What is the Queen’s Guide Award?
The Queen’s Guide award is the highest award you can work towards in Girlguiding. It gives you the chance to develop your skills, give back to guiding and support your local community. It’s open to members aged 16 to 30 and must be completed within 3 years from the start date or before your 31st birthday, whichever is sooner. You do have the flexibility of adding breaks up to 1 year.
The history of the QGA dates back to 1945! To find out more, have a look below
What do you need to do?
The Queen’s Guide award is all about personal challenges and taking part in guiding. It’s made up of 5 sections:
• Personal development challenge: Develop a skill in or outside of Girlguiding to enhance your personal growth.
• Guiding challenge: Take an active part in guiding at different levels by completing 4 projects focused on girls, volunteers, growth and retention, and inclusion.
• Community action challenge: Develop your knowledge of an important issue through research and practical activities and share what you learnt.
• Lead the way challenge: Take part in a residential, outdoor activity or expedition/exploration.
• Social experience challenge: Experience something you’ve never done before and develop your skills by going on a residential or attending an event.
Once you have had your QGA approved, it’s time to celebrate! You will be able organise your own local presentation. You will also be invited to Amazing Anglia (a region awards event which takes place every 2 years) and Girlguiding Celebrates (a national event that takes place annually).
Why complete your Queen’s Guide Award?
Completing your Queen’s Guide Award is more than a milestone. it’s a celebration of commitment, service, leadership, and growth. It represents a lifelong achievement that shapes who you are and who you continue to become. By taking on this challenge, you join a shared identity carried proudly across generations, standing alongside those who have dedicated themselves to making a difference in their communities and beyond.
How do you get started on your Queen’s Guide Award?
Please get in contact with your QGA county adviser who will be able to help you get started. You will need the Queen’s Guide Award record book
Join our Anglia QGA Facebook page
Find out about the latest opportunities and use to ask questions
Projects
Please see form for Queen's Guides to complete that are looking for a project to complete one of the elements towards the award
Mentor support
As a mentor, you play a key part in supporting members to complete their QGA.
Support
You will have chosen a mentor to support you with your QGA journey. You will also have your QGA county adviser you can ask questions too.
Member stories
Rose
How did you find out about the QGA?
I found out about the QGA from the leaders I volunteer alongside! They encouraged me to look into it, which I did on the website, and then I spoke to my county QG advisor.
What was your most exciting moment?
Seeing Our Chalet for the first time when volunteering there last for Ready, Steady, Go 2025. It was my first time travelling abroad by myself. I had a wonderful time and met many Girlguiding members from across the world.
What was your greatest challenge?
This was my Lead the Way Challenge. I completed a 4 day expedition along the coast of the Isle of Wight with other participants from across England. We walked from the centre of Ryde all the way to The Needles. The scenery was amazing, but unfortunately the thunderstorm on Day 2 drenched us completely no matter how many waterproofs we were wearing.
What advice would you give to someone starting the award?
Go for it! Take every opportunity you can and develop your skills and confidence. The QGA can help you do what you've always wanted to do. Go on adventures and make many guiding memories!
How did you find out about the QGA?
When I was a Guide, I was in Chelmsford Gang Show and one evening after the show finished we were asked to stay on the stage behind the curtain because the Mayor was coming to visit us and it turned out they were there to do a surprise QGA presentation for one of the cast members.
What was your most exciting moment?
Getting to share elements of my personal life with my Brownies that they would otherwise not know about - I told them about my car racing and my job and volunteering as a STEM Ambassador. I ran meetings about all of those things and it was lovely to have them asking questions about it all.
What was your greatest challenge?
Managing the Craft Team at Essex International Jamboree 2024, having never even been to a Jamboree before as a participant, or as staff. The event invited 4,500 young people and their leaders from around the world. In total there were over 8,000 people on site. I got involved just under a year before the event took place, planning the craft activities and preparing the team for the event. My team comprised of 34 members of different ages, including a few under 18s. When I was at the event, I managed the setup, pack down and smooth running of the craft activities. I also managed the team’s staff rota, tasks and general welfare. I was also in charge of health and safety, admin, leading team meetings and reporting back up to the Programme management.
What advice would you give to someone starting the award?
Do it before you are too old! I nearly missed the opportunity and got a second chance when Girlguiding extended the age limit, and it was the best decision I ever made. I have made so many new friends through the activities I did as part of my award and the sense of pride when you have completed everything and meet the Chief Guide team at Girlguiding Celebrates is amazing.
Katie
How did you find out about the QGA?
I heard about the Queens Guide Award when i was in Rangers while volunteering at my local Rainbow unit as a unit helper.
What was the greatest challenge?
By far the most challenging for me was co planning my first district day event held at Hautbois called Mini Magic everyone loved it and received positive feedback.
What was the most exciting moment?
It's hard to pick one the one I'm most proud of is volunteering at The Big C center and meeting the late David Moar who created The Big C and I shared my personal experience and expressed my involvement raising money for cancer charities with guiding members it was very moving there wasn't a dry eye in the house.
What advice would you give to someone starting the award?
Iwould say go for it there will be challenges along the way you'll meet new friends it's worth it it's a wonderful feeling knowing that you will be a Queens Guide and celebrate this achievement.
Robyn
How did you find out about the QGA?
The Queen’s Guide Award has always been of interest to me since I found out about it from other guiders. I have always enjoyed a challenge and wanted to push myself to achieve the highest award in Girlguiding.
What was your most exciting moment?
My most exciting moment was when I had my ceremony to receive the award. My award was presented with my Brownie unit and we celebrated by having a mobile zoo come to our meeting. I held a snake during the presentation!
What was your greatest challenge?
Something I found challenging was being the deputy leader of the All About Me, All About Us base at Essex International Jamboree. I had attended the Jamboree as a participant but this was the first time attending as a member of staff. Being the deputy leader of this station involved a lot of leadership and people skills as well as having to be organised with activities and staffing levels. It was a challenging week which was very different to my previous experiences, but I made some great new friends who I am still in contact with.
What advice would you give to someone starting the award?
A piece of advice to anyone starting the award would be to keep track of what you have completed and make sure to organise any evidence as you go to avoid a deep dive into emails!