Girlguiding impact report
Girlguiding improves girls’ wellbeing and builds resilience
Girlguiding girls are on average 17% happier compared to UK girls.
‘I love Brownies. It’s my favourite thing to do. I feel happy and relaxed. I love all the activities and earning badges.’
Brownie
UK girls’ wellbeing is declining faster than boys’
Whilst in the last decade girls’ overall happiness with their life has been consistently lower than boys’, the drop in the average score has seen a steeper decline, since 2019, than boys.8
Girlguiding boosts girls’ wellbeing at the time they need it the most
When we compare Girlguiding girls aged 10-15 to UK girls we found that our young members have higher levels of satisfaction in many areas of their lives.
Compared to UK girls (10-15-years-old) Girlguiding girls are:
happier with their school
happier with their appearance
happier with their school work
Girlguiding girls aged 10-15 are, on average, 17% happier than UK girls.988
‘Girlguiding has helped me to build my confidence and self esteem. It has given me opportunities to lead and be part of something bigger than myself.’
Guide
Girlguiding gives girls opportunities to try new things in spaces led by trusted and trained volunteers. Our girl-led programme and adventure play an important role in introducing girls to varied activities that can push them out of their comfort zones.
In 2025, the Girls’ Attitudes Survey revealed that UK girls said being outdoors and in nature helps them feel happy.10 At Girlguiding, we go the extra mile to make sure girls can do these things and more. We empower girls to embrace adventure and new experiences. In 2025, our young members 4-18-years-old said that in the last year they had:
Taken part in an adventure
Explored nature with their unit
Had fun at Girlguiding
‘[The best thing I did this year was] camping - it was fully guide led which was so cool.’
Guide
‘[The best thing we did this year was] going outside with our unit and having a campfire.’
Ranger
Going on adventures and connecting with nature
We found girls who have higher engagement with our exploration activities (such as adventures, exploring nature, camping or staying away from home) have more positive outcomes. For younger girls aged 4-10, we found that participating in 5 or more types of exploration activities leads to confidence and resilience. For example, they’re 6% less likely to give up when things get difficult and 5% more likely to risk setbacks or mistakes to achieve their goals.
Girlguiding is led by girls
Girls and young women lead on the activities they do. 70% of young members are asked by their leaders and helpers what they want to do, and 44% of young members have been asked to be in charge of activities.
‘I have had a chance to run activities that has increased my confidence.’
Brownie
‘I like being a patrol leader and helping making decisions.’
Guide
The evidence suggests that, by empowering girls to lead the way, Girlguiding girls develop higher wellbeing. But we want our impact to go even further. It’s troubling that UK girls’ wellbeing is on the decline and has been for the last decade, with more girls saying they feel sad or lonely now compared to 2015.10 We’ll continue working hard to reverse this trend, and always welcome new partnerships to help tackle these urgent issues.
As part of our strategy we’re planning to evolve the way that girls aged 11 and upwards experience guiding. We’ll design this with girls inside and outside of Girlguiding. Aiming to make it more attractive, suited to older girls’ needs, flexible and better connected to girls’ future life prospects and interests.
8 The Good Childhood Report 2025, The Children’s Society, 2025
9 Girlguiding, (Wave 5-6, 2024-2025) data: compared to data from Understanding Society
10 Girls’ Attitudes Survey 2025, A girl’s world: sexism, misogyny and the power of sisterhood, Sample size: 2640, Girlguiding, 2025
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