Girlguiding has launched a new uniform for all its members with a focus on “self-expression, belonging and confidence”. The redesign, the first in over 30 years, was co-designed by the nearly 55,000 members, from the youngest girls in Rainbows (ages 4-7) to Rangers (ages 14-18).
But the claims that the Girl Guides still celebrate self-expression are called into question by Amy Best-Rokins, a 32-year-old administrator from Barrow and volunteer at Girl Guides for nearly 10 years. Here, she explains why she is officially resigning on 6 September due to recent changes in the Girl Guides. Interview by Sadhbh O’Sullivan. Girlguiding UK was approached for comment for this article, but declined.
The uniform change has been a long time coming: it’s in response to things people have complained about over the years and is part of Girlguiding trying to remain relevant. I know that a lot of the changes were made with the girls in mind. But it’s clear to me that the designs, in which the girls were involved, with a focus on inclusion, were all finalised before the announcement in March that trans girls and women had until September this year to leave the organisation.
Shorts
The change was made in December 2025, after the Supreme Court’s decision on sex and gender which ruled that girls and women are defined in the Equality Act 2010 by their biological sex at birth. Girlguiding’s governing charity documents set out that the membership and people who benefit from the organisation are girls and women.
