About Us - Girlguiding Leeds

Who we are

Girlguiding Leeds is part of Girlguiding – the leading charity for girls and young women in the UK with over 500,000 members. We are run by volunteers with the aim of inspiring girls to be their best.

Girlguiding Leeds is one of 17 Counties that make up Girlguiding North East England Region (NEE). NEE is one of nine Regions and Countries of Girlguiding, the largest voluntary organisation for girls and young women in the UK.

At Girlguiding Leeds we have over 6,000 members, including 1,400 volunteers and 5,000 girls and young women. We have 340 Rainbow, Brownie, Guide and Ranger units who meet regularly across the whole of Leeds and come from a wide variety of backgrounds and communities.

We are a friendly, forward looking county and our aim is to provide the best Girlguiding and life opportunities for all our members. We give girls and young women a space where they can be themselves, have fun, build brilliant friendships, gain valuable life skills and make a positive difference to their lives and our local communities.

We build girls’ confidence and raise their aspirations. We give them the chance to discover their full potential and encourage them to be a powerful force for good. We give them a space to have fun.

We do all this within our local communities, but we also have opportunities to venture further afield and stay away. This could be a sleepover at a unit meeting place or our activity centre, a camp within the UK or an international adventure or service project.

What we do

How old is your daughter?

Being a Rainbow is all about having the space to try new things and have fun.

Rainbows are aged 4 – 7 and learn by doing; they get their hands dirty, play games, do sports and make arts and crafts.

Through taking part in a range of different activities, which can include sleepovers, with girls their own age, Rainbows develop self-confidence and make lots of new friends.

Brownies offers girls exciting opportunities to try new things and discover their potential.

Brownies are aged 7 – 10 and make their own decisions, learn new hobbies, develop skills and explore other cultures.

They follow the Girlguiding programme in their unit meetings, get adventurous, and go to special events, camps and holidays.

Guides get out there and do something really different.

Aged from 10-14, Guides plan their own meetings and explore new places, go on camps and trips, and learn skills for life.

Guides have an amazing time at exclusive events like the BIG GIG concert and our very own fun-packed festival, Wellies and Wristbands.

For Rangers, it’s all about taking the lead and finding new challenges.

Rangers are young women aged 14 – 18, who meet up regularly, build a network of friends and have fun doing activities together.

Rangers are offered exciting opportunities to travel the world, get their voices heard through advocacy campaigns, support the local community, gain leadership skills and earn awards and qualifications to help enhance their CV.

Get involved

Where we are

Abbeywood

Abbeywood Division borders Meanwood, Headingley, Kirkstall and Armley. We are a fun division which has 27 units, including Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers. Our units are led by an inspirational and enthusiastic team of leaders who enjoy taking their girls on adventures, such as Rainbow Sleepovers, Brownie Holidays and Guide and Ranger Camps. They especially love outdoor activities, such as cookouts, archery and wide games, working for badges and any activities involving food!

Aire Valley

Aire Valley Division covers the communities of Horsforth and Calverley, areas which are semi-rural with access to a variety of outside spaces including woodland, parks and open fields. We currently have 27 units split between Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers, who meet in a variety of venues including a guide hall, a scout and guide hall, church halls and school halls. We have over 100 enthusiastic volunteers working with the girls to bring the exciting Girlguiding programme to life with weekly indoor and outdoor activities. The majority of units also offer holidays and camps locally, nationally and internationally.

Crown Park

Crown Park Division is situated in South Leeds and covers Hunslet, Belle Isle and Middleton, Beeston , Wortley, Farnley and New Farnley. We are quite close to the City Centre, Royal Armouries, Crown Point Shopping Centre, Middleton Park, Cross Flatts Park, Ringways Garage, Western Flatts Park and Farnley Park. We have a very dedicated team of volunteers running Rainbow, Brownie, Guide and Ranger units in all areas. We provide fun, adventure, trips and residentials, both local and international, whilst following a programme that earns badges for girls along the way. We encourage girls to have a voice and let us know what is important to them. We are always looking for new leaders and new girls, so please feel free to get in touch if you want to know more.

Elmwood

Elmwood Division is a large division covering the towns and villages to the East of Leeds, our division covers the old mining villages of Rothwell, Kippax, Methley, Oulton, Swillington and Garforth, although some of these villages have grown into vibrant towns now. We have over 500 young members attending 32 units spread throughout the division, including Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers. Our units are run by over 100 amazing adult volunteers and wonderful young leaders. Elmwood is a very active division and all units enjoy getting outdoors whenever possible and our members have plenty of opportunity to attend residential and international events, both indoors and outdoors. We are keen to welcome new members to our division, so why not come along and join in the fun?

