EIC0517             

Written evidence submitted by Girlguiding

About Girlguiding

1. Girlguiding is the leading charity for girls and young women in the UK, with over 500,000 members. Thanks to the dedication and support of 100,000 amazing volunteers, we are active in every part of the UK, giving girls and young women a space where they can be themselves, have fun, build brilliant friendships, gain valuable life skills and make a positive difference to their lives and their communities. We build girls’ confidence and raise their aspirations. We give them the chance to discover their full potential and encourage them to be a powerful force for good. We give them a space to have fun. We run Rainbows (4–7 years), Brownies (7–10 years), Guides (10–14 years) and Rangers (14–18 years). Registered Charity No. 306016.

About our evidence

2. Girlguiding provides evidence in answer to four of the Committee’s questions. We reference our own situation as a charity within the youth sector. Part of our evidence about the Coronavirus Job Retention scheme is given in alignment with the Access Unlimited Coalition, described in 12.3. The remainder of our evidence draws on our annual Girls’ Attitudes Survey, a recent research study with Girlguiding young members and related evidence from the IFS and Plan UK.

Summary

Question on government’s support packages:

3. Girlguiding is part of the Access Unlimited coalition seeking to draw attention to the longer-term impacts of the Coronavirus on learning opportunities outside of the classroom. Girlguiding would like to see the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme extended until the end of 2020 for providers of outdoor educational and residential experiences.

Question on economic impacts in terms of sectors:

4. The economic impacts on the youth sector are significant in the short and longer term. Girlguiding is a heritage brand running 27,000 Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers units for nearly 400,000 girls and young women in the heart of communities across the UK. We have a large infrastructure and network of 100,000 volunteers. Yet, just like other established charities, we are not immune to the financial shock of Covid-19.
5. We estimate losses of £3-5 million at a national level by the end of 2020 as a result of cancelling our weekly unit meetings and events at our activity centres, a decline in trading and reduced fundraising. We anticipate significant medium to long term impact and financial loss that will affect recovery and renewal, ultimately impacting on what we can offer to girls and young women when they will need us most. We anticipate needing to consider selling assets to mitigate against income loss.  
6. Girlguiding believes that a thriving civil society will be a key part of our economic as well as social recovery and that the government should invest in both business and voluntary sectors proportionately.
7. Some of Girlguiding’s financial losses will result from the lack of insurance pay outs for cancelled events, trips and critically business interruption. This affects Girlguiding centrally and across all tiers down to unit level. We are insured against these activities but insurers are reluctant to cover Covid-19 related losses. We would like to see the government step in to support a solution with insurers to mitigate losses of this kind for the charity sector.

Question on impact on inequalities:

8. Girlguiding is a girl-only charity and an expert in girls’ lives. Over more than a decade, we have been building an evidence bank on girls’ experiences and views[1] so we can best support them through our youth offer and advocate for change with them and on their behalf. Girlguiding is very concerned that the impact of this crisis on girls and young women will further exacerbate the specific and gendered challenges they can face – that we and others have documented – and could affect them disproportionately now and into the future. We are particularly worried about the mental health and wellbeing impact on girls and young women.
9. There is already evidence showing a disproportionate impact on girls and women of the crisis so far – relating to violence against women and girls on- and off-line, reduction of income/loss of employment and increased unpaid caring responsibilities. Girls and young women face entering a post-crisis labour market that may be less gender equitable than before. We would like to see strong government commitment to promote and prioritise gender equality across all plans for recovery.

Question on lessons that society can learn for the future:

10. The crisis has increased pre-existing gender inequalities, as noted above. Girlguiding would like to see the evidence and insight from those working with girls and women brought to bear to inform recovery plans to mitigate the negative impact on gender equality. As above, we would like to see strong government commitment to promote and prioritise gender equality across all plans for recovery.
11. Recent Girlguiding research shows that the top factor positively affecting how girls and young women (aged 15 to 18) feel during lockdown is the improvements to the environment and nature, such as less pollution and reduced carbon emissions. We believe this is a significant finding and an important point for Treasury to note. We would like to see an increased commitment from all government departments to listen to young people and take their views into account in decisions that will affect their lives and futures.

