Girlguiding – Written Evidence (LOL0033)

1. Overview As the leading charity for girls and young women in the UK, our submission is focused on our evidence of girls and young women’s experiences during the pandemic and what impact this has on them now and for the future, as well as research we’ve collected as part of the wider context of girls’ lives online over the past decade. Given children and young people are spending more time online and on social media than they were before the pandemic, we welcome this inquiry and the opportunity for them to share their experiences and inform the development of measures and decisions during this difficult time.

1.1. believes that a thriving civil society will be a key part of ensuring communities are connected. Strong communities can build support and resilience to help people in difficult times. Our submission focusses on Girlguiding’s research and initiatives that relate to the topic areas covered in the consultation.

2. Relevant evidence 2.1. We reference data from the Girls’ Attitudes Survey, Girlguiding’s annual research project into the lives of girls and young women, aiming to build a comprehensive picture of the emerging needs, issues and priorities of girls and young women today. The survey provides a snapshot of the views of over 2,000 girls and young women from across the UK aged 7 to 21, within and outside Girlguiding. Since 2009, we have covered a range of issues affecting girls from education, wellbeing, aspirations, social action, and safety on- and off-line.

2.2. Our research with girls during lockdown ‘Early findings on the impact of Covid-19 on girls and young women’ revealed the crisis is having a significant impact on mental health including from appearance pressures online. The research took place in May 2020 and gathers the views of almost 7,000 girls and young women aged 4 to 18 across the UK.

2.3. We also include references to the Scouts, who have provided information for us to include.28% of whose young members are girls and young women, whose online sessions and socially distanced activities represent additional context.

2.4. Our response to the Women and Equalities Committee’s inquiry into body image highlights the relentless and harmful pressures that girls and young women face around their appearance and how they should look.

3. Life online in a pandemic – our research

Time online 3.1. It’s no surprise that girls and young women are spending more time online as a result of Covid-19, with many connecting to loved ones this way through new apps and games, and using online spaces to learn and have fun. The vast majority (85%) of girls aged 15 to 18 told us they were spending more time on social media during the first lockdown in May. But with this, they also told us they faced increased pressures around their appearance, what they’re doing and navigating increased fake news and misinformation with 20% aged 15 to 18 saying they felt more pressured to be online all the time.

Physical health 3.2. According to our Covid-19 survey, girls were doing less physical activity during lockdown (in the Spring). For girls aged 11 to 18, 30% reported doing more than before, 30% the same as before, and 41% less than before. Whilst an increased reliance on digital technology might be a contributing factor to this trend, it’s important to recognise the other potential factors. It might be due to fear of the virus, restrictions and shielding that has meant less time outdoors, and the closure of schools, gyms and youth groups could also have had an impact. It might also be due to feelings of unhappiness, as our wider research revealed that 28% of girls aged 7 to 21 said that feeling unhappy stops them from doing the things that they enjoy, including physical activity (Girls’ Attitudes Survey 2018).

3.3. Pressures to take part in physical activity might also be acting as a barrier for girls and young women. Our 2020 Girls’ Attitudes Survey shows that two in five (42%) aged 11 to 21 feel pressured to be physically active because what they see on social media makes them want to change how they look.

‘I think girls are struggling with pressures to use this time to lose weight and get a ‘summer body.’ Young woman, aged 15-18

3.4. We know from ours and others research that girls and young women take part in physical activity less than boys and men and that they face specific barriers to this. This includes (although may not be limited to) a lack of choice that meets their needs, fear of being judged and harassment.

Mental health 3.5. Mental health has been and will continue to be a key issue for young people. We are very concerned that the impact of this crisis will further exacerbate the challenges girls and young women face. The situation for girls’ mental health before Covid-19 was already incredibly worrying. Girls and young women in the UK report levels of wellbeing amongst the lowest in Europe and significantly lower than boys and young men in the UK.i Our research shows that girls’ and young women’s happiness has declined in the last decade.ii With increased worries and uncertainty at this time, alongside increased pressures online, we expect happiness to be negatively impacted.

