Girlguiding UK and The Scout Association
Supporting young people, volunteers and stronger communities
We have seen first-hand the positive impact these organisations have on their young members, their hundreds of thousands of dedicated adult volunteers and our communities.Sir Trevor Pears
Partners since: 2014
Funding invested: £8.2 million
Girlguiding and Scouts are two of the UK’s largest and longest-established youth organisations. Together they provide hundreds of thousands of young people with opportunities to develop confidence, independence and skills for life through activities rooted in their local communities. Their work depends on hundreds of thousands of volunteers, whose time and commitment create trusted spaces where young people can make friends, try new experiences and contribute to the communities in which they live.
Our partnerships with Girlguiding and Scouts began in 2014 and are rooted in a shared commitment to ensuring that more young people can benefit from these opportunities.
A central focus of our support has been helping both organisations grow their reach. Demand has often exceeded the number of places available, while some communities have had fewer opportunities to participate. Our funding has supported the creation of new groups, the recruitment and development of volunteers, and stronger provision in areas where access has been limited.
We have also supported closer collaboration between the two organisations. In 2018, our funding enabled the first joint post shared by Girlguiding and Scouts, creating new opportunities to share learning, develop common approaches and address shared challenges.
One result has been the Welcome Project, which sought to improve the experience of becoming a volunteer. Developed with volunteers themselves, it introduced a digital tool to help prospective volunteers find suitable opportunities while making recruitment more accessible and reducing the administrative burden on local teams.
Our partnerships with Girlguiding and Scouts reflect our commitment to supporting organisations that help communities thrive by giving young people places where they feel welcome, supported and able to contribute. By helping both organisations widen access, strengthen volunteering and learn from one another, we are enabling more people to experience the relationships, opportunities and sense of belonging that guiding and scouting provide.