Girlguiding evidence

Job Protection Scheme and Self-employment Income Support Scheme

12. How and when should the Government’s support packages be wound up?

12.1.                    Girlguiding runs four activity centres that provide a range of outdoor activity and adventure opportunities for children and young people. Our network similarly runs a number of these right across the UK. These centres provide affordable access for Girlguiding members but also for all children and young people from the local areas.

12.2.                    We believe that the positive impact on young people’s wellbeing of outdoor activity and adventure will be more important than ever during the recovery period post-lockdown. As part of the Access Unlimited coalition we are calling on government to specifically consider young people’s access to the outdoors in the coming months, including support for outdoor providers.

12.3.                    Girlguiding has come together with YHA, The Outward Bound Trust, Scouts, Field Studies Council and the National Parks to form the Access Unlimited coalition of non-for-profit school residential and educational providers, to draw attention to the longer term impacts of the Coronavirus on learning opportunities outside of the classroom.

12.4.                    Even when business can resume for Girlguiding’s activity centres, and coalition partners’ activity, this is likely to be sporadic. As a result of the pandemic we have already lost a combined income so far this year of over £30 million. Both social distancing measures and consumer confidence means that our facilities are likely to be operating below capacity with no significant reductions in our cost base.

12.5.                    We need to open both to help stimulate demand and help kickstart the local economies we operate within and because we believe that these educational and residential experiences are at the core of the nation’s recovery. But we need help to do this. Without this help opening will be at risk and we are likely to have to make significant redundancies and further cuts to our supply chains.

12.6.                    The Access Unlimited coalition is asking the government to ensure the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme extension or phasing considers the situations of providers of outdoor educational and residential experiences whilst business is slowly returning to normal. As coalition partners, we fear we will be amongst the last to benefit from an easing of social distancing restrictions in a way that allows young people to come back and benefit from residential programmes.

12.7.                    Girlguiding would like to see the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme extended until the end of 2020 for providers of outdoor educational and residential experiences.

Economy, public finances and monetary policy

13. What will be the economic impacts of the coronavirus outbreak and the social distancing measures in terms of sectors and regions and how temporary/permanent will they be?

13.1.                    The Covid-19 outbreak presents significant challenges both for the young people we work with and for the financial health and sustainability of youth sector organisations. In addition, the documented negative impact on gender equality of the crisis so far is likely to mean that organisations supporting girls and women specifically will be in greater demand than previously. Girlguiding believes focused support to prioritise gender equality in recovery is needed.  

13.2.                    Girlguiding is a heritage brand running 27,000 Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers units for nearly 400,000 girls and young women in the heart of communities across the UK. Alongside Scouts and other large heritage brands, we are a key part of our civil society and the social fabric in the UK. Yet, just like others, we are not immune to the financial shock of Covid-19.

13.3.                    To give Girlguiding as an example of a large heritage brand in the youth sector, we estimate losses of £3-5 million at a national level by the end of 2020. This is as a result of cancelling our weekly unit meetings and events at our activity centres, a decline in trading and reduced fundraising. We are evaluating the wider impact at a local level across the UK too. As the situation continues to unfold, we may need to revise our estimates.

13.4.                    The longer the crisis continues, the greater the negative impact on the usual income generating activity and our network. Beyond 2020, we anticipate medium to long term impact and financial loss that will affect recovery and renewal. For example, members’ ability and propensity to pay membership fees may reduce and these account for approximately 50% of our income. We face reduced capability of volunteers to run units during time of restrictions because of the demographics of our volunteers. We anticipate needing to consider selling assets to mitigate against income loss.  

13.5.                    Girlguiding is part of the Back Youth Alliance, a group of leading youth sector organisations, working with and for young people to collectively promote a positive and empowering vision for the role of young people in society. We believe that the youth sector is uniquely placed to respond to this current crisis and must be recognised as an important part of the overall solution for society - both in terms of the nation-wide infrastructure we can deploy to engage with communities, and because of the vast networks of young people we work with across the country.

13.6.                    Girlguiding believes that a thriving civil society, that includes the youth sector, will be a key part of our economic as well as social recovery and that the government should invest in both business and voluntary sectors proportionately.

