Why should young people volunteer?

By volunteering with Girlguiding, you’ll be empowering girls, and get loads from it yourself too.

If you’re between 10 and 25 and want to know more about our volunteer opportunities just for young people, you're in the right place!

These are some reasons you might want to think about volunteering with us, whether it’s as a Rainbow or Brownie helper, young leader, young external volunteer or peer educator.

Game player, team player, glitter cleaner, smile creator, being a young volunteer in guiding is all of these things and more! - Young volunteer

Be an inspiration for girls

You’ll show members from as young as four know that they can do anything! Could you help out at your local Rainbow unit as Rainbow helper, volunteer with Brownies as part of your Duke of Edinburgh Award (DofE), inspire Guides as a young leader or empower Rangers as a peer educator?

Support your local community

Learn more about the area you live in and help young people where you live. Not only do people who help their community say they feel happier and more confident, but you’ll also get the chance to explore new places and make where you live a better place.

Meeting new people

Volunteering is a great way to meet new people with similar values. You'll learn how to work together and maybe even make some new friends along the way.

Get skills for your CV and UCAS application

Volunteering can be really useful for your CV or UCAS application for university. You’ll get to learn new skills and get experience in everything from doing risk assessments and building campfires to time management and creating crafts. These skills can help you do anything from getting your first part time job to getting an offer from your favourite university.

Boost your mental wellbeing

Volunteering can reduce stress, anxiety and depression. Do something meaningful and helping girls and young and making a difference in the world will lift your spirits. Learn more about the 5 ways of wellbeing.

Help you get your DofE

As part of your DofE volunteering, you can take on loads of different roles in Girlguiding. Also, if you’re a member, DofE fits in closely with many of the other awards and qualifications available to you through guiding, especially the Queen’s Guide award.

Have fun

Most importantly, having a good time! If you volunteer at a unit, you get to spend an hour or two a week getting messy, laughing and empowering girls. What’s better than that?

Roles for young people:

Rainbow or Brownie helper

Guides can have fun supporting younger girls by becoming a Rainbow or Brownie helper. You could help younger girls organise their Promise or Pot of Gold parties, lead games or be around to tell them how exciting Guides is.

If you're thinking about becoming a Rainbow or Brownie helper, talk to your leader. She can give you more information and help find a nearby unit you can support.

Young leader

Anyone aged 14 to 17 can become a young leader and help out at Rainbows, Brownies or Guides. You’ll also get to do your Young leader qualification and develop skills in leadership, communication and team working – all of which make impressive additions to any CV.

Peer educator

Peer educators are 14-to-25-year-olds who help Brownies, Guides and Rangers explore big topics, from mental wellbeing to safety. As young people, you’ll use their own experience to bring the subject to life. And you’ll get training and support to learn the skills you'll need to do this.