Girlguiding London and South East England international adventures 2026
Are you ready for an international adventure? Would you like to travel and explore the world with Girlguiding? Are you excited about the opportunity to be part of a leadership team to make this possible for a group of young people from across the region?
Being a leader on an international guiding trip is an amazing experience. This is a unique 18-month journey. You and a team of leaders and girls will shape the plans for the adventure and support everyone to make the most of this unique opportunity. You’ll also learn new skills, make new friends and create special memories.
The region is currently considering options for trips in 2026 including a Jamboree in Scandinavia followed by some travelling by train in Northern Europe and an expedition further afield. Travelling, exploring and meeting local Guides/Scouts will be an essential part of the adventure. The region will actively encourage groups to consider the environmental impact of their adventure and how they can reduce and offset this impact throughout.
As a leader, your commitment involves being part of a team, with 3 other leaders, throughout the planning process, the trip, and the conclusion of the adventure. This will include holding 3 preparation weekends prior to departure to get to know the group and to help them prepare. Then there’ll be the 2 to 3 week trip in the summer of 2026, and a reunion event within 2 months of your return. One of the leaders would either need to already have, or be willing to gain, their Going Away With Travelling Abroad module.
We welcome leaders with a range of experiences; you may be a Guide or Ranger leader used to this age group, or a Rainbow or Brownie leader who loves to travel and is happy to learn more about working with older girls. You may have previously been on an international trip (with region, county, division/district or your unit) or this might be your first opportunity to travel internationally with Girlguiding. However, you do need to have completed your adult leader qualification before you can take on this role.
For the Jamboree groups we specifically need we some leaders who have strong experience of camping on a large scale events and so if attending an international Jamboree interests you please do consider applying.
Whilst everyone needs to apply individually, we also welcome applications from existing teams who work well together and would like to be considered as a team to lead a trip - each individual should complete the application form and put this information in the relevant question.
We expect the cost of the adventure will be in the region of ÂŁ2,500 to ÂŁ3,200 and, as this is an international Girlguiding adventure, you will be encouraged to fundraise and apply for grants to support this.
How to apply
Application form
To apply to be part of this adventure please complete application form before 10pm on 18 January 2025. Please ask your district, division or county commissioner to complete the short supporting reference form by 28 January.
Dates
10pm on 18 January 2025: Leader applications close
To apply to be part of this adventure please complete the above application form before 10pm on 18 January 2025. As part of your application, please ask your district, division or county commissioner to complete the above supporting reference form by 28 January. If you don’t know who your commissioner is you can find this in the directory on GO, or ask your unit leader.
Sat 22 March 2025: Leader selection day
Put the date in your diary for the in-person leader selection day on Saturday 22 March. This will be a day to meet other leaders interested in international travel with guiding and to find out more about what the trips involve and the roles of the leaders on a trip. You will work in small groups and take part in fun, team-building activities with other enthusiastic leaders.
The aim is to confirm the leadership teams early in the summer term. The girl recruitment process is planned for the summer term and is due to conclude by end of July 2025, ready to allow them to start working together over the year ahead.
Other dates for your diary:
- Saturday 17 May 2025: First leaders teambuilding and support day in London. This will be a day when as teams you first meet, get to know each other and begin your planning and team building so please keep this date free in your diary as it will be important to attend.
- 21 and 22 June 2025: Girl Selection. We would ask that you are able to attend at least one of the days to help with the girl selection. You’re obviously welcome to attend both.
- Future dates will be decided by your teams so can’t be confirmed until recruitment is complete.
Interested in finding out more - Information sessions on Zoom
If you would like to find out more, either before or after you apply, then please come along to a short information session on Zoom on either if the dates below. Please follow the links to register.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss with the international adviser, Fie Rason, please email international@girlguidinglaser.org.uk
The whole trip was amazing but particularly fantastic was meeting the Girl Scouts; the lantern ceremony at Hiroshima, the shrine gate at Miyajima; an experience we had going to a really local restaurant to eat which felt like we were in someone’s house; interactions with people – loads of different people helped us at different time and the resilience of the group – we couldn’t have asked for a better group of girls.
— 2024 trip leadership team
The trip was an incredible experience. 7 countries in 16 days, making fantastic memories that will stay with us forever. Watching the girls learn and grow was a privilege and while it does take time, effort and commitment to plan, the trip was absolutely worth it and I would be happy to be part of an international trip leader team again in the future.
— 2024 trip leader
If you have any questions or would like to discuss with the international adviser, Fie Rason, please email international@girlguidinglaser.org.uk.
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