3.6. In our Covid-19 report, a quarter of girls aged 11 to 14 (24%) and half of girls aged 15 to 18 (51%) reported that coronavirus and lockdown had a negative impact on their mental health. A third (33%) aged 4 to 10 said they felt sad most of the time. Two in five aged 15 to 18 said they felt stressed (45%) and worried (42%) most of the time. Young women aged 15 to 18 particularly reported feeling worried, stressed and overwhelmed. The factors most affecting them were uncertainty about school and education (76%), feelings of loneliness and isolation (51%) and a lack of freedom and independence (44%).

Social media 3.7. It’s important to note that being online brings many benefits to young people when it comes to learning, connecting and participating in public life. Our latest Girls’ Attitudes Survey showed that 44% aged 13 to 21 talk to people online about the things they care about.

3.8. However, our research also shows, that even before this intensified period, social media can be a significant pressure for girls:  59% aged 11-21 say pressure from social media is one of the main causes of stress (2018)  45% aged 11-21 check their phone first thing in the morning and last thing at night (2019)  41% say they’d like to spend less time on social media (2019)

Harms, harassment and abuse online 3.9. Our wider research shows that online abuse and harassment is an issue that particularly affects girls and young women. In 2019, 39% aged 11-21 said they’d seen upsetting or harmful images/videos online which they wish they hadn’t. And in 2018 almost half (47%) aged 11-21 had experienced unkind things said to them on social media and a quarter (25%) had experienced threatening things said about them on social media. For 24% aged 13-21, sexist comments had been made about them online.

3.10. We are concerned that with the current situation, where people are using the internet more, girls and young women are at a higher risk of harassment and abuse online and could be exposed to unwanted sexual imagery and harmful content. Reports by the Internet Watch Foundationiii and Barnardo’siv have also reflected these concerns. We believe that more should be done to ensure that the online world is safe and free from abuse for children and young people to use, especially as we continue to connect in this way.

3.11. Our 2018 Girls’ Attitudes Surveys shows:  24% aged 11-21 had been sent photos or content by someone they knew that upset them  22% aged 11-21 had embarrassing photos of them sent to other people at school/college/university  8% aged 13-21 had photos of a sexual nature sent to other people at school/college/university

3.12. Our 2017 Girls’ Attitudes survey asked about their top worries online and girls said:  Threats from strangers (64% aged 7-10, 43% aged 11-16, 26% aged 17-21)  People pretending to be someone else online (61% aged 7-10)  Grooming (45% aged 11-16)  Bullying (50% aged 7-10, 36% aged 11-16)  How a picture might be used (40% aged 7-10, 34% aged 11-16)  Seeing rude pictures (53% aged 7-10)  Seeing unwanted pornography (35% aged 11-16)  Sexual harassment (32% aged 17-21)

Body image 3.13. Low body confidence is a serious issue for many girls and young women that limits their lives and opportunities. Our Covid-19 Survey shows that girls and young women are facing more pressures during the pandemic:  28% aged 15-18 feel more pressured to be productive and share the things they’ve achieved on social media  26% feel more pressured to look a certain way on social media, e.g. lose weight or exercise

‘Seeing models and influencers on social media is challenging when people compare themselves to them all the time.’ Young woman, 17-18

‘I find it hard to go through Insta because everyone looks perfect and it lowers my self-confidence.’ Young woman, 19-21

Social media can be an important way for young women to connect, learn and have their voices heard. However, it can also have a negative impact on their body confidence as it intensifies pressures they face. In our 2020 Girls’ Attitudes Survey girls aged 11-21 said:  48% regularly use apps or filters to make photos of themselves look better online  34% said they wouldn’t post photos of themselves unless they use an app or filter to change their appearance  39% said they feel upset that they can’t look the way they do online

‘On social media, I feel like I have to look pretty all the time’ Girl, 11-16

The news and (mis)information 3.14. Being online more during the pandemic has also meant an increased exposure to the news which can have a negative impact on young people’s mental health. As a result, 47% aged 11-18 say they’re not watching, reading or listening to the news too much to help them through this challenging time (Covid-19 survey). In addition, 43% of young women aged 15 to 18 said they felt more worried about fake news and what information they can trust.

