Girlguiding, one of the UK's largest youth organisations, has announced a significant policy shift, confirming it will no longer admit transgender girls as new members. The decision, described as 'difficult' by the charity's leadership, follows a landmark Supreme Court ruling on biological sex earlier this year.
A Policy Shift Rooted in Legal Advice
The organisation, which boasts approximately 300,000 members across its Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, and Rangers groups, stated the change was made after 'detailed considerations' and expert legal counsel. The move comes almost eight months after the Supreme Court clarified that the words 'woman' and 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010 refer to biological sex.
From Tuesday, 2 December 2025, membership for young people will be restricted to 'girls and young women, as defined in the Equality Act'. This means only those recorded as female at birth can join as new young members. The organisation confirmed that most adult volunteer roles remain 'open to all'.
Reactions: Safeguarding vs. Inclusion
The policy change has ignited strong reactions from opposing sides of the debate. Former unit leader Katie Alcock, a psychology lecturer at Lancaster University who was expelled in 2018 after raising safeguarding concerns, welcomed the decision. She stated she was 'really pleased that girls will be able to have the clarity and safeguarding' and emphasised that 'girls deserve to have a space which is single-sex.'
In contrast, trans rights campaigners have condemned the move. Tammy Hymas, policy lead for TransActual, described it as 'yet another horrible act of violence against the most vulnerable trans people.' Hymas argued the organisation was 'being forced to exclude young trans girls by adults with bigotries and institutional power,' warning of the harm to young people's social groups and support networks.
Implementation and Ongoing Uncertainty
Girlguiding has indicated that while the restriction on new membership is effective immediately, there will not be immediate changes for current young members. Further information on the status of existing members is expected next week. The organisation, which does not collect gender identity data, said it does not know how many individuals might be affected.
In a joint statement, Girlguiding's chair of trustees Denise Wilson, chief executive Felicity Oswald, and chief guide Tracy Foster said the Supreme Court ruling had left 'many organisations across the country facing complex decisions.' They reiterated a commitment to inclusion, announcing a new task force to explore ways to support marginalised groups, while affirming the organisation's core principles would endure.
The decision arrives amidst a backdrop of ongoing governmental delay. Ministers have held draft updated transgender guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) for three months but have vowed not to 'rush' its publication, leaving many organisations in a state of legal limbo regarding single-sex services.
