Girlguiding has received a grant to offer support to Ukrainian girls in the UK wanting to join its units and to women from the war-torn country looking to volunteer.

The support has been funded through a grant from the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) and will see local units offered £100 per girl recruited to their Rainbow, Ranger, Brownie and Guide groups.

This will help cover the cost of uniform and membership fees, help women from the country looking to volunteer for the charity and to cover any costs of translating documents.

It aims to support around 300 girls and women to join the organisation while they remain in the UK to escape the war with Russia.

“We want to ensure that Ukrainian girls arriving in the UK can join Girlguiding, and that they’re given a warm welcome into the community,” said Girlguiding International Commissioner Emma Guthrie.

“The grant we’ve received from WAGGGS in response to the emergency crisis caused by war in Ukraine will help leaders to do just that.

“We want Girlguiding to be a place where everyone is welcome and free to be themselves, whoever they are and wherever they’re from.”

Among girls already supported by the charity is eight-year-old Yaroslava. She joined last year in Winchester, after her family was forced to flee the destroyed city of Mariupol.

When she arrived, she was unable to speak English and was encouraged to join by her host family

“I like Brownies because I can meet my friends there and play with them,” she said.

“They have started to understand what I say to them and I understand them as well.  I was worried the first time I went because I didn’t know anyone, but everyone was very friendly. ” 

She added: “I like it because we do lots of fun things and everyone makes me welcome.” 

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