‘I feel overwhelmed because it’s all over the news and you can’t get away from it.’ Young woman, aged 15-18

‘I hate all the misinformation.’ Young woman, 15-18

Social connections during lockdown 3.15. There were some positive elements of life in lockdown for girls and young women, such as bringing people closer together, feeling more connected through video calls and apps and games and to their community (Covid- 19 survey).  78% used new apps and games to communicate with friends and family (aged 15-18)  63% watched more TV, shows, films and videos, including online (aged 11-18)  36% played more video games or online games (aged 11-18)  51% went online more to learn something new (11-18)

3.16. Despite this, a third (34%) of girls aged 11 to 14 said they felt lonely most of the time, and half (51%) aged 15 to 18 said that feelings of loneliness and isolation was affecting their wellbeing during this time. Of girls aged 15 to 18, 67% said they felt disconnected and lonely not being able to see their friends. Nearly half (47%) of girls and young women in this age group said social isolation was putting a strain on their relationships at home.

‘I’m in year 6 so I didn’t get to say goodbye to my friends and I’m sad I won’t see them again.’ Girl, aged 4-10

‘I’m really struggling without my clubs. They were moments in the week I could look forward to, especially as I struggled with making friends at school.’ Young woman, aged 15-18

‘Zooming with family and friends helps me feel better.’ Girl, aged 11-14

Online gaming 3.17. Our research from our latest Girls’ Attitudes Survey (2020) revealed the majority (81%) of girls and young women aged 7 to 21 play games online. For many, the experience is positive, with 57% aged 11-16 saying it’s fun and 33% agreeing they learn new things. Over a quarter (28%) aged 11 to 16 say online gaming is a good way to make new friends, increasing to 40% of young women aged 17 to 21. However, some have had negative experiences while playing games online. Over one in eight (14%) girls aged 11 to 21 have experienced bullying. One in six 11 to 21- year-olds (17%) have experienced sexist comments playing games online.

Education and working life 3.18. Our Covid-19 research shows that whilst for some, learning at home has been positive, for others it has been challenging and they’ve found it hard to concentrate on schoolwork at home. Half aged 11-18 (48%) report finding it hard to concentrate on schoolwork at the moment. A third (34%) say they’re finding it hard to balance schoolwork and time to relax, potentially because everything is digital it is much harder to distinguish between work and education, and time to relax and have a break.

‘I have to share a laptop with my mum as we only have one.’ Girl, aged 11-14 ‘I’ve been finding the balance between relaxing and schoolwork really difficult.’ Young woman, aged 15-18

4. Responding to the pandemic

Girlguiding’s response 4.1. In response to the crisis, we swiftly adapted our offer to ensure we continue to support girls and their families and non-member children and young people. When the coronavirus pandemic escalated in March 2020, we had to suspend our unit meetings for the first time in our 110-year history. Within 10 days we launched our online guiding offer, Adventures at Home, offering simple ways to create fun, have adventures and boost wellbeing and resilience at this challenging time. This has received over 250,000 downloads and over 20,000 tuned in to our Adventures at Home festival in May.

4.2. We are supporting volunteers to take guiding online to deliver virtual unit meetings where girls can keep connected, have fun and continue to learn and develop their skills. We have increased our work on digital safeguarding accordingly. This online offer means our volunteers are supporting girls and young women to connect and feel better in the face of uncertainty and huge changes to their lives as well as keeping adult volunteers engaged and connected. We had 46,000 volunteers run meetings virtually in the first months of lockdown, making a difference to girls across the country.