Greenvale

Greenvale Division covers North Leeds, including Moortown, Alwoodley, Shadwell and Chapel Allerton. We have 30 units with over 500 girls from Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers. We have over 140 leaders from a wide variety of backgrounds and with a range of interests and skills. Many of our adult members enjoyed their own experiences of Guiding as a child and some have been lucky enough to travel as far as India, Mexico, Albania and Georgia with Guiding! Whether it is crafts, campfires, going away or playing games, our units offer girls adventures and opportunities to develop skills and friendships.

Parkwood

Parkwood Division covers the areas of Roundhay, Oakwood, Gipton and Osmondthorpe. Our name is inspired by Roundhay Park, Gipton Wood and Fearnville Fields which are all within the area, giving us plenty of outdoor space which our groups like to take advantage of. We have 33 welcoming units for girls and young women aged 5 to 18, meeting at 7 different venues. There is at least one Rainbow, Brownie and Guide group meeting each weekday evening, with Rangers meeting on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, giving plenty of options for any girls or volunteers who would like to join us. We aim to offer a range of division events giving girls and leaders a chance to meet and get to know those from other units.

The Leys

The Leys is a dynamic division on the Leeds/Bradford border. We stretch from Pudsey right across to the top of Armley taking in Farsley, Stanningley and Bramley on the way. We currently have 28 busy units that are supported by an amazing network of volunteers including leaders, young leaders and unit helpers. We provide a wide range of girl led activities incorporating the guiding programme on a weekly basis. Our girls are independent, adventurous and committed to making positive change in the world around them.

Templefields

Our Division is in East Leeds covering the area to the north of Temple Newsam and out towards the M1 motorway. Our volunteers are an amazing combination of experienced and new leaders, regular volunteers and occasional helpers, who manage our 21 units covering Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers. We love to organise division events for the girls (and ourselves!) such as campfires, residential events and trips to the cinema and pantomime. We like to have fun as a group of volunteers too. We are always ready to welcome new volunteers so that we can ensure that they, and all girls in East Leeds, have the opportunity to enjoy Girlguiding as much as we do.

Tarnheights

Sitting on the edge of the Chevin and close to Ilkley Moor, Tarnheights Division covers the diverse and distinct townships and villages of Guiseley, Esholt, Yeadon and Rawdon. The division team supports over 120 adult and young leader volunteers in the local area. We have 26 units covering all ages from Rainbows to Brownies, Guides and Rangers, and two Trefoil Guilds. The unit leadership teams offer a wide range of exciting and interesting activities at their meetings. Depending on their unit section girls have the opportunity to go on day trips, sleepovers, holidays, camps and international trips.

Seven Hills

Seven Hills Division is in the South West of Leeds and covers Morley and the surrounding areas of Churwell, Drighlington, Gildersome, Tingley and West Ardsley. It derives its name from the fact that Morley is built on seven hills – like Rome, but not so sunny! Our units cover Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers and we also have a Trefoil Guild. As well as unit meetings, girls enjoy trips out, fund raising events, fun days with the Division and County, and participate in Morley’s St. George’s Day celebrations and the Remembrance Day observances in Morley and Gildersome. Some units also take their girls camping, or on residential events and sleepovers. Girls are encouraged to help plan what they want to do and all this is made possible by the enthusiasm and dedication of our wonderful leaders and unit helpers. We are always looking for new volunteers to help us to continue to provide exciting activities to as many girls as possible.

Wattylesyke

Wattlesyke Division is the collective name for guiding in Boston Spa, Collingham, Clifford, East Keswick, Thorner, Wetherby and the surrounding villages. Guiding in Wattlesyke is thriving with over 470 girls actively involved across our 25 units with more girls waiting to join. We have 7 Rainbow units, 10 Brownie units, 7 Guide units, a Ranger unit and a Trefoil Guild Group. Our units are run by over 70 adult leaders, supported by unit helpers and young leaders. The units run a well-balanced programme ensuring that every girl is given the opportunity to achieve their full potential. We run regular outings, sleepovers, camps and international trips, ensuring there is something to suit every girl.

Wharfe Ridge

Wharfe Ridge Division covers Otley, Cookridge, Bramhope and Adel and has 32 units of Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers. We are very proud of our community and the areas that we do Guiding in. We are lucky that we have the countryside on our doorstep. Our units like to get out and about into those green spaces and will visit areas such as Golden Acre Park and Otley Chevin. We are a friendly bunch and are always excited about new adults joining our teams. Being with the girls and watching them grow is a highlight in our division. Our leaders enjoy offering the wide Guiding programme from badges to crafts to cooking on open fires. Many of our leaders take their girls on local, national and even international residentials.

Our team is energetic and enthused about Guiding, if you would like to volunteer for our division or your daughter would like to join, please visit the main pages on the Leeds County website. We look forward to meeting you!