Girlguiding overhauls uniform to be more 'inclusive' amid Supreme Court trans row

Girlguiding has revealed its first major uniform overhaul in more than three decades.

The redesign aims to "foster a true sense of belonging" among members.

The new kits replace a design dating back to 1990, and feature modern colours and prints alongside traditional Girlguiding branding.

Practical touches include hidden waistband pockets, thumb holes, and badge sashes that double as cross-body bags.

Under the new approach, wearing just a top from the collection is enough to count as being "in uniform."

This simplified requirement came after thousands of Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers said they wanted more choice and room for personal style.

Chief executive Felicity Oswald said the range had been "designed in collaboration with thousands of girls and young women" and aims to give girls "the freedom to express themselves, whilst feeling part of our amazing organisation".

HemmingwayDesign created the range, which comprises 30 garments, 15 accessories and neckerchiefs.

Neckerchiefs can be personalised for local, regional and country events.

A Girlguiding survey of 2,000 UK girls aged six to 16, conducted in June, found that 93 per cent feel most at ease when they have control over how they style themselves.

The organisation said comfort and practicality were central to every design in the collection.

Girlguiding ambassador Angellica Bell said the new uniform "gives girls and volunteers the freedom to style it the way that suits them.

"The range is filled with playful, bold colours and practical designs, including secret pockets! It's clear to see just how much thought has gone into the co-creation of this inclusive, eco-friendly collection.

"The new uniform empowers girls and volunteers to embrace their individuality."

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Ms Oswald added: "We know that self-expression and confidence go hand in hand. With girls in guiding being 30 per cent more confident, the introduction of the new uniform is designed to further nurture that confidence and foster a true sense of belonging.

"By 2030, we hope to reach more girls where they are, building their confidence when they need it the most, so more girls will know they can do anything."

The uniform launch comes six weeks before a change to Girlguiding's membership policy takes effect, banning boys from joining.

At first, Girlguiding refused to accept the Supreme Court gender ruling - with boys being allowed to use female camp rooms and leaders not obliged to tell the parents, according to a whistleblower.

The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the terms “woman” and “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 refer to “a biological woman and biological sex”.

But the charity allegedly told volunteers to sideline the judgement.

Then, this March, Girlguiding carried out a major U-turn - with boys ordered to leave by September.

The charity said the timeframe will allow "affected members and their families time to plan, prepare, access support, and decide when – between now and September – they feel ready to leave."

The decision divided volunteers — some staged protests and threatened to quit, while others welcomed it on safeguarding grounds.

Girlguiding's membership spans ages four to 18, with roughly 300,000 members across its four sections and around 80,000 volunteers.

The organisation has said it does not collect "gender identity" data and cannot estimate how many members the policy change will affect.

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