future girl - girlguiding.org.uk · your girls would enjoy most, ... think of something that’s...

Why is Girlguiding doing this project?We want to give girls the chance to tell us their views about the issues they care about in their own voice, so we can help them make positive changes happen, now and in the future – and celebrate what’s great about being a girl! We’re aiming to gather the thoughts and opinions of up to 10,000 young members from all Girlguiding sections across the UK.

This project will help us understand the ever-changing lives of girls and young women. We’ll use the findings as the foundation of our work to influence the people who matter – informing the calls we make to government and industry, and helping make sure we’re giving girls what they need to thrive.

This is your members’ opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings on what matters most to them, and to be part of something inspiring and powerful.

How do I explain the project to my members?Did you know that there are people who work in Girlguiding that talk to the government about what’s important to you? Well, what you share in today’s activity session will go directly to those people! They’re really looking forward to hearing your views and opinions.

Why are you involving unit leaders?We can’t do it without you! Unit leaders are in the best position to help girls share their views and feel inspired and positive. You see the girls every week and have a strong relationship with them – this will help them feel comfortable talking about what life is

really like for them today, and what it might be like tomorrow. And by taking part in this project, you’ll be helping us make their lives even better in the future.

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Future Girl: Guides unit leader introduction and worksheet

Don’t forget to get your Future Girl badges – once you’ve completed the activities visit girlguiding.org.uk/futuregirl and fill out the survey for your section. We’ll then send you all the badges for your unit.

Your role is as a facilitator in the activity session, to help girls have their say and to pass on what they care about to Girlguiding. We’re asking you to record the results of the activity, and afterwards to fill in a 10-minute online survey. Please see below for more details on how this works.

Capturing members’ viewsWe want this project to be fun as well as useful, so we’ve created some inspirational activities you can easily work into a unit meeting – these are explained in the Future Girl activity plan for Guides.

The format of the activity session is:

1. Thinking activity Girls share ideas with a partner about what’s great and what’s tricky or unfair about being a girl today

2. Emoji voting activity Girls vote on different issues and how important they are to them, prioritising the three they care about most

3. Thinking activity To get girls thinking about any other issues they might have missed as a large group

4. Groupwork activity Girls split into groups and decide which issues they feel most passionate about changing, and what they’d do to tackle them

5. Groupwork activity Here girls choose one issue and improvise a scene around it, developing their scene into either an idea, an app or an advertisement

6. Presentation of groupwork Girls share their scene with the group

7. Thanks for all your input and ideas And stand in a circle, linking arms, supporting each other

Recording members’ viewsWe’d like you to note down the issues the girls identify as most important to them through the activities, and then fill in a 10-minute online survey after the unit meeting. You’ll have either received your survey link already, or you’ll receive it shortly in an email from us.

If possible, it’s best to fill in this survey on the same day as your unit meeting so the girls’ ideas are fresh in your mind, but if not please try to do it as soon as you can afterwards. The sheets the girls create as part of the activity might help to refresh your memory when you’re answering the questions, so make sure you collect these in.

What is my role?

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Activity sessionAt each stage of the activity session it’ll be useful to capture the following information so you can refer to it when you fill in the online survey:

Mini activity 1Thinking activity – ask girls to share their ideas before they rip them up. Make a note of them, and any interesting quotes (there’s a quotes sheet and some note paper provided at the end of these instructions)

Mini activity 2Emoji voting activity – nothing to record here. Please collect in all the emoji sheets with their ticks and hearts on at the end of the session to refer to in the online survey

Mini activity 3Thinking activity – please note down any additional issues girls think have been missed, and any interesting quotes

Mini activity 4Groupwork activity – while they’re deciding on the issue they most want to change, walk around, listen out to girls’ views and note down any quotes. Feel free to make more notes to remind you of anything else of interest

Mini activity 5Groupwork activity – listen out for girls’ views, and note down any interesting quotes while they’re improvising their scene

Mini activity 6Presentation of groupwork activity – at the end of each performance make a few notes about the chosen issue, any ideas girls had for tackling it, how they performed their scene, and any interesting quotes

Mini activity 7Thanks for input and ideas – nothing to record here

Please note: The activity plan is slightly longer than usual. This is to make sure everything’s really clear and everyone carries out the activities in fairly similar ways.

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FAQsQ. What do I do if girls look uncomfortable talking about a certain subject

or I don’t think it’s appropriate to discuss?

A. This project covers a wide range of topics and issues, and we’re keen to get girls’ views on what truly matters to them today and in the future. But we’re also mindful that Guides are still young, so if you’re concerned about talking about a subject, or if a subject comes up in conversation that you think girls won’t feel comfortable with, then feel free to move on to another one. You can also read our Safe Space guide beforehand.

