**Girlguiding Unveils 72 New Badges Championing Fun, Skills, and Wellbeing**
The Girlguiding organisation has introduced a significant refresh to its activities, unveiling 72 new badges that span a diverse range of subjects—from restful sleep and hearty laughter to problem-solving and environmental stewardship. This sweeping update, the result of collaborative input from over 20,000 girls and volunteers, aims to modernise the badge programme for Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, and Rangers, supporting participants aged four to eighteen across the UK.
In an era where children’s interests and societal challenges are rapidly evolving, Girlguiding has chosen to respond directly to the voices of its members. The new badge collection was crafted after the organisation invited suggestions, receiving more than 4,000 creative ideas from individuals within the guiding community. In a proactive approach, a further 11,000 girls from 753 units tested these activities, ensuring their relevance and appeal before the nationwide launch.
Notably, the new badges celebrate everyday skills and joyful experiences as much as they do more traditional achievements. Members can now gain recognition for “having a good night’s sleep,” sharing what makes them unique, or for critiquing food and planning holidays—skills often valuable but previously unacknowledged. Environmental awareness and climate action have also been prioritised, with the inclusion of badges such as ‘bee rescuer’ for the youngest members, encouraging early engagement in ecological care.
Among the more light-hearted inclusions are badges for laughing and dancing, acknowledging the importance of mental wellbeing and personal expression. For those who are keen on adventure or discovery, there are new challenges in mechanics, codebreaking, and even entomology—the study of insects—highlighting the organisation’s drive to foster curiosity and inclusive learning.
Such contemporary updates have been met with public enthusiasm. Broadcaster Angellica Bell, now an official Girlguiding ambassador, voiced her support for the initiative, noting how vital it is for girls to have safe, fun spaces for learning and self-expression outside of school. Bell praised the guiding movement’s evolving approach, which not only builds girls’ skills and confidence, but also tackles key issues such as online safety, sexism, and the need for mental health support.
What sets these badges apart is their holistic development process. The youth panel ‘Amplify’, consisting of thirty girls aged twelve to eighteen, played a central role in badge selection and design. Several specialist organisations were also enlisted, including the Royal Horticultural Society for gardening, Bletchley Park for codebreaking, and the Wellbeing of Women charity to guide the development of health-related badges. The Children’s Book Project contributed expertise to the new ‘bookworm’ badge, encouraging lifelong literacy and a love of reading.
For the first time, members of all ages can find badges closely matching their passions and interests. Rainbows can earn recognition for environmental action or expressing their guiding spirit, while Brownies are invited to host parties as part of the redesigned ‘celebrations’ badge. Guides now have the opportunity to show off their resourcefulness with the new ‘thrift’ badge, celebrating upcycling and sustainable habits.
Amanda Azeez, acting chief executive of Girlguiding, reflected on the significance of the project, stating that the overhaul keeps the movement “relevant to girls’ wants and needs”. She expressed excitement at the extensive feedback received during consultation and anticipates that these new challenges “will help girls build confidence and realise they can achieve anything”.
The rollout speaks to Girlguiding’s ongoing mission: to be a safe space where young people can develop, connect, and thrive in an inclusive and encouraging environment. Stakeholders hope that, with this diverse and playful badge set, Girlguiding will continue to adapt to the needs and dreams of its next generation of change-makers.
For parents, volunteers, and girls alike, this broad spectrum of badges represents not only a shift in direction for the organisation but also a celebration of the everyday moments, personal successes, and laughter that can shape a young person’s journey. As Girlguiding enters this new chapter, young members will have even more opportunities to shine—one badge at a time.