18 • Festive Travel, Days & Nights Out


Christmas Inspiration - brought to you by APL Media • Wednesday 26 November 2025 ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE Inspiring girls and young women


The Girls’ Brigade England & Wales is open to girls and young women from four to 18 years of age, and the Young Leader programme is open to those over 14 through to their mid-20s


It’s as relevant now as it was over 130 years ago when it was founded. This uniformed youth organisation is all about enabling and supporting young people to develop the confidence to live life to the full and develop life skills in areas such as leadership. For example, Lucie credits The


Girls’ Brigade’s Young Leader programme with giving her the confidence and courage to turn around a failing pharmacy in her first job out of uni. The Young Ambassadors programme gives opportunities to young women to represent The Girls’ Brigade nationally and speak at forums such as the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Youth Affairs. Its programme of badgework is


outstanding: it’s constantly reviewed and expanded to ensure it remains relevant to the issues that girls and young women experience today. For example, The Girls’ Brigade now offers badges in topics such as climate justice, having a safe night out and staying safe in the digital world. Obviously, all topics are dealt with in an age-appropriate way. Betty is one of The Girls’ Brigade’s


talented and committed volunteers from the Isle of Wight. She has over 50 years’ service as a volunteer (there are three generations of Betty’s family in The Girls’ Brigade, including her granddaughter, Florence, who’s just joined after her fourth birthday). There are plenty more like Betty – their volunteers have ‘staying power’ because they recognise the impact that they have on young people’s lives. The Girls’ Brigade is always keen


to welcome new volunteers. Its current volunteers are all ages from 16 to over 90, come from different walks of life and bring their different perspectives, gifts and talents. The volunteer scheme is flexible, which allows people to work around their


Te Girls’ Brigade is keen to welcome new volunteers. Its current volunteers are all ages, ranging from 16 to over 90, come from different walks of life and bring different perspectives, gifts and talents


personal lives, work and family commitments and give as much (or as little) time as they have available. Many volunteers appreciate the breadth and depth of training available and skills development on offer as it helps them in other areas of their work and their lives. The Girls’ Brigade groups that


meet weekly are an integral part of the local community. The group in Amesbury is a good example. The girls and young women from the group regularly visit the residents of the local care home and are always looking for ways to help their community, for example, holding a bag packing event at the local supermarket. As a Christian uniformed youth organisation, they have close connections with the local church. They also work closely with the local Royal British Legion and are fully engaged with Remembrance Day events. This focus on community and


society helps the young people develop and grow. Groups across England and Wales offer exciting activities for girls and young women, like sailing the Jolie Brise — a world- famous gaff-rigged pilot cutter built in 1913 that’s celebrated for racing victories, daring rescues and its role as a sail training vessel. The Girls’ Brigade England &


Wales place a great deal of focus on being a safe environment in which people can thrive. ‘Safe and sound’ is one of its core values — as evidence of this, the group has achieved an externally assessed Safeguarding Standards Award.


LATEST NEWS Girls’ Brigade England & Wales has launched a new initiative supporting military families in partnership with the


Methodist Church. Recognising the challenges of frequent relocations and disrupted friendships, Girls’ Brigade is establishing five new groups in areas with high military presence, each welcoming up to 30 children. A dedicated military-families employee, Hazel Adamson, herself from a military background, will lead the project. These groups provide safe spaces for girls and young women aged four to 18 to build resilience, confidence and community while exploring Christian faith and developing life skills.


TRAINING


Groups across England and Wales offer exciting activities for girls and young women, like sailing the Jolie Brise — a world- famous gaff-rigged pilot cutter that was built in 1913


AWARD RECIPIENTS


Enrol for fun, friendship, confidence and life skills


Volunteer to help young people achieve their potential and thrive. Contact the group on: E: GBCO@gb-ministries.org or T: 01246 582322


REGISTRATION NUMBER: 206655


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