For more than half of women in the UK being a Rainbow, Brownie or a Guide is a rite of passage.

For many it forms part of their childhood memories, and is the first chance of being involved in a group as well as starting to fulfil a sense of achievement.

It is not surprising then that Girlguiding UK is the largest voluntary organisation for girls and young women in the UK, having more than half a million members between the ages of four and 25.

From a young age, Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Senior Section members nationwide have great fun at their weekly meetings, day trips and camps; however Guiding is a game with a purpose.

Girlguiding provides a unique girl-only space, which helps girls and young women develop in confidence, speak out about what matters to them and is the ideal place for girls to explore some of the issues and emotions they face.

In addition Girlguiding UK gives young women a voice, from consulting with the girls when planning a term’s programme at a local level to surveying the opinions of girls across the UK. The organisation also ensures the voices of these young women are heard in the media such as in Girlguiding UK’s recent campaign against airbrushing. Ines, 13, a Guide from the North Oxford and Marston Guides club, said: “At Guides, we have great fun planning and taking part in activities. It’s really fun and you always make new friends.”

However with such high demands from the younger population to continue in their mother’s footsteps comes a problem, as the more the numbers grow, the more the lack of adult volunteers is noticed.

Local Girlguiding UK in North Oxford and Marston has a shortage of leaders at the moment that is threatening to close several of their units.

This not only means the group will not be able to tackle their waiting list but would mean girls who are benefiting from the Girlguiding programme would lose out.

If you would like to be an adult volunteer for Girlguiding in North Oxford and Marston please contact Katy Beckhurst, District Commissioner at northoxfordandmarstondistrict@hotmail.

co.uk or visit www.girlguiding.org.uk Volunteering does not have to be on a weekly basis and any amount of time is extremely helpful.