Girlguiding 2026

It's been a while since I last made a post about GirlGuiding which is trying - being the operative word in the Post Cass Report era - to find their way though a desire for inclusivity which takes in those who are or feel they're trans and the constitutional issue of being from when Dame Agnes Baden-Powell set up GirlGuiding of being just for girls (and women) with legal challenges from activisits and some parents.

Anyhow, this is how the "top" of Girl Guides looks in 2026.

Senior Leadership Team (National)

Chief Guide: Tracy Foster (appointed for a 5-year term to champion volunteer and girl experiences).

Deputy Chief Guide: Sally Kettle.

Assistant Chief Guide: Mhairi Mackay.

CEO: Felicity Oswald OBE.

Chair of the Board of Trustees: Denise Wilson OBE.

Patron: Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh. 

Ambassadors

These individuals help raise the profile of Girlguiding in the UK:

Anna McNuff: Adventurer and author.

Laura Anderson: Environmental scientist ("Less Waste Laura").

Katie Zelem: Professional footballer.

Ellen Buttrick MBE: Paralympic rower.

Dame Jacqueline Wilson: Author.

Tori James: President of Girlguiding Cymru and adventurer.

Made By Mammas (Zoe Hardman & Georgia Dayton): Podcaster

There many, many others who do help out, former girl guides, those not but with girls that are interested and those in Trefoil Guild which runs along Girlguiding areas for those who were or were not in Guides and still like to go things together as Girlguidling for adults helping out often to.

Trefoil is open to men and women.

Inclusivity isn't just about gender issues as important as they can be but also about ensuring that whatever religion, race or disability there's a space for to shine be it as a guide or as a helper.

Pictured is a former guide and now helper who has Tourette's which has been in the news, she might involuntarily say the word "Chicken" but she's making a difference and that's just what this thing is all about, helping girls be their best selves.

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More scouting!

 

Although emblems do change and so does the World Map  thanks to geo-politics, this nice set does go to show the extent that girls around the world have thie own opportunities though dedicated organizations in Scouting be it GirlGuiding or as in the United States of America, Girl Scouts.

Although the relationship with Scouts in some parts of the world remains tetchy with the latter departing from the views of Baden Powell who favoured having seperate bodies for boys and girls with collaberation it is good to know GirlGuiding for Girls remains popular.

Why shouldn't girls have thier on spaces and programs?

Communication isn't always clear especially when relaying information which scouts can expect to be involved in some sometimes it makes sense to spell out phonetically things and just sounding a letter isn't clear like M and N getting mixed up.

Thankfully there is an international standard where every letter is spelt out using names and here it is which also has a pennant.

Learning it is very useful and actually I do know it off by heart!

Scouting onwards

That was always one the things about being me, the first Age Dysphoric signs were the trying on of my youngest siblings Cub uniform after he'd left it and unlike most others hadn't transferred to Scouts (aka Boy Scouts) at around ten and a half when I was around fifteen and sixteen going on ten.

It was stashed away bits in draw and the shirt in the deepest recesses of  a joint wardrobe that whenever I could I'd wear as at that time it wasn't much bigger than a well built twelve year old if that.

I felt happier being something I'd of rather had been being my real developmental age than the teenager I wasn't in any other way except age still stuck in 74/75.

Had I of been invested back in '72 into Brownies I'd of transferred to Girl Guides although you could say mentally I'd of been the youngest guide in the pack probably looking more like this which I do really like the look of.

Self development and mental discipline were things I needed and were looking for at the time as I struggled with motivating myself and being organized apart from needing to create a good circle of friends and learn new skills.

Imagine a twelve or thirteen year old Tammy at camp, having to share with others, take turns doing various chores, mastering new skills learning more about hurself?

That would of been brilliant! 

The outdoor life was one I enjoyed even if chunks were not lived through the Scout Association during that era by through boarding school activities and the odd weekend hike.

It was no accident that scouting became the big thing during the Coronavirus pandemic keeping me on the straight and narrow, helping my mental health because it met my needs for adventure, learning new things and developing self discipline

The remembrance parade

 It's a time of year I associate with both Bonfires which we used to have with elaborate displays and communal catering and also Remembrance Day parades which I attended going up and down tree lined country roads.

