The Irish Girl Guides (IGG) has approximately 12,000 youth and adult members in Ireland, with a paid staff supporting the work of volunteers in the organisation. We are a youth-driven, dynamic organisation offering a varied and exciting programme for girls and young women aged 5-30, and opportunities for women of all ages.
As a girl-only movement, girls are free to develop and express themselves in a safe, comfortable, supported setting.
Our members learn new skills, grow in self-confidence, develop teamwork and leadership skills, experience new activities, and build lifelong friendships.
We have a strong emphasis on the outdoors, environment, community responsibility and global sisterhood. IGG actively promotes diversity and inclusion and welcomes girls and young women from all walks of life. Anyone who lives their life as female is welcome to join the organisation.
We have four different age brackets which we call Branches and girls of each Branch meet in local groups called Units around the country.
Senior Branch programme is for girls and young women aged 14 to 30 years
Adult Volunteers are welcome as Leaders, Non-Unit Volunteers, Trefoil Guild members and Unit Helpers.
A Unit is group of approximately 20-30 girls from the one age bracket (Branch) who meet in a local community on a weekly basis. There are over 500 Units spread across every county in Ireland. Units are run by a team of Leaders who have undertaken the relevant screening and training and there is a support network of volunteers and staff available to help each volunteer on her leadership journey.
Girl Guiding encourages the best in people, giving members the opportunity to discover new ideas, develop new skills, and forge strong friendships. Everyone who shares our ethos and values is welcome to have a role in supporting the Irish Girl Guides and the experiences members gain and memories they make are priceless.
Irish Girl Guides (IGG) is a member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), a worldwide movement of over 10 million girls and women in over 145 countries. Through this global network our members learn about global issues, campaigning and advocacy. Girl Guiding offers wonderful travel opportunities for youth members and adult Leaders both around Ireland and the wider world.
We have been an active movement in Ireland since 1911 and have a long history of developing responsible citizens. Further details of our history are available in “A Hundred Years A-Growing” by Gillian Finan, available from the Distribution Centre.
Irish Girl Guides is a registered charity and complies with the relevant legal obligations. IGG holds itself to the highest standards of best practice to ensure transparency and accountability. Voluntarily, IGG abides by the Good Governance for the Youth Work and Charities Sector code. We also believe in adhering to recommended practices for community development and international volunteering.
