From the outset guiding in the United Kingdom has been single-sex, in the belief that an all-female association offers girls and young women the best opportunities for personal and social development.
In general, girls mature more quickly than boys, but, on the other hand, their self-confidence - crucial for leading life to the full - grows more slowly. Similarly, girls tend to have less self-esteem than boys and are more likely to under-value themselves.
A mixed group, where boys are dominant because they appear to be more self-assured, only serves to highlight the differences. A single-sex group, however, gives girls and young women the opportunity to:
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Decide what to do
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Work together in teams, co-operate and negotiate on an equal basis
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Assert themselves
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See other women in positions of responsibility, taking the lead
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Make decisions
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Develop a sense of identity and self-worth
Facts and Figures
Girlguiding UK is the UK's largest voluntary organisation for girls and young women and is part of an international organisation with over 10 million members worldwide.
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Girlguiding UK has more than 600,000 members in the UK.
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Half of the women born in the UK have belonged to Girlguiding UK at some point in their lives.
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The Association's adult members and helpers give ten million voluntary hours a year – that's equivalent to 5,500 full-time jobs.
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More than a quarter of eight-year-old girls in the UK is a Brownie.
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Our vision is to have sufficient volunteer leaders to enable every girl and young woman to have the opportunity to join Girlguiding UK