Amazing volunteers honoured by the Queen

Four of our members have been featured on the Queen's Birthday Honours list

28 June 2021

We love our volunteers. Week in, week out, they give their time so young members can learn, grow and be inspired.

In the Queen’s Birthday Honours list, four of our Girlguiding stars were recognised for their hard work that makes guiding happen.

‘I’m proud to belong to the guiding community and lead thousands of volunteers’

‘I’m proud to belong to the guiding community and lead thousands of volunteers’

Our Chief Guide, Amanda Medler, has been awarded an MBE for her service to girls and young women in Girlguiding over the past 30 years.

She started as a Brownie leader while at university and became a Guide leader in 1989. She’s still a Guide leader now, even while holding the most senior volunteer role.

Amanda has led the Guide delegation to the British Youth Council helped develop Girlguiding’s new Guide programme in the late 1990s, was elected to the WAGGGS (World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts) Europe Committee in 2010, and in 2013 served a second three-year term as vice chair.

In 2018, Amanda was appointed as chief guide, the most prestigious volunteer role at Girlguiding.

I’m humbled to be awarded the MBE and want to share this award with everyone who has worked so hard to continue to provide guiding opportunities during the pandemic.

‘Guiding has always been an important part of my life’

‘Guiding has always been an important part of my life’

Denise Spence has been awarded a CBE for supporting girls and young women over the last 30 years.

The Chief Executive of Girlguiding Scotland first joined Girlguiding as a Brownie in 1973.

In the early 1990s she went to work for the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, helping to restart guiding in central and eastern Europe after the fall of the Berlin wall. She was also the CEO of Girlguiding and helped us get ready to celebrate 100 years of Girlguiding in 2010.

Denise then relocated to Scotland and joined Girlguiding Scotland as the Chief Executive. She still volunteers as an assistant leader with 1st Hopefield Rainbows in Midlothian.

I’ve seen first-hand just what can happen when you give girls and young women a space to be themselves and have fun, and it brings me so much joy to be able to give back to a community which I love.

‘Fun, friendship and challenge are still at the heart of Guiding for me'

‘Fun, friendship and challenge are still at the heart of Guiding for me'

Lynda Malley has been recognised with a BEM for voluntary service to Girlguiding and the community in Merseyside.

She joined Brownies aged seven, saying: ‘Given an ultimatum from my mum, that I had to go to dancing or Brownies, I knew I had no choice. Although I had never heard of Brownies, I knew for certain dancing wasn’t for me!’

She has now been involved in Girlguiding for more than 60 years. She went onto be a Guide, Ranger and then leader helping at county Ranger camps, adult leader training camps and with Young Leaders in her division.

She also helped to organise holidays to Waddow Hall, to give girls who were not members of Girlguiding an opportunity to experience a holiday. She is currently a Brownie, Guide and Ranger unit leader in Merseyside and belongs to Trefoil Guild in Sefton.

For me, working at grassroots with the girls is my priority. Guiding gives opportunity for developing teamwork and leadership skills in a safe and secure environment through challenge, fun and adventure not only for the girls but also for me too!

‘I have always had a desire for helping and inspiring the girls to achieve their full potential through guiding’

‘I have always had a desire for helping and inspiring the girls to achieve their full potential through guiding’

Maureen Adair has recognised with a MBE for her voluntary service to Girlguiding in Northern Ireland.

Maureen has been a leader of 1st Dromore Guides for more than 60 years, taking the unit over aged 22. She helped her district to set up a Rangers section, coaches members in captain ball, has helped Guides to achieve their Queen’s Guide Award and has received the Ulster Award for her service and commitment to Girlguiding.

As a patrol leader at 12 I found my passion in helping. My motto is once a Guide always a Guide - the leaders now refer to this as Maureen’s motto!

Be an inspiration for girls and young women

Join our amazing volunteers and make a difference to the lives of girls and young women.