Scouts’ response 4.3. The pandemic has accelerated Scouts use of digital to provide different ways of providing experiences, delivering meetings and rapidly transforming operations. Similarly to Girlguiding, the Scouts moved quickly to support quarantined families and young people through The Great Indoors. These 380 activities for young people to do at home were used by 500,000 families and carers while schools were closed.

4.4. volunteers have worked online since the start of the pandemic to continue to support young people. Scouts rapid move to digital delivery came from the grassroots: with most Scouts sites closed, the movement led the shift to ‘ by Zoom’, with volunteers delivering weekly online meetings locally. Leaders set up online meetings and used social media to share ideas and resources over social media, for example through the online Scout community 1st Facebook. This is an example of a positive aspect of online interactions: organic community-led approach to supporting each other. It has continued throughout the transitions from lockdowns and to socially distanced, face-to-face Scouting when it has been allowed. Nationally we have continued to offer support for online scout activities through subsequent lockdowns and tier restrictions.

4.5. By taking part in meetings online, young people have been able to catch up with their friends and continue to feel progression towards earning their awards. At a time when their education has been disrupted, this has helped to create a sense of continuity that supported their wellbeing. So far in 2020, Scout groups have held over 180,000 Zoom meetings with nearly 1.5m participants, totalling 74 million minutes of meetings. Scouts’ partnership with Zoom gives local groups access to professional licenses for their meetings. Scouts has also built a range of activities specifically designed to be delivered online: Scouts at home.

‘Thank you to Sarah Harrison, who is my at Bowthorpe . I really enjoy doing Zoom because it’s a nice way to communicate with my friends.’ Girl, age 11, Bowthorpe Scout Group ‘Thank you for supporting me during lockdown. I always have something to look forward to as we get to play fun games.’ Boy, age 11, 2nd East Scout Group

‘Thank you, Layla and Ness, for supporting me during lockdown.’ Girl, age 7, 2nd East London Scout Group

4.6. Scouts have also provided new activities for young people that are designed for groups to do in a socially distanced format, indoors and outdoors. As of December 2020, there are approximately 14,000 of Scouts 25,000 sections engaged in face-to-face activities, subject to restrictions. The second England-wide lockdown has coincided with our Race Round the World challenge which encourages young people to keep physically active while also fundraising for groups at risk due to financial hardship.

4.7. Scouts relaunched its Digital Citizen badge in September 2020 in partnership with Nominet as digital skills have become even more pertinent since the outbreak of Covid-19. The new activity programme for the badge supports young people to be safer online through engaging activities that encourage critical thinking. This particularly focuses on how to work out the authenticity of news, how to manage cyber bullying and how to best mitigate other potential online harms in a positive and proactive way. The badge encourages young people to question, listen and have an open mind – having awareness of the risks and benefits that being online can pose to them is vital.

“There’s a lot of fake news going round about coronavirus, people giving false statistics about deaths, and that’s scary when people are coming back into school have an autistic friend and I see stuff that’s not true on social media and I worry for her that she will be upset by it. I have told her to come to us first and we can help.” (Boy, 15, Birmingham)

“The amount of fake news out there is quite impressive. Young people can be easily deceived, and we need the skills to know whether it is real or not. I have seen what it can do to people and how it knocks their confidence.”(Girl, 14, Doncaster)

The badge also requires Scouts to investigate how people from different backgrounds interact online and to consider if the people they interact with most are similar to them or different in terms of gender, ethnicity and interests, and what impact that might that have on the views and opinions they see and believe.

The financial impact 4.8. Covid-19 has not only had an impact on individuals, but it has also had a negative impact on organisations such as Girlguiding and Scouts that provide a safe space for young people and offer positive benefits for their health and wellbeing. As for many other charities, this crisis has had a significant impact on our operational and financial situation. Girlguiding estimates losses of £4 million at a UK 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 and other income. Scouts are estimating a similar loss and are enacting a decisive plan of action including cost savings and asset sales to ensure the movement has the support it needs at the national level. Both organisations are carefully monitoring and evaluating the wider impact at a local level across the UK and beyond 2020. However, we will do all we can to prevent this becoming a barrier to our role in supporting young people across the UK through informal education and volunteering opportunities.