Q. Do I get a choice about how to run the activities?

A. Yes. We’ve provided some fun ready-made activities to get girls thinking about different issues, but please feel free to adapt or change them as long as they still get girls thinking and give you enough information to fill in the online survey – you know what your girls would enjoy most, and what would generate the most discussion! We’ve suggested how to run the activities, but this is only a guide.

Q. I ran the activity session with my members but I can’t remember all their views and opinions: will I still be able to do the survey?

A. Yes, absolutely! Capturing girls’ views in the online survey doesn’t mean you have to remember everything - it’s not a test! At the end of the meeting, you’ll hopefully have a pretty good idea of which topics/issues really stood out for the girls, and what they felt a positive future might look like.

It’s a good idea to have one of the leaders or volunteers making notes to help you answer the survey questions, as well as the other sheets you collect in that girls write or draw on. If you’re leading the activities on your own, just note down as much as you can.

Q. I’ve also got some views on the subject, do I get to share them too?

A. Definitely! We’re also keen to understand what our unit leaders think about life for young girls in the UK today. We ask you questions about your views in the online survey too.

Q. I’m a unit leader for more than one unit and/or section. What do I do?

A. We’d be very grateful if you could do the activities and the unit leader survey for each of the units and/or sections you lead. We realise it’ll take more of your time, but we’d really like to capture as many young members’ views as possible. We really appreciate your support.

Q. How will the survey findings be used?

A. We’ll use the findings as our foundation to influence the people who matter, like the government, to improve the lives of girls and young women in the future. All the information we gather will be confidential and anonymous.

Please don’t worry if you haven’t done anything like this before, that’s absolutely fine. As a unit leader, you’re already great at listening to your members’ thoughts, feelings and views. By recording them in the survey, you’re helping Girlguiding shape a better future for girls and young women.

From Girlguiding, a big thank you in advance for taking part in this important project! 😊

If you have any questions about the Future Girl project, please email [email protected]

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1. Quotes capturePlease use this blank sheet to write down any quotes/interesting things you hear girls say during the activities.

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2. Issues chosen and performedPlease use this blank sheet to write down the issue each group chose to improvise their scene around as part of the future activity, their ideas for tackling this issue, and any other notes about their performances.

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3. Other notesPlease use this blank sheet to write down any other notes you may want to refer to when you’re filling in the online survey.

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Guides activity plan

60 mins

© Girlguiding 2018 Registered charity number 306016.

Before the meeting Lay out the statement and emoji sheets around your space.

What you’ll need • Scenariosheetswithemojiimages• Pens,pencils,sharpeners• Issuessheets(A4sheetwithlistofissuesand

images)• Asmartphone,tablet,laptopordesktopcomputer

fortheonlinesurveyafterwards–itwouldbegoodifyoucouldfillitinassoonaspossibleafterthe unit meeting

How you’ll gather members’ opinions • Notegirls’responsestotheinitialquestion.• Countemojiresponses.• Notetheissueschoseningroupwork.• Notewhatgirlssay.• Notetheissuesgirlsmostwanttochangeinthe

futureactivity.• Usethenotesabovetofillintheonlinesurveyafter

the unit meeting.

Aim of activityTogivegirlsthechancetoexpresstheirviewsontheissuestheycareabout,sowecanhelpthemmakepositivechangeshappen,nowandinthefuture.

Note to leader What you should explain to girlsislaidoutontheleft,withdeliverynotesforyouonthe right.

What to doToday is all about your ideas. Theymatterhugely,andwe

wanttogiveyouthechancetovoiceyouropinions on issues that are important to you. We’dalsoliketohearyourthoughtsonhowyou’dimprovethelivesofyoungwomen,nowandinthefuture.

Thinkofsomethingthat’sgreataboutbeing agirltoday.Shareyourideaswithyourpartner.

Done?Nowlet’sthinkaboutsomeofthethingsthatmakeittrickytobeagirltoday.Thinkcarefullyaboutwhatmaybedifferentforboysandgirls–thingslikeschooluniforms,thesubjectstheystudyatschool, orthejobstheyendupdoing.Isthereanythingthatyouthinkisunfair?Writeyourthoughtsonablanksheetofpaper.

NowIwantyoutoripitup!Today’sall aboutbreakingthebarriersthatholdgirlsandyoungwomenback,andthinkingabout whatwe’dliketochangetomakeabetterfuture.

Let’sthinkabouttheissues facinggirlsandyoungwomen

today,anddecidewhatyou’dmostliketochangeforthefuture.Aroundthespaceyou’llseelotsofsheets.Eachsheethasastatementandfiveemojisonit.Readeachstatementandthinkabouttheissueitraises.Howimportantisittoyou,andhowdoyoufeelaboutit?Putatickbytheemojithatshowshowyoufeel.

