Transgender Girls Must Leave Girlguiding By September, Organisation Confirms

Transgender girls must leave Girlguiding by September, organisation confirms The Girlguiding, which oversees Girl Guide groups across the UK, has said transgender girls will be required to leave the organisation by early September 2026. The move follows a policy change announced last year, with the organisation now giving affected members a deadline to exit.

Girlguiding confirmed that current transgender girl members can remain temporarily but must leave by 6 September 2026.

In a statement, it said the timeline was designed to give families time to prepare and access support before the change takes effect. The organisation added it must ensure it is “operating lawfully” and complying with its governing rules on membership

• Transgender girls and young women currently in youth sections
• Trans women or girls in volunteer roles restricted to women

They will need to leave or move to roles open to all genders by the September deadline. However, the organisation said the following groups are not affected: Girlguiding said the change follows a UK Supreme Court ruling on how “sex” and “woman” are defined in law, which prompted a review of its policies.

The organisation had previously allowed transgender girls to join since 2017, but announced in December 2025 that new members would no longer be admitted. Leaders said the latest update is about ensuring compliance with legal obligations while continuing to uphold their values.

• Some members and advocacy groups have criticised the move as discriminatory
• Others have supported it as aligning with legal requirements

There are also concerns about the impact on affected young people and volunteers, with some calling for additional support measures. Girlguiding says affected members will be supported in the months leading up to the deadline, including guidance for families and volunteers. The change marks a significant shift for one of the UK’s largest youth organisations, which has hundreds of thousands of members nationwide.