4.9. Over the coming months, to maximise Girlguiding’s value to girls and young women and our volunteers during recovery, we will focus on and seek financial support for these priorities:  Making our online offer sustainable for the recovery period and beyond to ensure the long-term benefit to girls and young women as their needs are set to increase during this time.  Enabling volunteers to support girls in this new context where their needs will be different, especially relating to mental health and wellbeing through the delivery of activities and online training.  Continuing work that creates efficiencies centrally and across our network.  Adapting planned work focusing on supporting our volunteers, recruiting more volunteers to expand units and start new ones to serve current and future demand.  Seeking streams of funding to enable us to effectively deliver against our priorities and have a lasting positive impact on girls’ lives and local communities. We are adapting and finding innovative ways to fundraise for exmpale, we have a new partnership with BBC Children in Need and have partnered with Zoom so that more of our units can meet online using professional licences.

Support and funding 4.10. As part of the Back Youth Alliance, both Girlguiding and Scouts have been working with DCMS over the last months to help shape how the government can best invest to support young people through the Youth Investment Fund and will apply for this financial support once available. We are concerned that there has been a delay in the release of this fund, announced over a year ago. We are also seeking other streams of funding to enable us to effectively deliver against our priorities and have a lasting positive impact on girls’ lives and local communities. The needs of young people today and our impact 4.11. Girlguiding and Scouts have been part of the social fabric and infrastructure of local communities for over a hundred years, changing as the lives of young people change. We continue to be just as relevant and needed today as ever. We believe youth offers such as ours are, and will remain, even more important for young people’s wellbeing and life chances during recovery from this crisis. This stands for both our young members up to 18-years old and over 30,000 young volunteers between 14 and 30-years old (Guides) and 18 and 25 years old (Scouts). Our youth and volunteering offer can contribute to reducing loneliness, improving wellbeing and boosting skills. We support young people to make a positive contrition to their communities and the wider world. Our programmes of badges and activities are designed to equip them with diverse skills and offer them new opportunities. Our volunteers benefit from skills training and a strong social support network and are embedded in local communities offering enormous potential to mobilise and amplify youth voice and youth and volunteer social action.

‘I really enjoy them [virtual meetings] because we still get to see each over and have fun. The leaders have put a lot of effort into it and it turned out great.’ Girl, aged 11-14, Guide

‘My unit leader has been so supportive and given me activities and been in touch to check I’m ok.’ Girl, aged 4-7, Rainbow

‘I feel more supported as I know my leader is someone I can reach out to if I need support.’ Young woman, aged 15-18,

The value of the youth sector 4.12. Girlguiding’s latest Girls’ Attitudes Survey (2020) found that 61% of girls and young women aged 11 to 21 say being part of a youth group or club makes them feel accepted, 60% feel connected to others and 58% say they learn new skills.

4.13. Research from the University of Edinburgh and Glasgow showed that children who participate in Guiding or Scouting are likely to have better mental health in later life. It shows that our programmes that help children develop skills such as self-reliance and teamwork, and encourage being active outdoors, may have lifelong benefits for health and wellbeing (especially for those from poorer backgrounds).

4.14. Research undertaken by Youth United, a network of the nation's leading Uniformed Youth organisations including Girlguiding, showed that uniformed youth groups encourage young people to mix socially with those from different backgrounds and to have more positive relationships and social skills. For example, at Girlguiding, we enable people to be more connected to wider and more diverse networks in their communities – locally, nationally and internationally.