Around this time of the year I think about Remembrance Day and those days in my past parading with cubs, brownies, scouts, guides and the British Legion, paying our respects.

I also had to change the clocks around too as we went off Daylight saving yesterday.

Next weeks blog may be delayed as I'll be away at the weekend and probably too shattered to post anything.

Bye for now.

Being out and Winter hillwalking tips

 

For me Scouting and the Outdoor Life is a big part of the whole littles experience because it was that as hard and physically demanding as it was that I both enjoyed and taught me real resilience.

Some of kindest things people did for me back the was to make things harder for me by having to follow what every other child did and learn to pick myself up and carry on rather than protecting me from consequences.

I played games, camped, went hiking in forests and learned to love nature. 

Much of this is coming back into my LSG life now.

*Some winter hillwalking tips learned from experience

1. Have a permit and permission - check your route for this in advance

2. Know people’s experience, ability and limits to make it achievable

We're all different when it comes to experience, stamina and abilities and those of us with disabilities need to have then taken into account.

3. Follow any provided kit lists

Guidance on what you need is often available and in brownies and girl guides you'll be given it

4. Check the weather before you go

5. Wear bright colours to be visible

Dark colours merge at a distance into the landscape so if your jacket isn't bright do wear reflective material on you such as rucksacks so you can be spotted.

6. Clothing to keep you warm and the importance of layers

There are three layers, base, intermediate such as a fleece and outer such as rainproof jacket and keep extras on you.

7. Know your gear and its limitations so you use the most appropriate for the conditions.

Not all outdoor gear is made for every task

8. Start earlier in the morning to get home when it’s light

9. Take a paper map and compass, then practice reading it mobile phone signals can go apart from finding your battery is flat.

10. Tell someone where you’re going and how long you expect to be

11. Stay hydrated and take emergency rations

Because you expect to be out a few hours doesn't mean you shouldn't allow for any kind of emergency and all of this will fit in your rucksack.

12. Light up the way and keep a torch or in some situations a headlamp on you

13. Go with someone else or a group

Apart from the company extra bods are a back up for advance or even getting help in an emergency

14. Always know what to do in an emergency on any hillwalking activity

Girl Guides or Scouts?

 

I am sure it must happen as Scout or Girl Guiding groups close in an area that some sort of support is offered from "the other side" although whither not that may include membership would be debatable as GirlGuiding doesn't allow Boys in and as I understand it doesn't see being a feminine boy as compatible but non binary and pre and post op transsexuals are.

Personally I feel Girl Guides may be the better option for the sissy gurl cos you know at that age you're not a boy, god knows I did back then.

It is interesting looking at the uniforms the older girl guiding units don't have skorts (skirts with built in shorts) as an option although brownies do and Scouts which is co-ed today doesn't and beyond cubs pushes "Activity Trousers" for all and no skirts or skorts which I think is remiss for an organization supposedly inclusive.

Skorts would make a good option for busy and out of door activity for both girls, sissy gurls and feminine boys.

Setting your direction

The tried and true method of finding your way, a compass and a map as taught to this girl and used here shown by a girl scout remains unbeaten as much as modern smartphones seem to suggest they're the modern "Swiss Army Knife" of modern outdoor life.

As a Brownie, Girl Guide, Cub ot Scout you know mastering this matters cos "no signal" is a real thing and you still need to find your way.

Cubs and Brownies

The first month of the new blog is almost coming to an end and I am beginning to get the feel for how I want this blog to be.

This takes me back to the days when my young brother was a Cub and indeed my older brother was and he stayed up to Venture Scouts which was quite something having assisted him with various things to do with it.

There is a large element of that scouting type in me even now loving excitement, adventure, learning new skills all while having fun plus I loved the look that uniform.

It was case that I wanted to join the Guides as a Brownie like my junior girl friends did because I saw me with all my differences as a gurl and so preferred to be in the girls section of the scouting movement for being feminine.

The uniform back then was a lovely brown tunic I so wanted to wear.

You had your Handbooks for Brownies and when you became ten, Guides with a cap,belt, publications and annuals too

That was more the way I'd sooner things of been back then but the past from a gender point of view is very much a foreign country where things were much different.