Girlguiding, the organisation overseeing Girl Guide groups across the UK, has announced that transgender girls will no longer be able to remain members beyond early September 2026.
The directive follows an earlier decision in December 2025, when the organisation confirmed it would restrict new membership to what it described as “girls and young women” under a definition based on sex assigned at birth.
In its latest update, Girlguiding said that current members who are transgender girls or young women may remain in their groups until 6 September 2026, after which they will be required to leave.
The policy applies specifically to youth members and volunteer roles designated for women. Girlguiding clarified that transgender boys, trans men and non-binary individuals assigned female at birth are not affected by the change.
The organisation said the September deadline was chosen to give members time to prepare, allowing those impacted to continue participating in summer activities before the new rules take effect.
It is unclear how many individuals will be affected, as Girlguiding does not collect data on members’ gender identity.
In a joint statement, chair Denise Wilson, chief guide Tracy Foster and chief executive Felicity Oswald said the organisation’s core values remain unchanged, but that it must comply with legal requirements.
“This is a decision we would have preferred not to make, and we know that this may be upsetting for members of our community,” the statement read.
According to reports, the decision follows potential legal action from a parent who argued that the organisation was not adhering to the Equality Act 2010. The UK Supreme Court has recently interpreted the legislation’s provisions on single-sex spaces as relating to biological sex.
Advocacy groups have strongly criticised the move. Trans+ Solidarity Alliance said the decision reflects broader concerns about pressure on organisations to exclude transgender people.
“Inclusive organisations being bullied into excluding people against their will is a profound failure of this government to live up to its promises to the trans community,” the group said.
They added that the change would be “heartbreaking” for affected young people and volunteers, arguing it addresses a problem “that doesn’t exist without anti-trans lawfare”.
The decision marks a significant moment in the ongoing debate around gender identity, legal obligations and inclusion within youth organisations in the UK.
