Girlguiding Scotland

Charity registered in Scotland SC005548

Girlguiding Scotland is Scotland’s leading charity for girls and young women. Every year we empower 50,000 girls to be their best and face the challenges of growing up today. We’ve been doing this through adventure, friendship and fun for over 100 years. We inspire girls. We give them space to grow, and strive to ensure that each one of them can get involved – no matter what their background or ability.

We have more than 12,000 amazing volunteers who, along with our fantastic supporters, make that happen. We’re dedicated to creating a better world for girls and young women. What we do makes a positive difference to the lives of all girls and young women across Scotland – not just our members.


Current opportunities

Guides have an exciting and varied programme designed to inspire and challenge girls from 10-14. What girls do in Guides is up to them, from taking part in lots of exciting activities at regular meetings to special events and trips away. They will choose from different badges and awards which will help them learn new skills and try new challenges. They can do some of this by themselves and some of this is done in groups in regular unit meetings. As a Guide Leader you have the opportunity to provide fun and challenging opportunities for girls aged ten to fourteen. The Guide programme is based on the premise that girls of this age, supported by a caring adult and given adequate resources, are capable of planning and carrying out most of their own activities. What's the purpose of this role? To give girls opportunities for fun, friendship, challenge and adventure! The unit leader is ultimately responsible for the Guide unit she works with – although of course she doesn’t have to do everything herself! Our Unit Leaders usually work with other volunteers to deliver a high-quality programme to the girls and young women in the unit, ensure the safety of the unit members and oversee the administration of the unit. All units have at least one unit leader, who is generally supported by a Leadership Team that can include other unit leaders, assistant leaders, young leaders and unit helpers. Units are grouped together into local areas called districts or divisions, and all leaders in the area are supported by a volunteer manager called a district or division commissioner. Unit leaders take part in learning and development opportunities both ‘on the job’ and through formal and informal training sessions. What will I do in the role? The responsibilities below will be shared among the Unit Leadership Team. As a unit leader you may delegate duties to other leaders and volunteers, working together to make the most of the skills and time you are able to give. - Provide a safe girl-only space where girls and young women can discover their full potential. - Provide ongoing leadership and support to the Unit Leadership Team and members of the unit. - With the Unit Team, create and deliver an accessible and inclusive programme based on the Girlguiding programme for your section. - Encourage and support the members of the unit in making decisions within the unit and the wider Girlguiding community. - Keep up to date with new resources and programme initiatives, and use them as appropriate. - Complete relevant training for the role and encourage other members of the team to develop their skills. - Ensure unit administration and financial tasks are completed. - Ensure all unit volunteers comply with current Girlguiding policies and regulations. - Ensure all activity instructors/visitors to the unit meet the requirements laid out in The Guiding Manual. - Maintain clear communication with parents and carers and gain all necessary permissions for activities. - Provide an initial response to any concerns or complaints from girls and young women or their parents/carers, following Girlguiding’s Safeguarding Policy Our Guide units are currently meeting online and/ or outdoors. This autumn we anticipate that some units will also return to indoor guiding but the situation will differ from area to area, following Scottish Government advice and regulations. When you register interest, we'll chat to you about whether you are interested in supporting units face to face (indoors or outdoors) or remotely (whether as part of online guiding or by supporting other ways of staying in touch remotely).

Girlguiding Scotland are looking for Youth Group Leaders for Rainbows (aged 4-7) across Scotland. About the Role The purpose of the role is to give girls opportunities for fun, friendship, challenge and adventure. As a leader you have responsibility for the unit you work with but you don’t need to do everything by yourself! Tasks can be shared with other leaders and volunteers – working together to make the most of the skills and time you are able to give. Some of these tasks include: • Providing a safe girl-only space where girls can discover their full potential. • Creating and delivering an accessible and inclusive programme as set out by Girlguiding. • Encouraging and supporting members in making decisions within the unit and the wider Girlguiding community. • Completing relevant training for the role and encouraging other members of the team to develop their skills. • Overseeing unit administration and finance. • Complying with Girlguiding policies and regulations. About Rainbows Being a Rainbow is all about having the space to try new things through a programme of age-appropriate activities, trips and adventures - both in their unit meetings and at special events. Rainbows is for all girls aged five to seven and are supported by a group of trained, inspirational leaders to explore, challenge themselves and have fun.

Why Girlguiding? Become an inspiring role model for our members - and help empower girls to be their best. Join the 100,000 amazing volunteers and supporters who make a real difference to nearly half a million girls and young women. Our weekly unit meetings are at the heart of Girlguiding. When you volunteer at them you’ll have fun, get messy, meet new people and run activities that help our members discover their potential. You can choose to work with girls in Rainbows, Brownies, Guides or Rangers, and you’ll be volunteering directly with them. Unit meetings are usually an hour to an hour and a half once a week. As a unit leader, assistant leader or leader-in-training you’ll join a team of volunteers to run the unit, plan meetings, and deliver awesome activities. If you’d like to become a leader, we’ll support you to complete our leadership qualification. Some of what you’ll do Each unit leadership team does things a little differently. Here are some of the activities that are part of being in the team:  Help plan and deliver activities which are based on our Girlguiding programme - These are accessible and inclusive. Often they’re planned by volunteers and girls at the beginning of term.  You’ll go to your unit meeting each week and run activities with the girls and other volunteers.  Safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do at Girlguiding, so you’ll help provide a safe space where every girl and young woman can take part.  You’ll also be keeping up the Doing Our Best standards for your unit.  You’ll complete training for the role and follow Girlguiding policies.  You might communicate with parents, carers and other Girlguiding volunteers.  Leaders usually spend two to five hours a week outside of the unit time on the role (depending on how the unit responsibilities are shared and what activities are planned). This might include contacting new members or going to district meetings.  Leaders share issues and concerns with local commissioners.

We are looking for volunteer leaders to help run meetings, events and activities for girls who are members of either the Rainbows (age 4-7), Brownies (age 7-10), Guides (age 10-14) or Rangers (age 14-18). Our volunteers are energetic, enthusiastic and willing to try new activities. This role would suit someone who has, or would like to gain, experience of volunteering with young people while developing their event-planning and organisational skills. Not had a leadership role before? No experience of Girlguiding or youth work? Don’t worry! We'll match your skills, interest and availability to the needs of our groups in your area and provide you with tailored training and support. You'll have the chance to take part in free training on topics such as first aid and leadership as well as gaining many transferable skills. By supporting Girlguiding Scotland you will make a real difference to the lives of girls and young women in your area while having great fun. Want to find out more? Visit the Girlguiding Scotland website (www.girlguidingscotland.org.uk) for more info about the different volunteering opportunities we offer. To find out what's available in your area, complete our online registration form and we'll put you in contact with a local volunteer who will be able to answer any questions you may have and tell you more about our recruitment process.