5. Girlguiding recommendations 5.1. We want the government to recognise, value and invest in the youth sector, so that children and young people can continue to benefit. We would like to see the release of the long-anticipated Youth Investment Fund announced over a year ago that will help the sector to adapt and innovate to meet the increased needs of young people. 5.2. We believe that the government could do more to engage the voices of young people in decision making, and provide meaningful opportunities to contribute to solutions on crucial areas of policy that will affect their futures. 5.3. We believe that more should be done to ensure that the online world is safe and free from abuse for children and young people to use, especially as we continue to connect in this way. We would like to see the proposed Online Harms Bill introduced as soon as possible with policy solutions in this area coproduced with a diversity of young people. 5.4. We are part of a coalition of over 30 organisations led by Young Minds calling for a cross-government strategy on young people’s mental health including a commitment to delivering the mental health ambitions of the NHS Long Term Plan in full, to prioritise early intervention in communities, and to place wellbeing at the heart of the education system. 5.5. Along with over 65 organisations, led by the Fawcett Society, Girlguiding are calling on the government to ensure the needs of girls and women aren’t left behind in the approach to recovery. 5.6. Recognise the importance of an equalities approach to recovery so that all young people’s needs are addressed and can benefit from initiatives intended to support them, whilst reducing barriers that may hold young people from specific groups back unfairly. 5.7. We want to see greater action to narrow the growing inequalities and gaps between children that have seen certain groups most severely impacted by the pandemic. This includes digital equality, where all children have access to the internet, devices and are educated on digital skills.

6. About us and our work 6.1. Girlguiding is the leading charity for girls and young women in the UK, with almost 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 (4–7 years), (7–10 years), Guides (10–14 years) and Rangers (14–18 years). Registered Charity No. 306016

6.2. The Girlguiding programme gives girls and young women a space where they can be themselves, gain valuable skills, discover their full potential and have fun. Our badges activities include a theme all about wellbeing – Be Well – which aims to build girls’ confidence and resilience. Our digital design badge helps girls to develop important skills for their future. 6.3. In March 2020 we launched Adventures At Home, a range of activities online to help children, parents and carers find simple ways to create fun, adventure and boost wellbeing during the Covid-19 pandemic.

6.4. Future Girl is our five-year plan to help girls and volunteers make the changes they want to see in the world. In 2018, over 76,000 girls told us what topics they cared about. Through the Future Girl topics, our members of all ages will explore and act together on the things they really care about.

6.5. Our Advocate panel gives girls a platform to use their voices and seek change at the highest levels. Advocates are a group of 18 Girlguiding members aged 14 to 25 who lead the direction of Girlguiding's advocacy and research. They act as media spokespeople for Girlguiding and speak at events. They are able to speak with decision makers including politicians about our evidence and what girls would like to see change.

6.6. Our British Youth Council (BYC) delegation comprises of 10 members - including the Chair - aged between 14 and 25 from across the UK. Delegates learn how power and politics work and how they can use their voices and connect their views with other young people to create positive change.

About the Back Youth Alliance 6.7. Girlguiding and the Scouts are members of the Back Youth Alliance, a strategic alliance, leveraging the collective power of our organisations’ brands, scale and reach to present a coherent voice to decision-makers with, and for, young people. Co-members are UK Youth, National Youth Agency, NCS Trust, Youth United Foundation, Step up to Serve, The Prince’s Trust, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Onside Youth Zones and the British Youth Council.

6.8. Our shared vision is that young people in this country are:  Skilled and equipped to learn and earn  Experiencing positive health and wellbeing  Treated fairly and equally, feeling a sense of belonging in a cohesive and diverse society  Safe and confident in their future, protected from violence and exploitation  Active members of their communities and society

9 December 2020 i The Children’s Society’s Good Childhood reports (2015-2020) ii https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/sep/19/uk-survey-finds-sharp-decline-in- happiness-of-young-women-and-girls iii https://www.iwf.org.uk/news/%E2%80%98terrifying-escalation%E2%80%99-battle-to-keep- children-safe-online-as-new-figures-reveal-300-000 iv https://www.barnardos.org.uk/news/barnardos-warns-parents-online-dangers-children-schools- close