Onceyou’vereadthemall,choosethethreeissues or scenarios that are most important toyouanddrawaheartontheirsheets.Remember,therearenowronganswersandit’sfineforustohavedifferentviews:everyone’sopinionmatters.

Delivery note Makeanoteofthegirls’ideasforwhat’sgoodandbadaboutbeingagirl,andalsoofanyinterestingquotestheycomeupwith:you’llneedthesefortheonlinesurvey

Delivery note Beforethegirlsstartreviewingthesheets,explaintothemthattherearefiveemojis–theyshouldthinkaboutwhetherthestatementmakesthemfeelhappy,neutralorsad.Therearetwodifferenthappyandsademojis,sotheycanshowhowstronglytheyfeel.

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2

10 mins

10 mins

We’veexploredafewofthe issuesfacinggirlstoday,but

therearelotsofothers.Cananyone thinkofanywe’vemissed?

Asyougetolder,everyoneof youwillhavethechanceto

maketheworldabetterplace.What wouldyoudotostarttotackletheissues that really matter to you?

You’renowgoingtochooseoneofyourissues,andimprovise

a one-minute drama scene that explainswhyit’ssoimportanttoyouandwhatyouthinkshouldbedoneaboutit.Or,ifyouwanttotrysomethingdifferentyoucoulddevelopanideaforanappthataddressesyourissue,orcreateanadvertdesignedtoraiseawarenessoftheissueandwhatneedstochange.

Let’sshareyourideas!Telluswhichissueyou’vebeen

workingonandsomeofthewaysyoufeelitcouldbetackled,then shareyourdrama,yourapporyouradvert.

Thishasbeenamazing–thankyouso much. Your opinions are hugely

important.PeopleinGirlguidingwillusewhatyou’vetoldmetodaytotalktothegovernmentabouttheissuesthatreallymattertoyou,andthey’llpassonyoursuggestionstoo.Remember,youabsolutelyhavethepowertocreateabetterworldforyourselfandotheryoungwomen,nowandinthefuture.

Delivery note Notedownanyadditionalissuesgirlsmention,andalsomakeanoteofanyinterestingquotes.Attheendofthesession,collectintheemojisheetswithgirls’ticksandheartsonthem:you’llneedthesefortheonlinesurvey.

Delivery note OrganisegirlsintoPatrolsandgiveeachgrouptheissuessheet.Asagroup,theyshoulddecidewhichissuestheyfeelthemostpassionateabout,andthekindsofchangesthatneedtobemadetotacklethem.Whilethey’reworking,listentotheirviewsandnotedownanyinterestingquotesthatyoucanincludelaterintheonlinesurvey.

Delivery note SupportgirlstogetintotheirPatrolsandgiveeachacopyoftheissuessheet.Intheirgroup,theyshoulddecidewhichissuetheymostwanttochangethattheywillfocuson.Whilethey’reworking,listentotheirviewsandnotedownanyinterestingquotesthatyoucanincludelaterintheonlinesurvey.

Delivery note Attheendofeachperformancemakeafewnotesaboutthegirls’chosenissueandtheirideasfortacklingit,includinganyinterestingquotes.

Delivery note Askgirlstostandinacircle,facingoutwardswitharmslinkedtosupport each other.

10 mins

5 mins

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5

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Take it furtherIfsomethingyou’vethoughtabouttodayhashadabigimpactonyou,goawayandtalkaboutthatissuewiththreeotherpeopleanddiscusswhatyou’dliketodoaboutit.

15 mins

10 mins

I want to live in a world where…

there is support for girls and young women to eat

healthily and exercise


schools teach important life skills (for example, first aid, money management,

coping with stress)


girls and young women are shown in a diverse and positive way in the media

(such as on TV, online, in films)


communities have food banks and other support for people who need it


people care about the environment, recycling and climate change


there is no bullying


girls can go online and express themselves without anyone

being mean to them


school subjects aren’t seen as ‘for girls’ or ‘for boys’


there is no cruelty to animals


girls and young women have the same career options as men


people with disabilities are supported to do the same things as people

who don’t have a disability


girls and young women feel comfortable seeking help

if they’re feeling sad or worried


girls and young women don’t feel pressured to look

a certain way


people of different cultures and backgrounds are treated equally


girls and young women feel confident to express their opinions

and feel listened to


girls and young women always feel safe at home, out and about or at school


girls and young women have inspiring female role models to look up to (for example, leaders,

politicians, sportswomen, scientists, coders)


girls and young women have happy and positive friendships

and relationships

future girl - girlguiding.org.uk · your girls would enjoy most, ... think of something that’s...

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