Girlguiding UK has announced it will no longer accept trans girls or young women into any of its youth programmes, citing legal changes and recent interpretations of the Equality Act 2010.
The decision, revealed on 2 December 2025, affects all levels of the organisation, including Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, and Rangers, and marks a significant reversal of its 2017 inclusion guidelines, which previously allowed trans girls to join.
“From today… trans girls and young women will no longer be able to join Girlguiding,” the organisation confirmed in a statement. “This is a decision we would have preferred not to make.”
Legal Backdrop Behind the Ban
The charity said the change was prompted by a Supreme Court ruling earlier this year, which determined that the definition of “woman” under the Equality Act refers to biological sex only. The judgement has since influenced several public policy interpretations, including those by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).
Following what it called “detailed considerations, expert legal advice and input from senior members, young members and our Council,” the Girlguiding Board of Trustees made the call to update its Equality and Diversity Policy, now specifying it will only accept biologically female applicants.
The organisation maintained that adult volunteer roles – such as unit helpers, district helpers, and admin staff – remain open to people of all genders. “We are confident that no volunteers will have to leave the organisation,” it added.
“We will continue to support marginalised young people”
Girlguiding acknowledged the emotional impact of the decision:
“We know that this may be upsetting for members of our community,” the statement said. “Girlguiding believes strongly in our value of inclusion… Over the next few months, we will explore opportunities to champion this value and actively support young people who need us.”
Trans members will be formally notified of the changes next week.
Concerns Over Impact on Trans Rights
The move has sparked backlash from LGBTQ+ rights groups and legal experts, who argue the Supreme Court ruling is being misinterpreted.
Oscar Davies, a non-binary barrister at Garden Court Chambers, told PinkNews in September that while the judgement affirms that single-sex spaces can be restricted to biological sex, it does not mandate exclusion.
“These provisions are permissive rather than exclusionary… If you have a single-sex space, a trans person can still go into it unless someone complains,” Davies explained. “The Equality Act is meant to be a shield rather than a sword.”
Critics warn that applying the ruling broadly could result in the systemic exclusion of trans people from public and community spaces, including youth services.
