer recruitment tool to advertise in your area. You might just find the perfect extra pair of hands.  

Encouraging girls to volunteer after they turn 18 

The fun isn’t over, even though their time as a young leader or Ranger might be soon! Our young members unlock a world of possibilities when they turn 18 and can become adult volunteers. 

We’ve created a turning 18 checklist (PDF, 102KB) to help guide conversations as they approach this special day. This includes ways to stay involved if they’re moving away or going to university. 

You can also point them towards the opportunities on our happy 18th birthday webpage. It’s a great place to spark conversation and see what might interest them. 

Volunteer roles complementing degrees  

Why not share our blog on which volunteer roles complement different degrees? Whether volunteering directly with girls, helping with admin, or becoming a specialist adviser, there’s an opportunity for every student to put their degree skills to good use. 

Student Scout and Guide Organisation and Inspire 

Let them know that the guiding community is here to support them while they’re studying and beyond. 

There are 38 Student Scout and Guide Organisation (SSAGO) clubs across the UK. These are separate from Girlguiding but a great way to meet new people and make friends.  

The Inspire network (for 18-30-year-olds) is also an amazing way to connect with others and access opportunities, so make sure to put them in touch with their local Inspire coordinator if there is one.  

Celebrating current student volunteers 

Finally, why not check out ways to thank your current student volunteers today? 

Student Volunteering Week happens every year, and they have themes for each day of the week. Next year’s week is from 8-14 February, so why not add this date to your diary, so you can celebrate locally?