13.7.                    Some of Girlguiding’s financial losses will result from the lack of insurance pay outs for cancelled events, trips and critically business interruption. This affects Girlguiding centrally and across all tiers down to unit level. We are insured against these activities but insurers are reluctant to cover Covid-19 related losses. This situation is likely to be adversely affecting a large number of charities. We would like to see the government step in to support a solution with insurers to mitigate losses of this kind for the charity sector. An agreement with insurers would help to mitigate the financial losses for Girlguiding and so enable us to focus more resource to have a positive impact on girls and young women into recovery.

13.8.                    Girlguiding is seeking a range of sources of funding to help both mitigate losses and enable us to invest in adapting quickly to best serve girls’ and young women’s needs through the recovery period.

14. What will be the impact on inequalities within society and how should the Government address inequalities that may have been exacerbated by the crisis?

14.1.                    There is already evidence showing a disproportionate social and economic impact on girls and women of the crisis so far – relating to violence against women and girls on- and off-line [2], reduction of income and loss of employment[3], and increased unpaid caring responsibilities[4].

14.2.                    Pre-coronavirus crisis, girls and young women in the UK reported declining levels of wellbeing and levels that are lower than boys and young men overall. The gender gap in wellbeing is also bigger in the UK compared to other countries[5]. Girlguiding is very concerned that the impact of this crisis will further exacerbate the challenges and inequalities girls and young women face and could affect them disproportionately.

14.3.                      Our recent research[6] with almost 7,000 Girlguiding members aged 4 to 18 about their experiences of lockdown shows cause for concern as a picture of distress emerges, particularly for girls and young women aged 15 to 18. Two in five aged 15 to 18 say they feel stressed (45%) and / or worried (42%) most of the time. Nearly seven in ten (67%) of this age group say they feel disconnected and lonely not being able to see their friends. A third (34%) aged 11 to 14 say they feel lonely most of the time. Overall, a quarter of girls aged 11 to 14 (24%) and half of girls aged 15 to 18 (51%) report that coronavirus / lockdown has had a negative impact on their mental health.

14.4.                    The top worry for young women aged 15 to 18 about the longer-term impact of the crisis is the impact on the economy and people’s jobs (87%). At the Liaison Committee on 27 May 2020, the Prime Minister acknowledged that women workers have been harder hit by the economic impact of the coronavirus crisis. Girls and young women face entering a post-crisis labour market that may be less gender equitable than before.

14.5.                    All this evidence is very concerning for Girlguiding as a girl-only charity with a mission to empower girls and young women. Gender inequalities affect Girlguiding’s young members and all girls and young women now and into the future. We would not want to see this immediate gendered impact of the crisis negatively affecting young women’s opportunities disproportionately in the future.

14.6.                    We would like to see strong government commitment to promote and prioritise gender equality across all plans for recovery.

14.7.                    As the leading girl-only youth charity in the UK, Girlguiding holds a unique position in civil society in our ability to support girls’ and young women’s mental health, wellbeing, resilience and the development of skills and confidence. We will have a focus on reaching out to girls and young women beyond our current membership and particularly in areas of deprivation to seek to extend the benefits of guiding to more girls and young women through recovery.

15. What are the lessons that society can learn for the future e.g. reducing carbon emissions, increased home working, business resilience?

15.1.                    The crisis has increased pre-existing gender inequalities, as noted above. Girlguiding would like to see the evidence and insight from those working with girls and women brought to bear to inform recovery plans to mitigate the negative impact on gender equality.  As above, we would like to see strong government commitment to promote and prioritise gender equality across all plans for recovery.

15.2.                    Recent Girlguiding research[7] shows that the top factor positively affecting how girls and young women (aged 15 to 18) feel during lockdown is the improvements to the environment and nature, such as less pollution and reduced carbon emissions. This is a significant finding with 61% of girls choosing this, followed by 52% choosing more time with family, 50% choosing more time to play and do hobbies, and 34% choosing not going to school and less academic pressure.

15.3.                    Girlguiding believes this is a very important point to note as it aligns with the clear strength of feeling amongst young people on this issue shown through the schools strikes for climate.

15.4.                    We would like to see an increased commitment from all government departments to listen to young people and take their views into account in decisions that will affect their lives and futures. For example, in the immediate term, we have called for the Prime Minister to hold a children and young people’s press conference to answer their questions. In the longer term, we’d like to see every government department engage youth voice meaningfully in policy development. 

June 2020

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