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Girls unscripted
Make way for girl voice
In this column, we invite members of Amplify, our youth steering group, and Advocates, who lead Girlguiding’s public-facing campaigning and research, to share what’s on their minds. Each topic is chosen by them, to let volunteers know what they’re thinking about, what they love, and why it matters to them.
In this edition, Lily from Amplify tells us what girl voice means to her, how it’s shaping the future of Girlguiding and tips to help you plan a girl-led programme.
'Girlguiding is a leading youth organisation, striving to continue giving exactly what girls and young women need in the modern world. How are they doing this? By speaking to girls and young women today.
In our strategy, 1 of the 4 shared goals set out is giving ‘unrivalled experiences for girls, led by girls.’ This will be achieved over the coming years by harnessing the immense power of girl voice.'
But what actually is girl voice?
'It’s a noun, used to describe the opinions, ideas, thoughts and feedback of girls – often Girlguiding members aged 4–18 years old. It can refer to being from a single girl – every girl has a girl voice, of course – or a collective. It’s about girls feeling empowered to be confident in using their voice to speak up for the change they want to see.
For example, after an inspiring day of fun workshops at Amplify induction last year, Eleanor was confident in telling our chatty room, at 11pm ‘I’m using my girl voice to tell you all to shut up so I can sleep!'
But mostly, the term girl voice is used when a variety of girls’ views have been collected and considered in a decision or project. The thoughts are purely the girls’ and have not been influenced or changed by any peer or adult during the process.'
'The new uniform, interest badges and strategy have all used girl voice along the way, to ensure the final versions will meet the needs and desires of girls today.'
'This is the core purpose of girl voice - to help make sure that Girlguiding is an organisation for girls, by girls.
The girls will be confident wearing their uniform, they will find the programme helpful and fun, they will be able to find events just right for them – because their voices dreamt up every detail and the volunteers and staff made it happen.'
How girl voice is making a big impact
'Girl voice isn’t a new idea. Girlguiding has already made revolutionary strides in becoming more girl-led at the highest levels. Our youth-steering group, Amplify, is one of the most obvious examples.
In 2022, the panel of 30 girls, aged 12-18, was created as a continuous source of girl voice to work alongside Girlguiding HQ staff. I had the privilege of joining in summer 2023, after my leader, Tina, passed on some information about applying as she thought I might be interested. I completed the short application form after reading about what the group do, because why not? I was so surprised when my mum showed me the email a month later, saying I had been successful!'
'It's the most empowering thing when designs are changed, all because I unmuted myself on a Zoom meeting, used my voice, and had my ideas listened to.'
'Since joining, I have not stopped being surprised by the impact we’re truly having. It’s the most empowering thing when, for example, badge designs are returned to us and the emojis you thought were unnecessary have been taken out. Or that figure’s expression has been made clearer, or a colour you suggested now contrasts better with the background. All because I unmuted myself on the Zoom 3 months ago, used my voice to give my thoughts, and Katie [girl voice project coordinator] listened.
I’ve also seen the difference girl voice has made through the development of the Ranger uniform design, as the amazing team keep coming back to Amplify for their feedback and ideas. They recognise how important it is to get it right for older girls, to design a uniform that represents them, that they’re comfortable in, that they feel proud and confident to wear.
Through Amplify, I’ve also been able to sit on interview panels for several key staff and volunteer roles, as girl-led interviews have been incorporated into the application process for many positions. I’ve had a say in who was appointed for assistant chief guide, adventure lead, a programme project coordinator and a member of the digital futures team.
Others have helped appoint a new CEO, chair of trustees, treasurer, director, youth programmes manager, adventure and international youth panel chair... and many more to come.'
'Knowing that my voice has made even a small difference in such vital projects has made me realise that I am valued, I am heard, and I am powerful.'
Embedding girl voice in grass roots guiding
'Rainbows asking their young leader to play stuck in the mud this week, not tig, is girl voice. Brownies suggesting going outside and doing more sporty activities rather than crafts is girl voice. Guides helping decide what events their unit should attend this year, or where they should go on camp in summer, is girl voice. Rangers making their termly programme is... guess what? Girl voice! There may be other examples you can think of, specific to your unit, section or even county, region or country.
So we’re already halfway there! But more can be done. It’s important that girls feel interested and enthusiastic about the activities they’re doing so they stay in guiding longer.
By improving girl voice in your unit, you can lead the way to wider systemic change at division, county, region and national levels, building on existing methods to hear every girl’s voice at every level.'
'Being a part of Amplify has grown my confidence, communication skills, friendship networks and so much more immeasurably, making lifelong memories through incredible experiences and opportunities.'
3 tips to planning girl-led guiding experiences
Here are some ideas of how to make sure you use girl voice from your unit members when planning the programme:
1. Plan together
'For Guides and Rangers, you can often directly plan the programme with them. I’m a young leader for a Guide unit. At the first meeting of every term, we get round a table and the girls give us any non-programme activities they want to do. In summer, they often suggest bike rides, cook outs, archery or gardening. In the winter, they come up with ideas like escape rooms, crazy climb or sleepovers. They then use their badge books to suggest badges and we ask them to choose UMAs from each theme by just handing them the cards. The leaders will put sessions to dates and they write it on a blank calendar we give them. Your girls can become young leaders through the young leader development programme.'
2. Get interactive
'If your unit find it difficult to come up with new ideas, give them post-it prompts and ask them to think of an idea for different prompts. For example, something we’ve done before that you loved or something that you enjoy doing at home – you could even stick these around the room for girls to go around and fill out ideas on.
For Rainbows and Brownies, it may feel like a challenge to hear their voices more. Use smiley faces on the floor for them to express how they feel about an activity idea. Or get them to choose their favourite option out of a selection. You could work with smaller groups where they may feel more confident speaking up. Young leaders or sixers can help with this. Votes and thumbs up and down allows them to make decisions, or you could adapt their favourite games so they can give opinions in a familiar way.'
3. Ask their opinion
'Ask if there’s anything girls would like to change about how their unit is run – it could be timings, set sixes and patrols, structure of meetings (like the games, breaks and songs) or traditions. Generally, to include girl voice in your unit, every time leaders are deciding something or planning an event, ask yourself, have we talked to the girls about this? 2-minute conversations starting with, 'What do you think about...' or 'Would you like to...' can make the girls feel in control, powerful, valued and make sure they want to do what you’re planning or agree with your ideas.'
Spread the word
'This same emphasis on girl voice needs to be present at division, county, region, country and national levels. If you have a role at higher levels, make sure to question whether girl voice is being considered in key decisions and planning, using the same mindset as when leading your unit.
Divisions can involve girls by asking leaders to complete feedback forms or votes with their girls, appointing a girl voice lead volunteer or visiting units to gather ideas and thoughts. Counties and regions could appoint a small girl voice group of Guides, young leaders and Rangers to work on planning events and attending meetings. Or you could hold open online meetings for feedback from older girls and leaders, on behalf of younger girls. Keep an eye out for national girl voice opportunities to pass on to your units too, within Amplify, Advocates and Pioneer (our adventure and international youth panel). The insight and innovation pool is also open! With your support, Girlguiding can continue to be an organisation for girls, by girls and will help all girls know they can do anything!'
Helping girls speak out
'By showing up for girls each week, you’re already reminding girls and young women that they have a voice.
If girls want to speak up about their experiences with Girlguiding they can sign up to our insight pool.
They can also look out for opportunities to be a part of our girl-led groups like Amplify and Advocates.'
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